Professor Jestoni Babia, LPT, MAEd, EdD, and president of the City College of Cagayan de Oro, expressed concern over the plan to transfer certain general education subjects from college to Senior High School.
He cautioned that such a move could weaken the tradition of liberal education in universities and colleges, as students would have reduced exposure to disciplines such as philosophy, ethics, literature, history, communication, and social issues.
Babia added that many teachers and educators worry that the new curriculum places too much emphasis on employability and industry needs, while potentially neglecting nationhood, citizenship, and human formation.
He further explained that it is unfair to assume that all Senior High School students have already mastered the competencies typically taught in general education subjects, especially given the uneven quality of education implementation across different parts of the country.
