SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has reiterated the need to shorten college education by streamlining curricula and transferring key general education subjects to the senior high school (SHS) level.

Gatchalian said he plans to file a measure that will fulfill the original intent of the K to 12 program, which promised shorter college years following the addition of Grades 11 and 12 to the basic education cycle.

“When the 20th Congress opens, I intend to file a bill that will shorten college education depending on the program,” Gatchalian said.

“Kailangang tuparin natin ang pangakong mababawasan ang taon sa kolehiyo kasunod ng pagdagdag ng dalawang taon sa high school,” he added.

Central to his proposal is the rationalization of General Education courses by moving them to the SHS curriculum.

Gatchalian argued that many of these subjects are unnecessarily duplicated in both SHS and college, leading to inefficiencies and prolonged degree completion.

“This will eliminate the duplication of courses and help students focus on their specialization,” he said.

Beyond curricular reforms, Gatchalian emphasized the importance of equipping SHS students with essential soft skills that are increasingly vital in today’s workforce.

These include critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, socio-emotional skills, creativity, and collaboration.

“We should also prioritize the teaching of soft skills to our SHS learners,” he said, stressing that these competencies are key to developing globally competitive graduates, whether they enter the workforce or pursue further studies.

A staunch advocate for education reform, Gatchalian said the bill is part of broader efforts to make the Philippine education system more responsive to student needs and 21st-century demands.