A party-list representative expressed support for faculty groups opposing the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) proposed revision of the General Education (GE) curriculum, warning that the changes could threaten teaching jobs and weaken humanities education in colleges and universities.
The concern was raised over proposals to reduce mandatory GE units from 36 to 18 and remove standalone humanities subjects as required courses, saying the move could shrink departments and reduce faculty workloads, particularly in private schools where teaching loads are tied to employment status.
“Faculty groups are correct to sound the alarm on CHED’s draft GE overhaul,” according to ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio, stressing that the issue affects not only curriculum policy but also educators’ livelihoods and the quality of learning received by students.
He argued that humanities subjects remain essential in developing critical thinking, ethical reasoning, historical awareness, and cultural understanding among learners.
The lawmaker also questioned CHED’s description of the proposed changes as merely a “reframing” of the curriculum, saying the practical effect could still lead to fewer humanities offerings and reduced academic flexibility for schools and universities.
At the same time, he linked the proposed GE revisions to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) ongoing review of the Senior High School (SHS) curriculum, warning that simultaneous reforms could once again disrupt staffing, teaching assignments, and workloads similar to the issues experienced during the rollout of the K to 12 program.
While he welcomed public consultations, Tinio said reforms involving education policy should not be rushed and must include broader and more transparent discussions with teachers, schools, and communities.
“Meaningful consultation cannot be reduced to a short online survey and a rushed timeline,” he said.
Tinio also called on CHED to suspend the current GE proposal and conduct wider consultations with faculty organizations and academic experts. He likewise urged the DepEd to disclose clearer details regarding funding, implementation, and teacher welfare provisions connected to the proposed SHS curriculum reforms.
Amid the growing criticism, the CHED clarified that the proposed reframing of the GE curriculum remains under review and has not yet been finalized.
CHED said the proposal is still undergoing consultations with higher education institutions, professional organizations, students, and faculty groups nationwide.
The commission noted that the review process remains “deliberate and evidence-based,” emphasizing that no final policy has been issued.
The agency added that all comments, recommendations, and position papers gathered during consultations will be evaluated by the Technical Panel for General Education (TPGE), which was reconstituted in September 2024 to address concerns regarding the alignment of Senior High School and college GE curricula.
CHED also cited its large-scale online public hearing conducted on May 5, which drew more than 4,700 viewers on Facebook Live and around 1,400 participants via Zoom.
It said additional consultations will be conducted in the coming months to ensure that any final policy reflects broader sectoral participation and addresses the needs of both educators and students.