Legaspi: And now what?

THE very big batch of the K to 12 program is now at hand. The question is what will they do now? Most parents were promised that a greener pasture is waiting for them after they finish their Senior High School (SHS), especially the TVL and the sports track.

For the other track takers, they were assured of a more competitive edge when they finish college, but this is yet to come.

Four years ago, I attended a forum at Miriam College called by the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines with then Department of Education (DepEd) secretary Luistro as the main speaker and with the DepEd bigwigs. They had a forum and most of the questions were what they will do after grade 12.

The answer was we will cross the bridge when we are there. Now, we are here, where is the bridge when there is even no river to cross.

The graduates have added more to the working force. They are now “ready” to join the labor force. Or are they really? The K to 12 law or the Enhanced Basic Education Law (Ebel or make it evil law) mandates an 80 hours immersion program for the students, in order for them to have a feel of the job.

Just a short note: in college, we give at least 200 hours for on-the-job training (OJT) for them to have a feel of the job, too. In the immersion program of most SHS, the most is 15 days and most of the students were subjected to the expensive Performance task (PT) projects. Most PTP’s are actually not indicative of the field the student has opted. Take the case of Stem, they were subjected to dance and theater.

Of course, we use total human development to justify the mismatch. It develops the child to appreciate arts, of course. But we can do this in other things.

One more is that SHS students were subjected to conduct research, using qualitative and quantitative methods. Some were even subjected to experimental and scientific research. This is a great innovation in our educational system.

The supposed to be second-year college students are now best researchers in the country. They even have defeated the researchers of the graduate programs. The titles of their studies are the best titles in the world. Some have even competed in national research competitions and even others joined the international competitions and came out winners.

This is why the professors in college must prepare themselves for the batch that they will be facing is really well-prepared for battle as the Ebel law would envision.

This 2018 batch will be globally competitive that is aligned with the global requirement and the Asian qualifications framework (AQF) which has set n age for one to qualify as global professional.

The K to 12 is our answer to the qualifications set forth in many international accords that have in entered by the Philippines through incompetent signatories.

Our representatives to these gatherings are also products of the “Kitten” (K10 or traditional basic education). We were told that it is only the Philippines and two other African nations that are left off by the academic world for we still use the “kitten” system of education.

But let us go back to reality. Take a look at the world human resource market. The Filipinos are still needed by the world. Why? Because we are the most skillful race in the world.

We possess skills that others do not have. So, look at Dole today, they are still posting the need for skilled workers and not K to 12 graduates.

My prayer for the K to 12 graduates, your future is jeopardized and the opportunities have been delayed. St. Ezekiel Moreno, pray for us.

Belated birthday greetings to Rev. Fr. Walthrode Conde. Congratulations to the new breed of UNO-Rians.