SENATE Committee on Basic Education chairman Sherwin Gatchalian defended the Senior High School program amid growing calls to abolish it, citing its social and economic benefits while acknowledging parents’ frustrations over the added burden of two more years in the education cycle.

Gatchalian responded to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s public dissatisfaction with the SHS curriculum. The President had questioned its effectiveness and signaled support for a bill filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada seeking to scrap SHS and revert to the old system.

“I can’t blame him,” Gatchalian said. “When I speak with parents, that’s also their main complaint—that we added two more years to the system and increased their expenses, while college remains four years long. That means more time and more money spent.”

However, Gatchalian—who co-chairs the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2)—noted that data from the commission shows clear improvements since the implementation of SHS under the K to 12 program.

“Based on data, Senior High School has brought certain benefits,” he said. “First, SHS graduates tend to get better-quality jobs than those who only completed Junior High. Second, their salaries are higher on average. Third, there has been a significant drop in teenage pregnancies.”

He attributed the drop to students staying in school longer, delaying early pregnancy and marriage. “That’s a positive social outcome,” he added.

Gatchalian also cited a decrease in youth unemployment. “Before, 16-year-olds were already graduating but weren’t employable. Now, with SHS, teenage unemployment has gone down.”

While acknowledging SHS’s flaws, Gatchalian warned against abandoning the program entirely. He urged that its strengths and weaknesses be evaluated based on evidence, not sentiment.