As I ponder the prospect of making the Senior High School (SHS) optional to Filipino learners, I am met with a sense of trepidation and foreboding. The potential consequences of such a move are far-reaching and devastating, and I fear that our policymakers are grossly underestimating the backlash that will ensue. By making the K-12 Program optional, we risk unleashing a maelstrom of inequality, inefficiency, and social unrest that will have far-reaching and devastating consequences for our education system and our society as a whole.
First and foremost, making the SHS optional will exacerbate the already glaring inequalities in our education system. The affluent and the educated will have the means and the resources to provide their children with a high-quality education, while the poor and the marginalized will be left to fend for themselves. This will create a two-tiered education system, where the haves and the have-nots are separated by a chasm of inequality and injustice. The consequences of this will be dire, as we will be perpetuating a system of elitism and exclusivity that will only serve to further entrench the social and economic disparities that already plague our society.
Furthermore, making the SHS optional will also lead to a decline in the overall quality of our education system. Without a standardized curriculum and a mandatory education requirement, our schools will be forced to compete with each other for students, leading to a race to the bottom in terms of academic standards and rigor. This will result in a generation of learners who are ill-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century, lacking the skills, knowledge, and critical thinking abilities necessary to succeed in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. In addition, making the SHS optional will also have serious social and economic consequences.
I am also concerned that an optional K-12 Program could undermine the very foundations of our education system. The SHS was designed to provide learners with a comprehensive and well-rounded education that prepares them for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Again, by making the SHS optional, we risk creating a generation of learners who are ill-equipped to navigate the challenges of the 21st century. We risk undermining the progress that we have made in improving our education system and compromising the future of our learners.
A large number of learners will be forced to drop out of school, leading to a rise in unemployment, poverty, and social unrest. This will put a strain on our social services and our economy, as we will be forced to deal with the consequences of a generation of uneducated and unskilled workers. The long-term effects of this will be catastrophic, as we will be sacrificing the future of our country and our people on the altar of political expediency and ideological dogma. Finally, I must emphasize that making the SHS optional is not only a bad idea, but it is also a morally reprehensible one.
Education is a fundamental human right, and it is the duty of our government to ensure that all citizens have access to a high-quality education. By making the SHS optional, we will be abandoning this duty and betraying the trust of our people. We will be saying that education is not a priority, that our children do not deserve the best possible start in life, and that we are willing to sacrifice their future for the sake of political convenience. Dr. Joy Timbol Guadalupe of the University of the Philippines is actually wondering “how the proponents will justify this act with the ASEAN 2008 treaty where the Philippines signed a binding document that integrates educational systems (AQF 12 years basic education)”.
Making the SHS optional is a recipe for disaster, a catastrophic mistake that will have far-reaching and devastating consequences for our education system, our society, and our country. I urge our policymakers to reconsider this proposal and to prioritize the education and well-being of our children. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and our country to do better.
Ultimately, the decision to make the SHS optional to Filipino learners is a complex and multifaceted one that requires careful consideration and deliberation. As we weigh the pros and cons of such a move, I urge policymakers and educators to prioritize the needs and interests of our learners and to seek out innovative solutions that promote equity, excellence, and empowerment in our education system.