Parents oppose K+12 implementation

SAN LUIS -- A group of parents here has expressed disagreement with the impending implementation of the K+12 basic education curriculum (BEC) by the Department of Education (DepEd) in June.

The group said the additional two years in high school and another year for kindergarten, as prerequisite before entering elementary education, would mean extra burden for every poor families in the localities.

“Pinaunlad na lamang sana nila ang paraan ng pagtuturo. Sana ay dinagdagan ang bilang ng classrooms para mabawasan ang bilang ng mga estudyante sa bawat klase,” said Teresita Viray, a mother of an incoming Grade 1 pupil.

She said the competitiveness of Filipino graduates could not be measured on the number of years they spend in school.

“Reporma sa sistema ng edukasyon ang kailangan natin at hindi na dapat pahabain pa ang taon ng pagaaral. Matatalino tayong mga Pilipino [pero] may mali lang sa sistema natin,” Viray added.

Veronica Santos, a resident in Barangay Sta. Monica and mother of three students, said most of the public schools in Pampanga are currently experiencing shortage of teachers and classrooms.

With this, she questioned the readiness of DepEd in terms of manpower and infrastructure intervention.

“Kulang na tayo sa classrooms at teachers nagdagdag pa sila ng may tatlong taon sa pag aaral,” she stated.

A public school teacher, who requested not to be identified, told Sun.Star Pampanga that in her classroom, she has more than 60 students.

K+12 aims to address deficiencies in elementary education, as well as enhance the competitiveness of the high school curriculum.

The country’s current 10-year basic education, covering six years of elementary and four years of high school, will stretch to 12 years –- six years of elementary, four years of junior high school (Grade 7 to 10), and two years of senior high school.