SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday said there is a need to study the proposed K+10+2 for the Philippine education system.

“We are studying it very carefully. May pros and cons ang proposal na K+10+2. Of course, yung flexibility yan sa mga gusto na mag-graduate after 10 years of schooling at gusto na makatulong sa pamilya nila. Marami kasi tayong mga kababayan na tumutulong sa family business nila, sa farm, sa pangingisda. But we also need to study carefully na hindi magiging easy way out ito sa mga bata,” Gatchalian said.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Culture said that it is important to equip students with skills that can be used when they seek employment.

“So, meron kaming proposal dito, yung Batang Magaling Act na gagawing mandatory ang certification ng mga bata. Para kapag graduate nila ng K-12 may certification sila. Ngayon kasi wala. So ngayon bibigyan na sila ng certification. So that’s another alternative na pinag-aaralan natin,” he added.

The senator said there is a need to push for accreditation from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for the courses being offered in Senior High School.

“Hindi siya revision per se, but accreditation ng TESDA. We found out also na ang TESDA courses, hindi accredited by TESDA so kailangan i-accredit yun para malaman natin na up to standard ang tech voc courses ng DepEd [Department of Education]. So hindi lang sapat na itinuturo ang techvoc, dapat standard sya ng TESDA para laman natin na quality talaga ang itinuturo sa mga bata,” he explained.

Gatchalian said that they are trying to revise the K+10 curriculum. The DepEd is forming a task force to review the curriculum and there is also a proposal in the Senate to strengthen the senior high school program.

“So, all of these pinag-aaralan nating mabuti. Tignan natin, at the end of the day ang pinakamahalaga kung ano makakaganda para sa bata sa paghahanap ng trabaho because in Senior High School, tatlong exit yun, entrepreneurship, employment or college so itong tatlo dapat napu-fullfil natin,” he added.