The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) plans to significantly reduce the number of required General Education (GE) units in college from 36 to 18. The revised curriculum will mandate five subjects: professional communication, global trends, data ethics, Rizal studies, and labor education.
Critics, including student groups and universities, argue that the changes are shortsighted and omit essential subjects like ethics, philosophy, and natural sciences.
Concerns Over Educational Quality
Ateneo de Manila University expressed concerns that this approach prioritizes immediate job readiness over holistic education. The university's Vice President for Higher Education, Maria Luz C Vilches, emphasized that reducing GE units contradicts the goal of developing well-rounded individuals.
The assumption is that general education is supposed to be for the education of the whole person.
Maria Luz C Vilches, Ateneo de Manila University
Vilches argued that while some overlap exists between senior high school and college curricula, the depth of content is crucial for fostering understanding. She highlighted that repetition is vital for deepening knowledge, which the proposed cuts would undermine.
The Importance of Core Subjects
Jose Mario D. De Vega, an educator with experience at various universities, stressed the necessity of subjects like philosophy and the arts for fostering critical thinking and personal growth. He warned that eliminating these courses would strip away essential elements of human development.
To reduce—or to ultimately eliminate—GE subjects is to demolish the very elements that make us human.
Jose Mario D. De Vega
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines echoed these sentiments, criticizing the proposal's job-centric focus. They argued that treating higher education institutions as factories for employable workers undermines the need for socially conscious citizens.
Misplaced Priorities in Education
Senator Loren Legarda, co-chair of the Second Congressional Commission on Education, called for a comprehensive review of educational policies. She highlighted the need for a curriculum that adapts to rapid technological and economic changes.
A regular and programmed review cycle must be institutionalized to ensure that graduates enter the workforce with relevant and competitive qualifications.
Senator Loren Legarda
While it's essential to prepare students for the workforce, this must not come at the expense of a well-rounded education. College should be a space for exploration and personal growth, not just job training.
The debate raises critical questions about the priorities of CHEd. Many argue that instead of focusing on reducing GE subjects, the commission should address pressing issues like inadequate facilities and the disparity in educational quality between public and private institutions.
The proposed reduction of GE units has sparked controversy, as many believe it will diminish the educational experience and the holistic development of students.