THERE is a move to review the K to 12 system in the Philippines. This is a welcome initiative for the Marcos administration. The program was introduced in 2013 and eventually became Republic Act 10533, otherwise known as the Enhanced Basic Education Law of 2013 under the Aquino administration. This added two more years to the basic education of the Philippine educational system. Primarily, it shall mold the students to be more competitive upon specialization of their field in tertiary education.
There are advantages and disadvantages to the offering of the K to 12 program in the country. However, when the good outweighs the evil, then it stays but if otherwise, then ethics tells us to act upon it immediately. Why do we need to continue something that brings evil to the community? Again, the problem with us, Filipinos, is that we let evil persist.
Let us have a look at some advantages. First, the expansion gave direction to the students on what career path they will follow. The tracks and strands gave direction to many students that they will not regret what to take up in college. The strands had trained them mentally and physically for the rigors of the career they will undertake.
Secondly, the Philippine educational system becomes attuned to the global educational system. College graduates who have undergone the K to 12 program will be considered by the global community as professionals and need not to take more courses abroad. In other words, K to 12 graduates become globally qualified and competent. The curriculum is now designed as competency-based, thus, the products of Philippine education become competent in the chosen field.
And lastly, graduates of Philippine education become intellectually and skillfully capable. With all the training and curricular developments, the graduates can now confidently face the world of work anywhere in the world. The law mandates that skills-based and technological training shall be given to senior high school students for their total development.
However, Sages have said that everything will always have two faces. So as the implementation of the K to 12 program in the country. So, let us now see the other side of the coin.
First, this has added a great burden to our parents. Two years' added expense in school is not a joke. Parents dream of having their children finish at least high school to help augment the meager family income. Two years delay means two years of tightening belts. Notwithstanding that senior high school projects and performance tasks are too costly and very expensive.
Secondly, senior high school is a waste of time because what was done was simply to prolong and expand the college curricular programs by giving lots of paperwork and projects. What has been capsulized in a four-year college program is now prolonged into six years. This means that the college student has more time to rest than to train himself for his career. The college curriculum was changed and was focused more on the degree program but what was left out were the basic skills. Although these were learned in senior high we need to have continuous education for basic skills. We might be too engrossed with the preparation for the career and forget the comprehension and people skills of the future workforce.
Lastly, senior high school is too much paperwork for both the teachers and the students. Especially with the pandemic, teachers have mountains of papers to deal with. And without supervision and face-to-face classes, K to 12 failed these past two years. Do you agree?
I salute this new administration in coming out and reviewing this program. May the Filipino people be the judge.