SERIES 1 - THE JOURNEY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER

For the longest time Philippine Education System had been behind from the entire world. With 2 years short compare to the other countries. That is why it had been a problem of professionals coming from the Philippines to find a white collar job abroad. They need to enrol on special courses for them to be considered for a position. It had been that way for the longest time. Not until one Philippine President decided to end the struggle and file for a law that will align the Philippine Education System to the whole world in terms of the total number of years.

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Thus, the birth of the K to 12 Philippine Education System that took effect last School Year 2016 – 2017. It had been two school years now since its full blown implementation. I say full blown because during the years leading to the first official school year where the system is to be implemented in all accredited schools both public and private, there were already selected schools to pilot the system. The pilot schools had been the research ground of the new education system if it will work, can be adopted and if the schools will be ready when 2016 come. K to 12 education system translate to the following number of year on each level :

LEVEL	NO. OF YEARS
Kindergarten	1
Elementary	6
Junior High School	4
Senior High School	2
TOTAL	12 years

• K is for Kindergarten
• 12 is the years total from elementary to senior high school

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I honestly would share to you that I was apprehensive at first of the implementation. Knowing the capabilities, facility wise, of our public schools it’s a bit alarming if everything is really set and ready. There were questions that urgently need answer so I can fully immerse in my transfer to Senior High School. Gladly the Philippine government through its Department of Education had lain out rigid trainings and seminars for teachers and administrators all across the country to equip them once the implementation takes place.

I am lucky enough to be able to attend series of seminars and trainings both government sponsored and our institutions initiative to prepare us. It somehow lessen my concerns and answer most of my questions. It wasn’t easy hopping from one seminar to another, understanding and absorbing all the information of a new educational system of the country but it was all worth it. Upon completing about 70% of the needed information I need to gather to prepare for my transition from college teacher to senior high school teacher I was more than satisfied to go through it. The schools support to me and to my other colleague was a great help for us to adjust to the new environment.

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On the other hand, the hard part for the students is that not all are fully oriented of what are the things or knowledge they need to prepare upon enrolling for Senior High School. They know that picking a track and choosing a specific strand from that track is a must. But from my point of view almost everyone is having a hard time picking which of which and what of what. With us on the other side of the table entertaining them was also a struggle on explaining and eventually help them decide their final strand. What is Track? Strand? I will leave it hanging for now. That would be explained by yours truly on the next series. ‘Till then…

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