We are now on the 2nd year of implementing the ever controversial K to 12 program of the Department of Education. Since last year, the department has been continually promoting the advantages of this program. We heard so much of the benefits that we can get from it. The big query is…were the cards laid equally on us?
It is of no doubt that K to 12 is not an absolute successful program. We are now beginning to see and feel the agonies of the immediate implementation despite of the unready state of DepEd. The purpose of the article is to weigh down the agony (disadvantages) and the ecstasy (advantages) of K to 12.
Some of the promotion tactics of our government to patronize this new curriculum are as follow:
1. The program aims to uplift the quality of education in the Philippines in order for graduates to be easily employed. The program also aims to meet the standards required for professionals who would want to work abroad.
2. The system aims to fully enhance and develop the students in order for them to be well-prepared especially in emotional and cognitive aspects. Through this, graduates will be able to face the pressures of their future workplace.
3. There may be a lot of factors to consider for the K+12 Education to succeed. But as long as we open our minds to change and we will take it on a positive way, we will definitely attain our most-aspired educational standards which will play a great role in our country’s development and will therefore, uplift us from poverty.
However, during the implementation, these realities have shown:
1. Even as public elementary and high school education continues to be free under the new system, other expenses such as transportation, allowance, food, school projects and other school expenses would still burden families and take up a significant portion of the family budget.
2. Basic problems such as lack of teacher training and the failure of the government to address input gaps are also considerations that if left unaddressed may imperil the full implementation of the program.
3. It has clearly spelled that higher education has become a privilege and not a right.
4. The government does not have the money to pay for two more years of free education, since it does not even have the money to fully support today’s ten years. DepEd must first solve the lack of classrooms, furniture and equipment, qualified teachers, and error-free textbooks.
5. While students are stuck in Grades 11 and 12, colleges and universities will have no freshmen for two years. This will spell financial disaster for many private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
6. The drop-out rate will increase because of the two extra years.
As to what extent the government can sustain this program still remains immeasurable by now. The only thing that we could do is to cross our fingers that it will really produce well-rounded individuals and who are greatly competitive in the international scheme.
By: Edelisa D.Malang | Teacher II | Bonifacio Camacho National High School | Abucay, Bataan
