Chapter 128: Chapter 129: Interpellation 4
Arianna, after hearing his speech, smiled brightly and offered a clap of her own, her expression was full of appreciation.
Jeff wondered if she had also prepared some big guns of her own. Meanwhile, Teacher Annie, still lost in her thoughts, suddenly realized the speech had already ended and that the entire class was waiting for her to announce the continuation.
She coughed in embarrassment, having been so absorbed in her thoughts that she forgot what was happening.
"Now, moving to the fourth speaker of the Removal Side to deliver her speech," Teacher Annie said, still masking her slip with a cough.
With the cue given, it was Arianna’s turn to shine as she stepped to the center.
"Good day my dear classmates, respected teacher, and fellow debaters. I am Arianna, the fourth speaker for the Removal side."
"So the same as the Retention side I will be addressing some of it, we have heard from the previous speaker on my side that show us the financial burden, while some also reveal the unemployment and mismatch, and my fellow members prove that length alone does not guarantee quality. That is why Istand here to bring these truths together and add one more, and that is the weight this system places on students themselves."
"Let us start with cost. According to a 2018 DepEd report, the average annual expense for a senior high school student reaches ₱22,000, covering transportation, food, uniforms, and projects."
"For families living near or below the poverty line where about 16.7% of Filipinos still struggle daily, that cost is crushing. A system that adds years without fully lifting the burden risks pushing more students out, not keeping them in."
"Now, let us look at jobs. JobStreet Philippines reported in 2019 that 35% of senior high school graduates were unemployed or working in jobs unrelated to their strand. That’s one in three a figure which is too large to ignore. So if a program promises employability but still leaves a third behind, then where is the fairness?Am I right?"
"Even DepEd’s own records have shown dropout rates rising in senior high school compared to junior high, due both to financial stress and the heavy academic workload."
"Two more years do not just mean more learning, they mean more deadlines, more stress, and in many cases, more burnout. Education should be a bridge, not a wall that only the strongest or richest can climb."
"The speaker on the retention side even added that he and his team will tell you that vouchers help 1.2 million students. Yes, but let’s not forget: there are over 2.8 million enrolled in senior high. That leaves more than half uncovered. Can we really call that inclusive?"
"They will also point to TESDA certifications, but in practice, many employers still prioritize college graduates. If a piece of paper is not enough to open the door to work, then the promise is broken."
She said while making a fist, her actions looks so silly and cute even with a serious expression.
"And so I ask: Is an education system truly successful if it creates more pressure than opportunity, more dropout than uplift, more disappointment than progress?"
"That is why we, the Removal side, stand firm and that is K to 12 has failed to deliver."
"It is not enough to patch cracks in a weak structure. Sometimes, to build something stronger, you must first take down what does not work."
With that, she ended her speech with a victorious smile, switching her glance at Jeff, he saw that he was also clapping from her performance.
Jeff could see that her speech was well constructed. Even though she carried notes and had to glance at them from time to time, what mattered most was that she directly addressed his arguments, which was truly impressive.
After all, using notes still requires organization, accuracy, and precision and she had shown all three, making her delivery both amazing and admirable.
Clapping from a worthy opponent was not such a bad thing, as it showed genuine appreciation. Seeing his reaction, Arianna simply smiled.
Teacher Annie, recognizing how Arianna had also delivered a strong blow, let out a sigh. She already knew Arianna’s talent, so she didn’t feel discouraged, especially since she had once invited her to join before, but in response Arianna had declined.
What weighed on her more was Jeff. He had always seemed so low-key that she never realized he was actually outstanding when it comes to debate as well.
"Then that ends the speech of the Removal Side. During her delivery..." Teacher Annie said as she highlighted the key points in her remarks.
Her face was bright, clearly happy and impressed with her class. Once she finished, it was finally time for the interpellation.
The role of questionnaire now fell to Jeff. As the two stood on stage, the aura surrounding Arianna seemed to shine at that very moment.
With her golden hair flowing in the air, Arianna’s amber eyes locked directly on Jeff as she smiled.
It was bright and beautiful, and as she stood there, a hint of nobility lingered in the air. The most surprising part, however, was that Jeff also seemed to exude the same presence.
Arianna herself was taken aback, for his aura matched her own, and even his appearance suggested that he might come from a distinguished family.
But from what she knew about him after being classmates for so long, he came from an average family.
He was charismatic, but not to the extent of carrying the aura of a wealthy bloodline. This made Arianna narrow her eyes as she sank into deep thought.
Jeff, unaware of the phenomenon he had just caused, stood there casually. Even if he had noticed, he would have known that it must be due to the system’s effects or perhaps the influence of the Kinetic Vein Art making him appear as someone powerful.
"So for my first question, you asked during your speech that if an education system is truly that successful if it creates more dropout than uplift am I right?" Jeff asked.
"Yes you are right," Arianna responded accompanied by a nod.
"But according to DepEd’s 2019 tracer study, more than 80% of SHS graduates who pursued TESDA NC certifications found employment within a year. Meanwhile, DOLE itself admits that job mismatch also affects college graduates."
"So here’s my question: If both SHS and college graduates face mismatch, isn’t it unfair to blame only K to 12, instead of fixing the labor market and improving partnerships with industry?"
As Jeff gave his question, it was so thorough and long that anyone would want to hear it repeated, but Arianna was not one of them.
"I acknowledge that TESDA reports successes, and yes, mismatch also happens among college graduates. But the difference is this," she said while one of her fingers to make a good point.
"College graduates still have higher earning potential, while SHS graduates often settle for lower-paying jobs. My point is not that K to 12 alone is to blame, but that it adds two costly years without guaranteeing that graduates escape the same problem. If mismatch exists at both levels, why force students to face it earlier with less advantage?"
She answered but before she could catch her breath, Jeff had already added another follow up question.
"I see your point and you emphasized that SHS adds cost without enough guarantee. But according to CHED data, the Philippines had over 600,000 college students delayed or unqualified before K to 12, because our 10-year graduates were not recognized abroad and often forced into bridging programs"
"So If we remove K to 12, we go back to that situation. So tell me: would you rather save two years now, only to force future students into even longer remedial years later just to be accepted internationally?"
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