The Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) on Tuesday urged the Marcos administration to focus on strengthening the country’s education system amid proposals to abolish the senior high school level from the current K to 12 curriculum.

In a statement, PBEd stressed that the effectiveness of the K to 12 program relies on fixing foundational gaps, especially in the early years of learning, to equip students with quality education and improve their future employability.

“The success of the senior high school program hinges not only on its implementation but also on addressing foundational gaps within the basic education system. We must strengthen and accelerate reforms that improve support systems for both learners and teachers starting at the early grades,” said PBEd Executive Director Bal Camua.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier directed new Education Secretary Sonny Angara to review and improve the K to 12 program, citing its failure to give graduates a clear advantage.

“We respect the President’s assessment of the K to 12 program as a reflection of the high expectations we all want for our learners. It is precisely this expectation that drives our continued call for education to be the government’s top priority,” Camua said.

He added, “We must leave no stone unturned and lay a strong foundation of basic reading, writing, and arithmetic in their early years if we want students to truly succeed in higher learning.”

On 16 June, the Department of Education began the pilot rollout of the strengthened senior high school curriculum in 846 schools nationwide. Key changes include a streamlined curriculum, increased work immersion hours, and greater emphasis on practical skills and competencies.

DepEd aims to implement the enhanced curriculum nationwide by next year.

"The program’s full potential can be achieved through shared commitment and collective efforts of all sectors. As such, the government together with educators, industry partners, parents, and the rest of the community must continue to work together in refining and reinforcing K to 12 for the benefit of every Filipino learner," Camua said.