THE Philippine Business for Education, an industry-led advocacy group, is urging the government to focus on strengthening the country’s education system amid ongoing proposals to remove the senior high school program from the current curriculum.

While PBEd continues to support the K to 12 program, it stressed that the quality of its implementation must be drastically improved—starting from the early years—to better equip students and enhance their 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 critical reforms aimed at improving support systems for both learners and teachers beginning in the early grades,” said PBEd Executive Director Bal Camua.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently revealed that he had instructed Education Secretary Sonny Angara to improve the K to 12 program, noting that it has yet to deliver meaningful benefits for its graduates.

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

“We must leave no stone unturned and first lay a strong foundation in basic reading, writing, and arithmetic during the early years if we want our students to succeed in higher learning,” he added.

On June 16, DepEd officially launched the strengthened senior high school (SHS) curriculum in 846 participating schools. Major changes include a more streamlined curriculum, increased work immersion hours, and a greater focus on practical competencies.

This rollout marks the initial phase of a broader reform agenda for the K to 12 program, with full nationwide implementation scheduled for next year.

“The program’s full potential can be realized through shared commitment and the collective efforts of all sectors. The government, together with educators, industry partners, parents, and the community, must continue working hand in hand to refine and reinforce K to 12 for the benefit of every Filipino learner,” Camua said.