SENATOR Robinhood Padilla is seeking to remove Senior High School (SHS) from the country’s basic education system, citing the growing financial burden it places on Filipino families under the K to 12 program.

Padilla filed Senate Bill No. 1297, or the proposed Abolishing Senior High School Education Act, which aims to amend Republic Act No. 10533, the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.

The measure proposes streamlining basic education to kindergarten, six years of elementary education, and four years of secondary education, effectively removing the additional two years of SHS.

While acknowledging the goal of the K to 12 program to improve education quality and enhance global competitiveness, Padilla said the system continues to strain many families, particularly due to rising education-related costs.

He noted that parents struggle with expenses such as transportation, daily allowances, and school supplies brought about by the added two years of schooling.

“Many Filipino families are finding it difficult to sustain the added years of education. Poverty should not be a barrier to finishing school,” Padilla said.

The senator also raised concerns over the number of students dropping out before completing high school, which he attributed to the extended duration of the current system.

“If the result of the system is that more young people are forced to stop studying, then we need to reassess whether this is the right direction,” he added.

Padilla also questioned whether the SHS curriculum effectively prepares students for employment or higher education, stressing that education should equip learners for real-world challenges.

“The goal of education is to prepare our youth for real life. If the current system falls short, it is our responsibility to fix it,” he said.

He said the proposed measure seeks to create a more efficient and inclusive education system by reducing costs for families, improving student completion rates, and making education more accessible.

“We need an education system that reflects the real conditions of our people—effective, humane, and affordable,” Padilla added.