The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has officially suspended its proposed Reframed General Education Curriculum Component (RGECC) for Academic Year 2026–2027 on May 13, 2026. The decision followed widespread backlash and opposition from individuals, academic groups, and educational institutions nationwide.
Upon implementation, the RGECC would reduce General Education (GE) units in college from 36 to 18. After discussions with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Teacher Education Council (TEC), and the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) during an interagency meeting, CHED has decided to postpone the plan to 2028.
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis shared the rationale behind the agency's decision. “This is to give us time, especially the technical panel and the Department of Education to analyze and study well the different manifestation because we understand where they are coming from,” she detailed. Additionally, Agrupis disclosed that CHED plans to modify the RGECC for 2028, opting for a more flexible approach to curriculum reform rather than a “one-size-fits-all” model.
According to the chairperson, the proposal drew 15 official position papers and 22 formal statements from various individuals, organizations, higher education institutions (HEIs), and the CHED technical panels themselves. These stakeholders opposed the agency's bid for reforms, which CHED claimed was proposed to allow the education sector to better adapt to workforce demands.
The objections to the implementation underscore issues of potential job displacement, compromised learning quality, and loss of holistic education. Agrupis acknowledged the public's concerns over faculty members of affected subjects who may be displaced, stating: “Definitely there will be displacement. That's why even before they ask if there will be displacement, so we develop a system for an online feedback.” Accordingly, about 255 HEIs across 17 regions have responded with questions and concerns regarding the matter.
Groups and organizations, namely the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), the General Education Movement (GEM), and Tanggol Wika, shared their positive reactions toward the postponement of the proposal.
Professor Jonathan Geronimo, a GEM initiator and Tanggol Wika convenor said on Thursday, May 13, via Facebook: “This is a clear victory for our protests and engagement with CHED.” “The growing nationwide opposition exposed the deep flaws of the proposed RGECC and compelled CHED to delay its implementation,” Prof. Geronimo added. He maintained that suspension is not cancellation, and “postponement alone is not enough,” highlighting that the market-oriented framework restructure remains the bigger problem.
With CHED's suspension of the RGECC for Academic Year 2026-2027, some members who opposed the proposal expressed satisfaction with the agency's decision, while others remained firm in their conviction to demand full termination. The public backlash underscored the plan's adverse implications on educators and higher education, ultimately forcing its postponement.
Written by Ashraf Indanan
Ashraf Indanan is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
