CHED says proposed GE overhaul still open to revisions amid backlash

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) assured stakeholders that the proposed reframing of the General Education (GE) curriculum remains open to revisions as consultations continue with schools, teachers, students and other sectors.

The statement came days after faculty members raised concerns during a public hearing over CHED’s proposal to reduce mandatory GE units in college from 36 to 18 units, warning that the overhaul could weaken the humanities and put some teachers at risk of losing their jobs without a government safety net in place.

Critics particularly opposed the removal of standalone required subjects such as philosophy, ethics, literature, art appreciation and Philippine history, which would instead be integrated into broader skills-based courses under the proposal.

In a statement on Thursday, May 7, CHED said it “firmly recognizes and values” the participation of stakeholders during the online public hearing on the proposed Reframed GE Curriculum held on May 5, which gathered over 4,700 viewers on Facebook Live and 1,400 participants through Zoom.

The commission said the proposed curriculum is “not yet final” and remains subject to further review and consultations with higher education institutions, faculty members, professional organizations and other education stakeholders.

“All stakeholder inputs will be carefully examined during the ongoing review to ensure the proposed curriculum is coherent, responsive, and aligned with national priorities and global standards," the statement read.

The commission added that the review process remains “deliberate and evidence-based,” with feedback from stakeholders forming a key part of the deliberations.

All position papers and formally submitted comments, CHED said, will be reviewed by the Technical Panel for General Education (TPGE).

"For context, the proposed reframing forms part of the deliverables of the TPGE, which was re-constituted last September 2024 in response to urgent concerns relative to the alignment between the Senior High School and General Education curricula," the commission said.

After a comprehensive review and initial rounds of consultation, CHED said the TPGE submitted its recommendations in successive Commission en Banc meetings. 

"This led to the decision to conduct broader public consultations to ensure that the policy-making process remains transparent and grounded in a holistic understanding of the sector’s needs," the commission said. 

CHED officials explained that the reframing aims to avoid repeating lessons already covered in senior high school under the K to 12 curriculum.

The commission said it will continue engaging stakeholders through additional consultation mechanisms to ensure that any final policy "reflects careful study, meaningful participation, and the best interests of Filipino learners and higher education."

Implementation of the proposed GE curriculum is being targeted for academic year 2027 to 2028.