Gov't urged to strengthen K to 12 implementation

The private sector, business community, and civil society on Monday reaffirmed their strong support for the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K to 12) basic education program and called on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to enhance its implementation.

"As active partners in nation-building and workforce development, we recognize K to 12 as essential for preparing young Filipinos for employment, lifelong learning, and active citizenship," read a joint statement by the groups, as presented by Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) president Dr. Chito Salazar during a press conference at Tryp Hotel in Pasay City.

The statement was signed by PBEd, the Makati Business Club & De La Salle Philippines, the Management Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, the Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities, the Private Sector Jobs and Skills Corp., the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations, the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, the Philippine Business for Social Progress, various private universities, and other civil society organizations.

The groups expressed opposition to proposals seeking to abolish the senior high school (SHS) program, saying it "would be a step backward in our collective efforts to improve the Filipino workforce."

Instead of dismantling SHS, they urged the government to strengthen its implementation by improving foundational skills and aligning education outcomes with industry needs.

"At the same time, continue to build on current reforms including the pilot rollout of the enhanced SHS curriculum, work in partnership with private education, and expand the work immersion program to boost employability," the statement read.

The groups said K to 12 aims not only to strengthen core competencies but also to bridge the school-to-work gap by equipping students with practical and employable skills.

"When properly implemented, it equips learners with the competencies needed to succeed in postsecondary education, enter the workforce, or start their own enterprises. This is critical in an economy that continues to evolve and where demand for skilled workers is growing," they said.

However, they acknowledged that the program’s success depends on execution. "The private sector continues to observe persistent learning gaps, inadequate immersion opportunities, and misalignments between SHS offerings and industry needs," the groups said.

"These challenges must be addressed urgently—starting from the early grades and continuing through to senior high school—through reforms that improve teacher quality, curriculum relevance, student support systems, and meaningful private sector engagement."

They welcomed President Marcos' directive to the Department of Education (DepEd) to improve SHS and echoed the call for better outcomes.

"We urge the government to view these issues not as grounds for abandoning the reform, but as an opportunity to deepen its implementation and invest more substantially in public education," the groups added.

They stressed that the learning crisis begins well before senior high school, citing a World Bank study showing that over 90 percent of Filipino students at age 10 (Grade 4) cannot read a simple sentence.

"SHS is not the source of weak learning outcomes among learners. In fact, it is even more necessary to help remediate students and better prepare them for work or further studies," they said.

The coalition emphasized that the success of the K to 12 program—and the future employability of Filipino youth—relies on shared responsibility.

"We must collectively commit to making K to 12 work: by closing learning gaps, aligning skills training with industry standards, and supporting every learner’s pathway to gainful employment and lifelong productivity," they concluded.