Review pathways bill, private schools urge

THE Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea) called for a review of House Bill 11213 or the proposed Education Pathways Act.

HB 11213 was approved on third and final reading on Jan. 28, with 200 lawmakers voting for its passage. Three voted in the negative. None abstained.

In a statement last week, the Cocopea urged Congress "to conduct a comprehensive review of" the bill.

"Given that HB 11213 proposes significant changes to the existing K-12 program established by Republic Act 10533, Cocopea is deeply concerned about its potential impact on the learning outcomes of Filipino students and the constitutional right to accessible, quality basic education," it said.

Because the measure renders senior high school and tech-voc (technical-vocational) programs optional, "basic education becomes a premature exit point for many students, which affects their future growth, employment, health, social mobility, and overall productivity," Cocopea said.

It added that the proposed complete separation of the Tech-Voc track from secondary education under the bill "weakens the stability of the program as it no longer enjoys the constitutional compulsoriness and mandate of free public secondary education."

Under HB 11213, students must choose between two education pathways upon finishing junior high school: a University Preparatory Program under the Department of Education (DepEd) or a Technical-Vocational Program under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

On completion of the full technical-vocational program, the learner "may enroll in colleges or universities and avail of the ladderized education program for educational advancement."

Cocopea said the country's "performance in global student assessments, such as the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), highlights that "while we've aligned with the global standard of 12 years of schooling, we continue to fall behind in terms of learning outcomes. Schooling is not the same as learning."

"This discrepancy calls for a renewed focus on the quality of learning, rather than changing the number of years of schooling, and thus necessitating urgent reforms focusing on curriculum quality, content delivery, accessibility, and governance-many of which can be addressed without the enactment of new legislation," Cocopea said.

The education sector "already suffers from reform fatigue, with many proposed reforms not delivering on their intended quality objectives and outcomes," so Congress must "consider more in-depth studies on the implications, challenges and benefits of House Bill 11213 and how is it aligned with the significant recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2), before proceeding any further to ensure that the Philippine education system remains responsive to the evolving needs of Filipino learners", the group said.

Industry-driven curriculum

Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, the chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, said on Monday the objective of HB 11213 "is to allow learners a choice of different career pathways after finishing Grade 10."

"If the learner wishes to proceed to college or university, the learner must go through Grades 11 and 12. The difference is the mandatory subjects will be the general subjects in freshman college. This will allow them to take advanced placement exams in college to allow them to credit the subjects they took in Grades 11 and 12. The learner in Grades 11 and 12 may still be provided with elective subjects," Romulo said.

If a learner chooses the technical-vocational (tech-voc) track, it should be an industry-driven curriculum "approved by the industry boards and regulated by Tesda."

"The tech-voc track must provide a pathway toward obtaining an NC3, NC4 or higher based on our PQF. At present, most of those in the tech-voc track receive an NC2. Under our PQF, an NC2 doesn't mean the learner can be left alone to do work or is considered an expert. If the learner goes through a diploma course in tech-voc, the learner may proceed to university or college afterwards," he said.

NC stands for the National Certificate; the PQF stands for the Philippine Qualifications Framework.

"While it may be possible that some learners may choose to work or be an entrepreneur after Grade 10, they may do so. If they decide to pursue a college degree or be a skilled worker, they will go through the other pathways," Romulo said.

He said that about 30 percent of learners choose the technical-vocational track.

"Most of the graduates are given an NC2. An NC2 certificate does not provide the skilled work required for high-paying skills jobs. That is why most graduates from this track end up in blue-collar jobs. What we want is pay for a skilled worker wherein the skilled worker can adequately provide for his family," he said.

"With respect to the academic track, it is time to do away with the tracks and strands for many reasons. Amongst others, some engineering colleges require a learner to go through STEM [— this does not give flexibility to the learner in terms of a career path]. There are subjects that require a teacher specialized in the subject, and the most essential preparation for college is to ensure all graduates are functionally literate (reading comprehension grade level appropriate)," Romulo said.

"Quality education is a priority of Filipino families," he said.