The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced the inclusion of additional year in the curriculum of Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Other courses that are now a five-year course are B.S. Accountancy, and Education.

According to CHED chairman and vice chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Education (PTFE), Dr. Emmanuel Angeles the decision to make B.S. Nursing and other non-board courses a five-year degree is part of the agency’s aim to raise the quality of education in the Philippines and make it comparable to world’s standards.

Angeles also said that the PTFE is likewise proposing reformation of the Philippine’s education system through the adoption of a 10+2+3 rule. This means that a student will spend 10 years in elementary and secondary education, two years for pre-university and three years for baccalaureate.

Contrary to common argument that an additional year would make the cost of education more expensive, the Chairman said that the revised curriculum would actually be cheaper.

Meanwhile, a number of educators reacted to the news by saying that thorough discussion with those that will be most affected with the new rule, (parents and students) must first be conducted before the new curriculum is implemented.