Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday urged the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to widen employment opportunities and enhance examination access for K-12 graduates. During the Senate budget hearing for the CSC, Gatchalian highlighted the government's failure to uphold the K-12 law by not setting clear standards for hiring senior high school graduates.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian pointed out that since the shift to K-12 in 2012 and the emergence of senior high school graduates in 2021, the government has not adhered to the K-12 law. He emphasized that Filipinos were mandated to complete K-12, yet the government itself was not hiring senior high school graduates. In response, CSC Chairperson Marilyn Yap mentioned that the commission had amended the education qualification standards for first-level entry positions to include junior and senior high school graduates. These positions encompass clerical, administrative support, trades and crafts, and custodial jobs.
Yap stated that applicants still need to take the sub-professional civil service eligibility exam. However, Gatchalian noted that only about 14 percent of exam takers pass, suggesting that while a challenging exam ensures quality, the pass rate might be too low. Yap acknowledged that many government agencies still prefer college graduates despite the new qualification standards, underscoring the need for affirmative action to encourage hiring senior high school graduates.
The CSC reported approximately 83,000 unfilled first-level government positions suitable for senior high school graduates. Gatchalian recommended a review of the entire employment process, from civil service examinations to contractual hiring and qualification standards, to ensure fair opportunities for K-12 graduates in government service.
The subcommittee approved the CSC's proposed PHP4.188 billion budget for 2026, a significant increase from PHP2.783 billion in 2025. Under the proposal, the CSC aims to open 550,000 examination slots for civil service eligibility exams, train 81,000 civil servants, and process 86 percent of appointments received from agencies.
