CHED: General educ curriculum revision in college to shorten some courses

The chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education said the length of some college degree programs will be “considerably” shortened should the proposed new general education curriculum be implemented by 2016 as a result of the government’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 program.   "The GEC has been revised and there is a proposal to shorten it considerably because the general subjects will be devolved to grades 11 and 12 (junior and senior high school levels)," said Dr. Licuanan told reporters at the European Union's Higher Education Fair held over the weekend in Makati City.   The revision will shorten the duration of some baccalaureate degree programs, according to the CHED chair.   "I don’t predict that too many will shorten (the number of years). I feel there are courses that don’t need four years," Licuanan said. The GE component includes subjects such as English, Filipino, Natural Science which will migrate to the high school phase of basic education.   The GE technical panel, Licuanan said, recommended that four-year arts and sciences programs be reduced to three years while five-year courses like engineering and nursing by trimmed down to four.   She added that the curriculum changes are happening at a fast pace. "The adjustment in the GEC is (indeed) moving quite fast, but we have to respect the process," she explained.   The revision will take effect by the start of the school year in 2016. — ELR, GMA News