On Thursday, an advocacy organization advised government authorities against eliminating the K–12 basic education program and suggested that it be improved instead.
The initiative to examine the program in an effort to improve its implementation was supported, according to Chito Salazar, president of the Philippine Business of Education (PBED).
“Nagsimulang ipatupad ang [K to 12] curriculum sa Grade 1 noong 2012. So iyong mga graduate ng isang buong K to 12 na programa, hindi pa nagtatapos… Pero huwag nating kalimutan, sa loob ng 12 years na iyan, nagkaroon po tayo ng pandemya. Wala po iyan sa plano. Huwag naman natin i-blame ang K to 12 dahil sa nangyari, dahil sa pandemya. So I think we need to give it more time,” Salazar told ABS-CBN News.
“Definitely, there are ways we can strengthen and improve the program,” he added.
President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. requested a review of the program, which replaced the nation’s previous 10-year basic education system (six years in grade school and four years in high school after Kindergarten), according to incoming Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
Filipinos were required to complete six years of grade school, four years of junior high school, and two years of senior high school under the K–12 curriculum system.
“Kailangan nating tutukan ang reading, writing, and mathematical skills. Based on that, bumuo ng curriculum,” Salazar said.
Salazar emphasized the value of K–12 education in preparing high school students for further study and the workforce.
Advocacy group asks gov’t not to remove K-12 curriculum
“Talagang mayroon tayong krisis sa edukasyon natin. Pero hindi naman ang may kasalanan noon ay K to 12. Isa nga iyan sa mga lunas sa krisis ng edukasyon,” he said.
“Hindi pa tapos ang laban, marami pang kailangang gawin. Kailangan natin ayusin ang mga pasilidad, kailangan nating pagandahin ang pagtuturo. At isa pa po, kailangan nating i-address ang malnutrition.”
Salazar stated that the K–12 curriculum review must be a multi-sectoral undertaking and should involve stakeholders, education authorities and experts, the business community, and civil society organizations.
Prospero de Vera, the chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, had stated that his organization was also interested in the program evaluation.
For the past two years, the program has been under evaluation.
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