THE FEDERATION of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators said Senior High School students should be called Junior collegians or Associates in Arts.

“If the only thing we are after is the workability of our SHS then stop calling them Grade 11 and Grade 12 students. That is a misnomer,” FAPSA chairman Eleazardo Kasilag said.

“Our reputation is building a good name. The employers are given the impression that SHS graduates just finished elementary since from Grade one, they are still graders even up to Grade 12,” Kasilag added.

He lamented that few teachers are teaching SHS subjects.

“We have legit teachers for our pre-schoolers, also for our elementary and high school but we do not have graduates for SHS. There is no course for our SHS,” he said.

He added that private schools take SHS seriously since this is the only department that is subsidized by voucher and the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or GASTPE.

“But if the authority wishes to scrap SHS then, give it to TESDA [Technical Education and Skills Development Authority] since some of us offer the courses and earn,” Kasilag said.

Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wanted to replace Kindergarten to Grade 12 with Kindergarten to Grade 10 and make the SHS optional.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said the proposal to scrap the K to 12 program needs to be further discussed.