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MANILA, Philippines — A total of 17,700 Grade 11 students may have to transfer schools for School Year 2024-25 since the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) stopped implementing senior high school (SHS) programs.
Department of Education spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa said Wednesday that 17,700 Grade 11 students are currently enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) for School Year 2023-24.
However, a CHEd memorandum stated that SUCs and LUCs are no longer permitted to implement SHS programs for the next academic year.
According to Poa, enrolled students for the current school year could still finish their course in their respective SUCs or LUCs but must enroll in a different school for their Grade 12 education.
Poa said Grade 11 students may choose to enroll in public schools for Grade 12, or in private schools and avail of the SHS Voucher Program.
“For non-voucher recipients, it appears from our database that around 17,700 Grade 11 learners are enrolled in SUCs and LUCs (nationwide) this school year. Nonetheless, based on the reports of our Regional Directors, our public schools will be able to accommodate those that may be displaced,” he told reporters through Viber.
“May mga regions rin po na wala nang (there are also regions with no) SHS (senior high school) learners sa mga SUCs and LUCs so no one will be displaced in these regions,” he added.
READ: DepEd checking on affected students as SUCs stop senior high program
Poa further clarified that no recipients of the DepEd’s SHS Voucher Program would be affected by the CHEd memorandum.
“Wala na po tayong (We no longer have) Grade 11 Voucher Recipients sa (in) SUCs and LUCs. The voucher application system no longer accepted Grade 11 applicants in schools tagged as SUCs and LUCs,” he noted.
Poa stressed that only current Grade 12 students in SUCs and LUCs have been provided vouchers to guarantee that they will finish their education this school year.