MANILA — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has warned that shortening the country’s basic education cycle could further isolate the Philippines from global education standards, noting that 99.5% of education systems worldwide have more than 10 years of basic education.

Based on an analysis conducted by Gatchalian’s office using UNESCO microdata from 214 countries and jurisdictions, the findings revealed that:

• 57 countries (26.6%) implement a 13-year basic education cycle;
• 135 countries (63.1%), including the United States, Japan, and South Korea, offer 12 years of basic education;
• Only a very small percentage implement a 10-year system.

In Southeast Asia, 7 out of 10 ASEAN member states — including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar — follow the 12-year structure. Singapore implements a 10-year cycle, but its pre-tertiary education is not included in its basic education framework.

“Instead of reverting to a 10-year basic education cycle, we should consider shortening the years spent in college,” Gatchalian said, referencing his proposed Three-Year College Education (3CE) Act, which seeks to allow college degree programs to be completed within three academic years.