Sally Aguilar: The Proposed K+ 12 in the Philippines

Dear Professor,

Last Saturday's session made me learn that...

President Benigno S. Aquino III mandated the Enhanced K+12 Education program to be implemented for more chance of the Filipino youths of succeeding and attaining their ambition and be a global individual.

K+12 basic Education program means Kindergarten and the 12 years of elementary and secondary education.

The model that is currently being proposed by DepED is the K-6-4-2 Model. This model involves Kindergarten, six years of elementary education, four years of junior high school (Grades 7-10) and two years of Senior high school (Grades 11-12). The additional 2 years of senior high school intend to provide time for students to consolidate acquired academic skills and competencies.

The vision of education for the graduates of K+12 Program are grounded on Human development that says “every graduate is an empowered individual who has learned, through a program that is rooted on sound educational principles and geared towards excellence, the foundations for learning throughout life, the competence to engage in work and be productive, the ability to coexist in fruitful harmony with local and global communities, the capability to engage in autonomous critical thinking, and the capacity to transform others and one’s self.

With these learning, I realized that…

The DepED will continue to provide access to basic education. In accordance with the broadening of accessibility to basic education, the programmed commitment has the following components: (a) establishment of a school in every barangay not having an elementary school and in every town without a high school (a barangay is the basic governmental unit in the country’s political structure, consisting of a number of families within the same geographic area); (b) organization of multigrade classrooms; (c) completion of incomplete elementary schools; and (d) provision of basic instructional materials, facilities and equipment at the elementary and high school levels.

In recent years, the DepED has pursued several development programs and projects through government funding and overseas economic co-operation both multilateral and bilateral. The strategies to improve education include overall review of elementary and secondary education, universal access to and quality of education (notably by emphasizing teaching of English, science, technology and mathematics), provision of alternative delivery schemes (such as multi-grade teaching, mobile teaching, and instructional management by parents, community and teachers in disaster areas), management training for principals and school administrators, development of research, improvement of school libraries and teachers’ welfare. Technical and vocational education was also revised in an effort to cope with rapid technological advancements and to provide young people with more meaningful preparation for their future employment. The strategies include curriculum development, improvement of pre- and in-service education of teachers in both public and private schools, updated instructional materials in various fields, and upgrading of equipment for both public and private institutions.

As a teacher I will…

* Support and help the DepED in implementing the new Program K+12, because this could help improve our nation and our youth outlook in life.
* Tell and spread the good thing about the program to my students and the parents of my student so that their pessimistic attitude towards this program will be replaced by their optimism and support.
* I will prepare my students not just for their mental development but emotionally because they will become the pillars of the society someday so values should be inculcated in them. So that they will be a global individual geared towards excellence.

From your student,

Sally Aguilar