Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has filed Senate Bill No. 3001 seeking the abolition of the Senior High School (SHS) program in the country. The measure proposes to streamline the Philippine basic education curriculum by removing the senior high school (SHS) level, arguing that it has not met its intended goals since its full implementation.
According to Estrada, it has been a year since SHS was enforced nationwide, yet its objectives remain unmet. “We can’t keep letting students and their parents shoulder the extra time and cost of senior high school,” he said. “Why should we allow this additional burden on their time and finances?”
The senator pointed to the Department of Education’s admission that the SHS program has underperformed. Issues such as a congested curriculum, overworked teachers, and stressed students were cited as contributing factors. Furthermore, Estrada highlighted the disappointing employment outcomes for SHS graduates, with only 10% joining the workforce, mostly in informal jobs.
Estrada also referenced survey results from Pulse Asia Research Inc., conducted in March 2025, which revealed that only 33% of respondents expressed satisfaction with SHS, while 40% were dissatisfied. This, he said, reflects public sentiment that the additional two years in high school have not provided sufficient value.
Despite calling for the removal of SHS, Estrada emphasized that the bill will uphold the core principles of Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. “We are not discarding the entire K-12 framework. We’re simply realigning it to better serve Filipino students,” he explained.
If enacted, Senate Bill No. 3001 will mandate the Department of Education to collaborate with other government agencies and constitutional experts from academic institutions to design a new Constitutional Education Course. This course will be introduced in both public and private high schools, aiming to strengthen civic education without extending the school year.
Estrada’s proposal has sparked renewed debate on the effectiveness of the K-12 system. As discussions unfold in the Senate, the future of senior high school hangs in the balance, with many awaiting the outcome of this bold legislative move.