After four years of implementing the new curriculum here in our beloved country, can we really say or see that Filipino students will benefit from this? Let us try to look back.
This change in educational system was implemented starting in 2011. President Aquino signed the Kto12 education into law in 2013, adding three years to the country’s basic education curriculum. This requires all Filipino students to have one year of kindergarten, six years of elementary schooling (grades 1 to 6), four years of junior high school (grades 7 to 10) and two years of senior high school (grades 11 to 12).
As a reference, prior to the implementation of the Kto12 curriculum, the Philippines was one of only three countries in the world and the only one in Asia that still had only 10 years in basic education. This has always been seen as a disadvantage for our students who are competing in an increasingly global job market. The longer educational cycle of the Kto12 curriculum is seen as critical in giving Filipino students a higher quality education.
Now, the presumption is that Kto12 graduates are enable to join the work force right after high school, and suitably prepare those who want to go on higher education. On top of that, the new curriculum will also support college graduates seeking work abroad.
All in all, the enhanced Kto12 curriculum is designed to provide a holistic education for all. Now decongested, it will give students ample time to master basic academic skills as well as to participate in co-curricular and community activities. The adjustments made by private schools in their own DepEd accredited curricula speak of the support for the change in the system by the private advocates.
The adaptation of the Kto12 curriculum guide means that students will graduate a bit older compared to those who graduated under the 10-year education cycle. DepEd also states that young adults graduating at age 18 or so will be more prepared to take on their tertiary education.
Well another positive undertaking is that remedial classes during the first year of college will no longer be needed, as the high school curriculum will already be aligned with the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) guidelines. This will encourage parents to think of the Kto12 curriculum not as having two extra years of high school, but as two years less of higher education.
With the Kto12’s track, graduates will have more options as far as their chosen career is concern. Graduates of the new curriculum will already be equipped to join the workforce right away with the help of the electives to be offered during grades 11 to 12. More so, the electives, or areas of specialization, will include academics for those who wish to pursue higher studies, technical-vocational for those who want to acquire employable skills after high school, and sports and arts for those who are inclined in the two fields.
Though change is never easy, and the many problems we face with the implementation of the new Kto12 curriculum, it is high time that we join the rest of the world and improve the quality of our basic education system and our graduates. Yes, Filipino students will surely benefit from this new curriculum.
By: Jonah Hanzel Reyes
