Angara defends K-12 program amid calls for abolition
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has expressed his unwavering support for the K to 12 program amid abolition calls.
As one of the original authors of the law, Angara emphasized that the department’s priority is not to discard the system, but to refine it to meet global standards and industry needs.
In an interview during the opening of NFOT 2026 on Sunday in this city, Angara clarified the government’s position on the necessity of the additional two years of basic education. He noted that the program remains a vital part of the country’s educational framework, despite the challenges it has faced since its implementation.
“Yes, that’s my law. We will not just stop the K to 12 program,” Angara asserted.
He noted that the current administration is focused on optimization.
“The instruction to us from President Marcos is to improve it, make it less crowded, and ensure there aren’t too many subjects because that prevents the children from learning effectively,” Angara remarked.
Rather than entertaining the idea of abolition, Angara is leading a strategic shift toward “decongesting” the curriculum. He addressed long-standing concerns from students and teachers alike regarding the heavy workload, which many argue leads to burnout rather than mastery.
READ: Groups oppose calls to remove K-12 program
By streamlining the curriculum, the Department of Education (DepEd) aims to prioritize core subjects like literacy, science, and mathematics. This approach is intended to ensure that students gain a deeper understanding of fundamental concepts before moving on to specialized tracks.
A key pillar of Angara’s commitment is ensuring that the program fulfills its original promise of employability for Senior High School (SHS) graduates. He acknowledged the industry gap where many graduates still struggle to find immediate employment.
“Second, when a student graduates from senior high school, this should be their chance to get a job because they should already possess the skills that the industry and offices are looking for,” the Secretary stated.
READ: Angara pushes inclusion of global Filipino learners in DepEd reforms
To resolve this, DepEd is intensifying its collaboration with the private sector and various industries to align the SHS technical-vocational tracks with actual workforce demands. Angara’s firm stance signals a move away from the uncertainty of abolition and toward a more focused, high-quality execution of the K-12 mandate./coa
