Review Pathways Bill Private Schools Urge Congress to Rethink Education Reform

Title Review Pathways Bill Private Schools Urge Congress to Rethink Education Reform

The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea) has called for a comprehensive review of House Bill 11213, also known as the proposed Education Pathways Act. This bill aims to provide two education pathways for students 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).

Concerns Over Learning Outcomes

Cocopea expresses deep concern about the potential impact of HB 11213 on the learning outcomes of Filipino students. The group believes that by rendering senior high school and tech-voc programs optional, basic education becomes a premature exit point for many students, affecting their future growth, employment, health, social mobility, and overall productivity.

Weakened Stability

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. This could lead to a decline in the quality of technical-vocational education, according to Cocopea.

Global Student Assessments

Cocopea emphasizes that the country's performance in global student assessments, such as PISA and 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. The group believes that schooling is not the same as learning, and that a renewed focus on the quality of learning is necessary.

Reform Fatigue

The education sector already suffers from reform fatigue, with many proposed reforms not delivering on their intended quality objectives and outcomes. Therefore, Congress must consider more in-depth studies on the implications, challenges, and benefits of HB 11213 before proceeding further to ensure that the Philippine education system remains responsive to the evolving needs of Filipino learners.

Industry-Driven Curriculum

Representative Roman Romulo, chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, explained that the objective of HB 11213 is to allow learners a choice of different career pathways after finishing Grade 10. He emphasized that if a learner chooses the technical-vocational (tech-voc) track, it should be an industry-driven curriculum approved by industry boards and regulated by Tesda.

Conclusion

The debate surrounding HB 11213 highlights the need for a comprehensive review of the proposed Education Pathways Act. As Cocopea urged, Congress must consider the potential impact on learning outcomes, the stability of technical-vocational education, and the quality of learning before proceeding further. The future of Philippine education depends on it.

Keywords Education Pathways Act, House Bill 11213, Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea), Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), technical-vocational education, learning outcomes, PISA, TIMSS

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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