Education as many people say is the key to success. It gives us opportunity to earn a decent living. It prepares us in a high level of competition outside the country. It develops the different aspects of our lives. It makes life worth fulfilling and worth living. But how will it happen if changes in the curriculum are still bothering the nation people? Many of us are thinking, is it really the solution to the problems prompting in the educational system of our country? Will K to 12 BEC guarantee quality education?
The education in the Philippines has struggle on the issue of its curriculum. The 10-year education program using for decades has changed into K to 12 BEC. The former curriculum which is Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) is comprised of six years elementary education and four years of secondary education. In this program Kindergarten is not compulsory. Students can enter grade one even if they do not attend pre-school education. Due to the growing needs and demands, K to 12 BEC has introduced to give quality education and job opportunities for graduates even if they leave formal school at the middle of the semester. It was the outgoing DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro who initiated the K to 12 BEC starting school year 2012-2013, its full implementation is on the school year 2016-2017, and the first batch of graduates will emerge on the school year 2017-2018.
K to 12 BEC stands for Kindergarten plus twelve years of basic education. Twelve years is divided into six years elementary and six years of secondary schooling. The four years will serve as junior high (JHS), while the remaining two years will spend for senior high school (SHS). With the implementation of this program, Kindergarten is compulsory, when child reaches the age of five. At this point, the mother is obliged to send her kids into pre-school to enter grade school. This program is intended to add two more years as a preparation for college and a chance to earn a job after completing junior high school and finishing high school. With the new curriculum different tracks like Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM), Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS), Science, Technology and Engineering Mathematics (STEM), Arts and Design, Technical-Vocational Courses, Sports Track, and General Academic Strand (GAS) are offered by the Department of Education. This is to strengthen the foundation of the learners and to become globally competitive. Another reason why DepEd implementing K to 12 BEC is to prepare our graduates into the different industries that they are going to engage. It will also prepare our graduates in the different aspects of lives like on the part of mental, emotional, and professional as well because the schooling is quite long.
The Department of Education wants to make sure that leaners will get the necessary skills by providing hands-on activities and trainings for students who will choose Technical-Vocation track. On the other hand, students who will choose Academics can choose different courses like Business, Management, Accountancy, Office Procedure, and STEM, while those who will opt to follow Sports track will have the opportunity to organize and manage sports activities. And those who love arts and designing will have a career if they keep on studying Arts and Design.
The transition is not as easy and it is very evident every school year because of the problems arising. But with the full cooperation of teachers, people in the community, students, and of course the parents program is gradually recovering and progressing. Let us wait and see the outcomes after two more years.
By: Limuel L. Caña | T-I | Mariveles National HIghschool
