SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian revealed that 99.5% of the world’s education systems have more than 10 years of basic education, stressing that reverting to a shorter cycle would isolate the Philippines from global education standards.

The senator’s office analyzed the theoretical duration of basic education in 214 countries and jurisdictions, based on UNESCO microdata.

The analysis shows that 57 countries — or nearly 3 out of 10 (26.6%) — have 13 years of basic education. Another 135 countries — or about 6 in 10 (63.1%) — implement a 12-year cycle. These include major economies such as the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

Seven out of ten ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar, also follow a 12-year basic education system.

Only Singapore implements a 10-year cycle, as its pre-tertiary education is not considered part of the basic education framework.

“Imbes na bumalik tayo sa sampung taon ng basic education, isinusulong nating iklian na lang ang taon sa kolehiyo,” said Gatchalian, who has filed the Three-Year College Education or 3CE Act, which proposes that college degree programs be completed in no more than three academic years.