THE House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Rep. Roman Romulo (Lone District, Pasig City) on Wednesday approved the unnumbered substitute bill to House Bill 7893, seeking to empower and equip basic education students with the competencies that are necessary either for college or employment.
Rep. Romulo explained that the bill aims to turn the current K to 12 curriculum for basic education into multiple educational pathways, and provide and ensure opportunities for the youth to achieve their maximum potential and enhance their employability.
“What will happen is basic education will be K to 10. After 10, we can have a graduation for basic education. But if a learner decides to proceed to a university or a college, then there will be an additional two years. Grades 11 and 12 will be under the Department of Education. But if a learner, after completion of basic education (Grade 10), wishes to take the tech-voc track, which currently I understand about 30 to 36 percent of our learners in fact go to the tech-voc track instead of going to Grades 11 to 12, we will have an upgraded TESDA (Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority) that will take care of the curriculum together with industry partners. We want the industry to be directly involved so that a degree or diploma can also be obtained by graduates or those who will complete the tech-voc curriculum. We want Filipinos to understand that tech-voc is globally highly competitive now and it is a highly skilled profession already, unlike how it is being treated right now,” Rep. Romulo said.
Section 3 of the bill provides that upon completing Junior High School, the students may choose two education pathways: 1) the College Preparatory Program under the Department of Education (DepEd) or 2) the Technical-Vocational Program under the TESDA. Students will be given career guidance and counselling services, including aptitude and interest assessments to assist students in selecting appropriate paths, as provided in Republic Act No. 11206, or the “Secondary School Career Guidance and Counseling Act.”
Principal authors of the bill include Rep. Romulo, Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Reps. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano, Irene Gay Saulog, Ma. Carmen Zamora, Bonifacio Bosita, Marie Bernadette Escudero, Jose Gay Padiernos, Eulogio Rodriguez, Bernadette Herrera, and Franz Pumaren, among others.
