Senior High School: What Do Additional Years of Basic Education Schooling Buy?

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Written for the Second Congressional Commission on Education, this Policy Note summarizes new early evidence on the impact of the senior high school (SHS) program on the timing of school attendance and employment, quality of employment, and even marriage, fertility, and child health. It concludes that SHS graduates tend to have higher wages and more chances of employment in middle-skill occupations than junior high school graduates. It argues that although reverting to a K to 10 [Kindergarten to Grade 10] system or restricting SHS to college attendees might be financially beneficial in the short term, the K to 12 program could be a better long-term choice based on projections. Meanwhile, despite evidence supporting SHS education’s effectiveness, it does not imply its implementation was flawless. Previous studies highlighted challenges such as inadequate resources, limited track options, and poor coordination with external partners. Moreover, schooling quality issues persist in SHS, including problems with reading and writing competencies. To address these challenges, this paper recommends addressing service delivery gaps by expanding strand offerings, ensuring competent teachers, and strengthening linkages with future pathways through collaboration with employers and mapping competencies. It also emphasizes educating the public about the benefits of SHS without overselling it, enhancing work immersion programs, and promoting certification of technical-vocational skills.