The real purpose of education

Philippine education is again in the midst of another controversy regarding its curriculum. This time, the seeming dispute is on the proposal of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) which seeks to reduce General Education (GE) units from 36 to around 18 to 21 units. This proposal also seeks to replace several humanities and social science subjects with broader “skill-based” courses.

According to CHED, the proposal aims to avoid repetition between senior high school and college subjects. CHED also says the new curriculum will align college education with labor market demands. The education sector, however, believes that while modernization and curriculum alignment with the labor market are important goals, the proposed changes risk weakening the very foundation of higher education.

General education courses are not merely a collection of non-major subjects but are essential in developing the intellectual and moral character of students. Subjects such as philosophy, ethics, literature, history and art appreciation help students understand society, culture and human values. They teach students to think critically, communicate effectively and analyze social issues beyond technical or professional concerns. Removing and compressing these disciplines into generalized subjects may lead to graduates who are technically skilled but lack ethical grounding and civic awareness.

Some reports indicate that the proposed GE curriculum changes in philosophy, ethics, literature and Philippine history may no longer be required subjects under the new curriculum. However, university education is supposed to encourage its students to reflect on history, question injustice and participate meaningfully in nation-building. Without a strong humanities education, university students may become focused only on economic and technological productivity, rather than becoming well-rounded individuals.

According to Prof. Antonio Contreras of UP Los Baños, the Constitution is clear that academic freedom belongs to institutions, not regulators like CHED. He says, “It includes the right to determine what to teach and how to teach it.  CHED is empowered to set minimum standards, not to redesign the intellectual architecture of a curriculum… If arts and social sciences are folded into skills-based courses, stripped of their disciplinary identity and made to fit a uniform template imposed across all institutions, then CHED is no longer setting standards. It is deciding what knowledge counts and in what form it should exist. This is precisely the terrain that academic freedom protects.”

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Here are excerpts from the statement of De La Salle Philippines on the proposed reframing of the general education curriculum:

“DLSP affirms that general education must continue to play a vital role in the holistic formation of learners. GE serves as a space where students encounter diverse fields of knowledge, deepen their understanding of society and culture, develop ethical discernment and strengthen the sense of civic and social responsibility. These remain foundational elements not only of higher education but of LaSallian education anchored on the values of faith, service and communion in mission.

“St. John Baptist de la Salle himself emphasized that the duty of the teacher is to teach children not only to learn but to learn how to learn. In an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world, this LaSallian understanding of education remains deeply relevant. Beyond the acquisition of knowledge and technical skills, education must cultivate reflective, lifelong learners capable of critical thinking, discernment, ethical leadership and meaningful engagement with society.

“As LaSallian educators, we continue to recognize the indispensable role of the humanities, social sciences, philosophy, literature, arts and faith-based reflection in nurturing persons who are compassionate, socially engaged and committed to the common good, especially the poor and marginalized.

“In the LaSallian tradition, we continue to believe that education must not only prepare learners for livelihood, but also form persons of integrity, faith, zeal for service and social responsibility who will contribute meaningfully to nation-building and the transformation of society.”

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I strongly advocate that the crafting of curriculum and its contents is better left to those who are actually involved in tertiary education as teachers and researchers and not to government bureaucrats and politicians.

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After viewing the comedic bungling of the attempt to arrest Sen. Bato de la Rosa by the government forces, I cannot help but wonder how different it would have been if the person in charge of the whole operation was the person who arrested Rodrigo Duterte and sent him off to The Hague all in a single night – Gen. Nicolas Torre.

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Last few days to register for Writefest 2026, Write Things’ 12th summer workshop for young writers aged 8-16 on May 18-29 at Fully Booked BGC. It is a hybrid six-session workshop (MWF, 3 sessions via Zoom, 3 face to face), 3-5 p.m. Join us for engaging sessions with guest authors Yvette Tan and Tara Frejas and facilitators Mica Magsanoc and Sofi Bernedo.

Register here: bit.ly/summerwritefest2026.