The School Year 2015-2016 is the fourth year roll out of the K to 12 Program, the curriculum which is highly accorded with warm reception by the education sector, students, their parents and other concerned. In the first year of implementation, which was progressively introduced and in the succeeding past two years execution, many things have been said and done about this present curriculum; positive and negative things alike. As stipulated in the Department Order No. 31 s. 2012, otherwise known as Policy Guidelines on the Implementation of Grades 1 to 12 of the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) effective School Year 2012-2013. In this DepEd Order, the Universal Kindergarten will be implemented, which means that all children aged 5 years old on or before the start of the school year, and those who will turn 5 years old on the cut-off date of October 31 of every school year will be accepted in the pre-elementary grades or in the Kindergarten.

            Although many have aired their disgust over this curriculum, as led by no less than Sen. Antonio Trillanes III and other cause-oriented groups, many observers, educators, teachers, school administrators, parents, students and private and public schools alike cited common reasons why K to 12 should be pursued. One reason is that a 12-year program is found to be the adequate period for learning under the basic education. It is also standard for recognition of students and or professional abroad. Other countries like Singapore have 11 years of education. According to the global standard for basic education at present is 12 years as reported by the UNESCO. In a 12-year basic education cycle spanning to elementary and secondary schools, a child is presumed to have developed sufficient higher order thinking skills, analytic tools, and more and better knowledge.

            The alarming decline in the quality of education in the Philippines served as the eye opener for the DepEd. This issue should be given particular attention by the teachers, parents, other groups, more so of the DepEd, especially now that the neighboring Asian countries are improving their quality of education steadily. Indeed, the sad state of our education system had been manifested in the international study called “Trends in Math and Science,” several years ago, wherein the Philippines dismally ranked almost at the bottom of forty five countries that were included in the survey. Save for Micronesia, Croatia and South Africa, we are languishing at the bottom while our so called “counterparts” like Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan topped the survey. The result of the study caused alarm in the Department of Education prompting its former Sec. Florencio Abad to issue a warning that Vietnam would surpass the Philippines in five years with regards to the quality of education if the problem would not be rectified immediately.

            This is why DepEd is on the right track in pursuing global competitiveness through the K to 12 Program. Another reason, is that high school graduates pairing poorly on college entrance test are reflections of low levels of achievement and inadequate preparation for college/university.

            Also, worth mentioning is the preparation of students for the world of work. Nationwide data reveals that 70% of public high school graduates do not go to the university or technical schools. This is no different from the situation in developed countries where university participation ranges from 15-40% of high school graduates.     

            Not to be forgotten is the observation of experts in the field of education that many of the students graduating from elementary are not really prepared for high school and those who are graduating from the secondary school are not really prepared for the college/ university.

            The additional junior year (Grade 11) and senior year (Grade 12) in the secondary school is inevitable for the continuing development of competence needed for another chapter of study or giving opportunity for students with skills and interest in technical vocation towards employability in the field of work worldwide.

            Summing it up, education remains a significant investment. An additional two years in the secondary school would be an urgent prerogative everybody must embrace. The future of our youth really depends on the kind of education circulated in every pillar of DepEd. Bringing back the old curriculum in the system is placing the country’s future in a dilemma. As the famous saying puts it “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

References:

DepEd Order No. 31, s 2012

The Educator’s Magazine Vol. 2, Issue 7, June 2005

Most Frequently asked Questions about K to 12 – Website Source

By: Rizal D. Canta | Teacher III | Bagac National High School Parang, Bagac | Bataan