Honest Observation of the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum Implementation + Personal Suggestion of its Development

^{Editorial Column from Cebu Daily News: Link Here for Image Source}

Philippines has started the full-implementation of the K-12 Curriculum. In fact, we have already produced thousands of Senior High School graduates by this time. It has been an aim of Philippine Government and the Department of Education to produce Filipino graduates who can compete academically, professionally, technically with the world.

K-12 Program Curriculum Structure

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With its implementation, pupils ages 5 years old must start with a compulsory Kindergarten before stepping up to Elementary Level (Grades 1-6).

After completing the requirements in elementary, they will be admitted to 4 years Junior High School (Grades 7-10) and 2 years Senior High School (Grades 11-12).

^{Illustrative Guide of the K-12 Basic Education Hierarchy: Click this Link}

Why they implemented K-12 in the Philippines?

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You may be asking about the importance of K-12 implementation though we are producing competent skilled workers in terms of technical and vocational jobs. We do even hear some announcements abroad that they are needing Filipino workers in their places.

According to the Department of Education (deped.gov.ph), we are the only country in Asia and one of the 3 countries in the whole world along with Angola and Djibouti with a 10-year pre-university cycle before the implementation of the said curriculum. Thus, this come into fruition.

In addition, our professionals in the Philippines were not acknowledged as professionals in other countries because of not meeting the minimum requirements abroad. Technically, our graduates of the previous curriculum here in the Philippines does not have an equal educational credit units to the graduates abroad. This leads our doctors becoming nurses, teachers becoming assistant teachers, and some professionals becoming domestic helpers and to let them practice their profession abroad they need to take another year of schooling to meet the standard.

Furthermore, senior high school graduates especially those who have taken up courses in technical and vocational strands can directly apply for jobs because of the trainings that they have went through.

^{Image Source}

Suggestions for the improvement of the K-12 Curriculum

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The Department of Education in the Philippines had an intensive preparation before the implementation of the said curriculum: Classrooms, Teachers, Textbooks and the Curriculum have been taken into consideration. If the said government agency had intensively prepared for those areas, I highly suggest that they must consider the following:

• Ammendment of the Kindergarten Curriculum

We have changed our curriculum to produce competent individuals but does it really matter? I think it is also the best time that we focus on the values formation of our Kindergarten and Lower Elementary Graders (Grades 1-3).

Curriculum developers must sit down and talk about the whole process of making values formation as one of the major subjects in those level and an integration of arithmetic, reading, language, and science. Right now, the curriculum of those levels are focusing on the mastery of those subjects mentioned with an integration of values. Is it the best time to change the curricula now?

If this will be implemented, I foresee fellows who are competent and disciplined because of successful values formation.

• Sufficient School and Company Linkages

Company Linkages must be considered as one of the stakeholders that can give sufficient training to its trainees. Though teachers are equipped with trainings from TESDA and other government agencies, it is still highly recommended to have an actual company that can teach trainees the actual services or products that they need to produce in their future career.

I have observed students who were not able to have an on the job training due to the lack of companies accepting on the job trainees. If schools have sufficient company linkages, the students, teachers, and school administrators will have an excellent deployment of their student trainees. This could also be help the students get a job after he graduated and an aid of the company not to take so much time in looking for trained workers. In the end, it’s both win-win situation to each parties.

• Sufficient Job Opportunities

The preparation of the said department is really limited to the implementation of the said curriculum but what happens after graduation of senior high schools?

We cannot deny the fact that there are less job opportunities here in the Philippines though there are job openings but it does not connect to the strands offered. Which means, there is still a high risk of underemployment.

In addition due to less job opportunities for our graduates, professionals and skilled workers are forced to work abroad.

It is now a sad truth that we have implemented another curriculum and produced another set of intellectual and skilled graduates who will just serve other countries.

When will be the time that we can utilize the expertise of our Filipino competent graduates?

• Excellent School Facilities and Equipments

School Facilities and Equipments is one of the medium in attaining the goals of the curriculum. Ever since, public schools do have ratio of 1:+10 for the equipments and facilities. Which means, 1 machine or equipments for 10 or more students.

The unavailability of sufficient number of facilities and equipments is really a burden in the educational curriculum. Imagine the time bounded curriculum that we had but students can’t finish one competency because there are still other students in queue for the equipment needed.

• Expel Corrupt Government Officials in the Department of Education

I apologize if I am so direct to the point in this part. This has nothing to do personally with my life but I have seen how some public schools here can’t produce conducive classrooms and can’t provide sufficient number of facilities.

If the corrupt officials will still reign in that department then, our educational system will never change.

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• Motivate Teachers

There are many unmotivated teachers here in our country due to low salaries. The educational curriculum taught in our undergraduate programs are brainwashing our aspiring teachers to love teaching with less salaries.

There are many teachers who love teaching, it was a dream of serving people especially those who are less fortunate: it’s a passion and a vocation. But we teachers also do have families who’s intestines are depending on the salary that we are providing.

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Teachers here are required to make more than 30-50 school forms, attend compulsory trainings and seminars, plus the fact that they will be teaching for 8 hours but were given not enough salary for themselves and for their families.

The salary scheme must also be changed because teachers may be forced to loan and because of loans, they are having zero balances every pay day. It would have been better if the government will change the salary scheme from monthly period to 15 days period.

Right now, the government may be eyeing and observing the future college graduates of school year 2021-2022 because they are our very first graduates who have undergone the K-12 Basic Education Program.

I am also observing the possible development in our Educational System. I am praying that the officials may be able to see the need of eliminating flaws in terms of education because it really affects life of the students.

Let me state this as a disclaimer, I am not connected to any government agencies and I am not against public schools. I am a product of public schools and I am proud of it. I just want to have transparencies in the department for the benefit of our students.

The facts stated above are from the official website of the Department of Education (deped.gov.ph) and the suggestions are all my opinions. If you wish to add inputs or share your reactions please feel free to leave it in the comment box below.

I hope this will serve as an awareness to the government officials as well for the development of our educational system.

Lovelots,

@morken