THE Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea) is calling on Congress to conduct a thorough review of House Bill 11213, which seeks to introduce major changes to the existing K to 12 education system.
The bill, titled “An Act Providing Education Pathways for Basic Education Students,” recently passed the third reading in the House of Representatives.
Cocopea expressed concerns over the bill’s impact on learning outcomes and the constitutional mandate for accessible, quality basic education.
One of the key provisions of HB 11213 makes Senior High School and Technical-Vocational programs optional, which Cocopea warns could lead to students exiting the education system prematurely, affecting their future employment, social mobility, and productivity.
Additionally, the bill proposes separating the Tech-Voc track from secondary education, raising concerns about its long-term viability, as it would no longer fall under the constitutional guarantee of free public secondary education.
Cocopea emphasized that the Philippines’ poor performance in international student assessments, such as the Programme for International Student Assessment and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, reflects a need for improved learning quality rather than structural changes to the number of years in school.
The organization argues that curriculum enhancements, better content delivery, and governance reforms should take priority over legislative changes.
The 19th Congress’ legislative calendar, Cocopea continues to urge lawmakers to carefully examine the bill’s potential impact.
The group warns against rushing reforms without comprehensive studies, particularly in alignment with the recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education, to ensure that the Philippine education system remains responsive to students’ needs.
