On 2012, the K-12 Curriculum was launched under the administration of late President Benigno Aquino III, it has then become a law also known as Republic Act 10533 on May 2013.
Duration: Kindergarten to Grade 12
K-12 is comprised of Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High School [SHS]).
K to 12 Objective: Why it was implemented?
The official gazzete stated that K-12 aimed to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.
Pros and Cons of K to 12 Curricullum
Pros:
According to the official, senior high school graduates from the Philippines will not only be prepared for employment but will also meet or exceed the requirements set by other countries’ educational systems. Greater student training and improved global competency have always been the main focuses of the K to 12 program.
Cons:
The K to 12 program in the Philippines has drawn criticism despite its stated goals of enhancing the country’s educational system and producing more employable graduates. This criticism has primarily focused on Filipinos’ capacity to pay for their children to attend three more years of school. Under the existing system, two more years of education would cost thousands more. The K to 12 Program, which requires children to choose one of three SHS courses for their education, is also anticipated to increase costs.
Some Filipinos requested to remove K to 12 Curriculum
A recent report from GMA News featured some Filipinos who expressed their desire to abolish the K to 12 curriculum under the incoming DepEd Secretary and Vice President Sarah Duterte.
“Tanggalin na lang ‘yang K to 12, ibalik na lang sa dati. Mahirap kapag nagpaaral kami ng mga anak namin. Siyempre hahaba na naman ang pagpasok ng mga estudyante,” a fellow Filipino commented during the interview.
CHED supports K to 12 review
According to the Commission on Higher Education, the proposed K-12 Program review for the basic education sector will also help institutions of higher educations since the results will help the universities and colleges construct stronger curricula.
The Commission on Higher Education supports the incoming administration’s intention to assess the Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, or K-12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd) (CHED).
Prospero de Vera, chairman of CHED, said during a virtual press conference on June 22 that the K-12 program should be examined now that there is sufficient evidence after several years of its implementation.
Senators back K to 12 review
Senators also believe that the K-12 program needs to be evaluated after ten years since its implementation to see if its goals have been met.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III described the assessment as a “good move” given that the K to 12 curriculum is almost ten years old.
He added that most companies still prefer hiring college graduates over K to 12 graduates, who they view as simply high school grads or as missing the necessary skills and qualifications for jobs.
Moreover, the Senate president said that many parents have spent more of their budgets for additional years in the mistaken belief that their children will find employment after K to 12, only to have their graduates remain jobless.
As a student or parent, should the incoming administration stop or continue the K to 12 Curriculum?
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