CARTOON BY: AARON PAUL C. CARIL
EDITORIAL
Senior High School: A promise or a burden?
When the Senior High School (SHS) program was introduced, it was supposed to be a game-changer for education in the Philippines—two extra years to better prepare students for college, jobs, or even starting their own businesses. In theory, it sounded great. In reality, the experience has been different depending on who you ask.
For some students, the program has helped. SHS graduates tend to be more prepared for college, especially in subjects like math and research. Some industries, like BPOs and hospitality, have started hiring SHS graduates, and studies show they even earn 19% higher wages than those who finished under the old system. SHS also encourages entrepreneurship, helping students develop business skills and self-sufficiency.
But here’s the catch—two more years of schooling come with serious costs. Families are spending more on tuition, transportation, and school supplies, and education funding has been shrinking despite the Constitution’s mandate that education should be the government’s top budget priority. While education technically gets the biggest share of the national budget, critical programs have been hit hard. In 2025 alone, DepEd lost ₱12 billion, while CHED saw a ₱30 billion reduction, cutting into funding for free higher education. Critics say some of this funding is being redirected to military and police academies instead of basic and higher education.
Then there’s employment. SHS was supposed to open up more job opportunities for graduates, but many employers still hesitate to hire them, citing skill gaps. Some reports even suggest that job prospects for SHS completers aren’t much better than those who only finished Grade 10 under the old system. If that’s the case, were those two extra years really worth it?
College readiness is another concern. While students feel prepared, standardized tests show many still struggle in science and math. Without proper funding, schools can’t fully bridge the gaps, forcing some students to take remedial classes instead of jumping straight into college-level coursework.
Now, with growing calls to overhaul or even scrap SHS altogether, the government is tweaking things—revising tracks, restructuring subjects, and strengthening ties with industries. But none of these changes will mean much if education funding keeps getting cut. Without enough investment in teachers, facilities, and job-market alignment, SHS risks becoming an empty promise.
If the system doesn’t work for everyone, then students and their families deserve an honest discussion about whether this program is truly helping—or just holding them back.