Students and teachers’ group oppose halting of SHS program in SUCs, LUCs

Students and teachers’ groups on Thursday, Jan. 4, called on the government to extend the K-12 transition period as they pushed back against its sudden discontinuation of senior high school programs in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs).

Teacher’s Dignity Coalition (TDC) and Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) said suddenly halting the SHS program from SUCs and LUCs without considering possible drawbacks could lead to another learning crisis.

We thus urge national agencies on education to extend the K-12 transition period to take into account the time and resources needed,

they said.

The groups asked the government to guarantee that all public and private institutions can absorb all affected learners without school congestion, ensure families are not burdened with additional costs of transferring schools, and prevent the quality of education learners receive from SUCs and LUCs to decline.

The DepEd must guarantee the performance of schools and rid itself of diploma mills and fly-by-night schools that have sprouted since the inception of the K-12 program,

the groups said.

They also added that DepEd needs to rid itself of private educational institutions that fail to meet labor standards.

Furthermore, the groups asked the government to ensure all SHS and teachers would not suffer from economic displacement.

They also emphasized the need for public schools to absorb SHS teachers previously employed in SUCs and LUCs without loss of compensation and benefits.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers also asked the Marcos administration to increase funding of public schools to deal with massive shortages and support SUCs and LUCs offering SHS programs rather than ceasing their operation.

Acknowledging the students and groups calls, CHED Chairman J. Prospero de Vera III said he understands the position of teachers and students and left the matter with the board of regents and trustees of SUCs and LUCs for the next steps they need to take.