With a 198-8 vote, the House of Representatives on Monday 19 November, passed on third and final reading the K-to-12 bill that will add two years to the country's 10-year basic education. House Bill 6643 will institutionalise the 12-year system and require students to undergo kindergarten, 6 years in elementary (grades one to six), four years in junior high school (grades seven to ten), and two years in senior high school (grades 11 to 12). The Senate version of the bill was sponsored in October.

The bill seeks to place the Philippines in line with international standards. According to Education Secretary Armin Luistro, the measure will boost employment for high school graduates, writes Angela Casauay for Rappler News