The K-12 education system in the Philippines has met with so much criticism and conflict from various local sectors. Many parents grumble about the added costs; teachers protest against potential job loss; and critics question the country’s ability to handle the program.
Is the K-12 education system really this adverse? Not at all. Though most of these reasons are valid and sound, many of them are groundless and misleading, too. So before you believe in anything your friend or neighbor tells you, make sure you read on these facts first.
What You Should Know
Aiming to disprove all unfounded rumors about the new system, the Department of Education comes forward to inform the public of the country’s new education program. Go through some of them below:
Myth # 1 : Senior high school (grades 11 to 12) is an alternative to college education.
The K-12 program is not an alternative rather than a strong foundation that preps students for both higher education and employment. The new system’s basic curriculum is in agreement with CHED’s College Readiness Standards, which sets skills required for further education and future work. Upon completion, graduates will receive Certificates of Competency (COCs) and National Certifications (NCs). With the program, K-12 graduates may or may not opt to pursue college learning.
Myth # 2 : K-12 graduates are no-match with college graduates when it comes to employment opportunities.
DepEd teamed up with various business groups, foreign and local chambers of commerce to ensure they give K-12 graduates equal chances and jobs. As always, the labor market is all about matching their job vacancies to the applicants’ skills and education. Hence, the government designed their senior high school curriculum to hone students’ skills for a gainful future employment.
Myth # 3 : With the stiff race in the job market, K-12 graduates might end up becoming jobless.
K-12 has an enhanced program of study, which also fosters entrepreneurship. This allows skilled K-12 graduates to venture into other opportunities when they are unable to seek employment.
Myth # 4 : DepEd is not yet ready for this shift.
DepEd has been building classrooms, hiring teachers, preparing learning materials, and developing the K-12 curriculum since 2010. As of 2015, all the 220 divisions of the DepEd have finished planning and are now finalizing these plans with other stakeholders.
Do you still want to know more about the Philippine academe’s K-12 program? Keep yourself updated. Browse through our other articles for more info.