Not everything new is good. Simply using the word “reform” does not guarantee an improvement. Resistance to change, on the other hand, cannot be taken simply as stubbornly being tied to old ways. Conservatism has a place in the list of human virtues. After all, why fix something that is not broken? And just because something is broken, it does not mean that any fix will do. Some measures can in fact make matters worse. This is especially true for a system as complex as education. Reforms can look very good on paper but dreaming about it is only one tiny step in the entire process. Implementation is the major consequential part. The mere fact that there are so many education reforms languishing in dust bins demonstrates that a majority of these initiatives are failures. Yet , education reformers and pundits in general often think that solutions are straightforward, frequently reducing what happens inside the classroom into catchy phrases and sound bites.
Developing a textbook in any subject is already a major undertaking. Composing a textbook alone already draws so much from the labour of others. Proofreading and review take time. Even with thoughtful and careful, examinations, errors may still be missed. After the textbook has been finished, this normally does not automatically transfer into a student’s brain via osmosis. Usually, when teachers choose a text to use, they are already familiar with the material. New textbooks require time for teachers. Teachers have to evaluate the text and see if it fits in the design of the course. If not, the course may need to be adjusted or a different textbook may be sought. Once the decision is made to adopt a textbook, more work still needs to be done. This is where implementation really begins.
The Philippine’s DepEd’s K to 12 reform is a behemoth. Compared to reforms in other countries, the K to 12 reform is gigantic in scope. Adding years, changing the sequence of subjects , dictating what medium of instruction should be used, and defining standards and curriculum are all combined in one big package . Each one of these is really a major reform. Each one requires careful examination, testing and evaluation. Yet, these are all being implemented in one quick blow.
By: CHARINA C. DIZON | T-I | Mariveles NHS Poblacion Mariveles, Bataan
