K to 12 Urgent and Critical, May 16 Reflection

K  TO 12 Urgent and Critical

 Education outcomes in terms of participation, completion and achievement rates attest to this urgent need. The poor quality of basic education is reflected in the low students performance in the National achievement scores of Filipino Achievement Test and international tests like TIMSS.  One reason behind this is that students do not get adequate instructional time or time on task. This is partly due to the the current 10-year basic education   congested curriculum be taught in 12 years. Curriculum is designed to this has been affirmed in the study conducted by SEAMEO-Innotech where it noted that Philippine basic education is congested compared to the curriculum of Singapore. Specifically, in  Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia stated that elementary education is  congested especially in  Mathematics, Languages and Sciences. Our high school graduates are not adequately prepared for the world of work. Most of the basic education graduates are labor force (below 18).

This  too young to legally enter implies that those who will not go to college would either be  exploitative labor practices. Unemployed or be vulnerable to those who may be interested to set up businesses cannot legally enter into contracts. Our high school graduates are not adequately prepared to pursue higher education.  They still have to undergo remedial and high school level classes in colleges and universities.  The 10-year basic education cycle hinders the recognition of Filipino professionals abroad. The Washington Accord prescribes 12-years of basic education as an entry to professionals. The Bologna recognition of engineering Process also requires 12 years of education for university admission and practice of profession in European countries.   The Philippines is the only country in Asia and among the three remaining countries in the world that has a 10-year   basic education cycle.Thus, the Department of Education in collaboration with government stakeholders has various governments and non-government which aims to improve basic developed the K to 12 Program education in the Philippines.

 The K to 12 basic education program seeks to enhance the quality of basic education K to 12 means Kindergarten and the 12 years of basic education. Kindergarten refers  elementary and secondary education.The 5-year old cohort who undergoes a standardized  education refers to primary  Kinder curriculum.  Elementary schooling that involves 6 years of education (Grades 1-6) while secondary education refers to four years of junior high school (Grades 7-10 or HS Year 1-4) and two years of senior high school (Grades 11-12 or HS Year 5-6).basic education is a right of every Filipino, therefore quality is provided by government for free in public schools. Those who go through the 12-year program will get an elementary diploma (6 years), a junior high school diploma (4 years), and a senior high school diploma (2 years). A full 12 years of basic education will eventually be required for entry into tertiary level education (entering freshmen by SY 2018-2019 or seven years from now). The implementation of the K to 12 program will be universal kindergarten was offered phased starting SY 2011-2012. By SY 2012-2013, the new coming Grade 1 as well as to curriculum will be offered to incoming junior high school students (Grade 7 or HS Year 1). The target of DepED is to put in place the necessary infrastructure and other arrangements needed to provide Senior High School (SHS) education by SY 2016-2017.