Private sector urges stronger K to 12 implementation, not abolition

As debates continue over the future of the K to 12 program, the country’s leading private sector groups, business leaders, and civil society organizations have reaffirmed their strong support for the policy, urging the government to focus on fixing implementation issues rather than scrapping senior high school (SHS) altogether.

In a joint statement titled “Support for K to 12: A Call for Unified Action to Strengthen Its Implementation for Every Learner,” the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) and other private sector signatories emphasized the program's critical role in developing a skilled, competitive, and future-ready Filipino workforce.

“The private sector recognizes the necessity of a qualified, competent, and competitive workforce for the continued development, growth, and competitiveness of the Philippine economy,” the statement read. 

“This in turn requires a strong basic education system to provide the fundamentals for a skilled workforce.”

The signatories called on the government to resist calls to abolish the SHS program, warning that doing so would be a “step backward” in national efforts to improve employment readiness and long-term productivity of young Filipinos.

SHS not the problem

The statement comes in response to mounting criticism of the K to 12 program, particularly senior high school, amid reports of graduates struggling to find jobs or lacking essential competencies. But according to PBEd, these challenges stem not from the design of the program, but from gaps in its implementation.

“Senior High School is not the source of our weak outcomes. As a matter of fact, it is even more needed to remediate our students and better prepare them for work or further studies,” the group said.

Citing a World Bank study showing that more than 90 percent of Filipino Grade 4 students are unable to read a simple sentence, the private sector groups stressed that learning deficits begin in early education — and must be addressed as part of a comprehensive education reform strategy.

Strengthening, not scrapping

The statement highlighted the original goals of K to 12: to bridge the gap between education and employment, develop core competencies, and equip learners with practical skills to succeed in college, work, or entrepreneurship.

“When properly implemented, [K to 12] 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,” the groups said.

The private sector also noted existing gaps such as poor learning outcomes, limited work immersion opportunities, and misalignment between SHS offerings and industry needs. They called for reforms that begin from the early grades and extend through senior high school.

Among their recommendations are to:

• Strengthen foundational skills such as reading and math
• Align curriculum with industry standards
• Improve teacher training and support
• Expand work immersion and industry partnerships
• Enhance student support systems

A shared responsibility

PBEd lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent directive to improve SHS outcomes and echoed the call for better implementation. The group called on the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to collaborate more effectively with employers, schools, and communities.

“The success of K to 12 — and the future employability of our 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 said.

As the national government prepares to review key education policies ahead of the President’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA), the private sector is urging leaders to stay the course, fix what’s broken, and work together to deliver better outcomes for every Filipino learner.—LDF, GMA Integrated News