K to 12 “Enhanced Basic Education Program” Espiritu, Kristoffer Ryan G. Flores, Shander Lean C.

What is Enhanced Basic Education Program? The Enhanced Basic Education Program Act of 2013, or the K to 12 Act establishes a “universal Kindergarten and introduces Grades 11 and 12 to high school education in public and private schools.(Inquirer, May 16, 2013) The K to 12 program covers kindergarten and 12 years Basic Education with six years of primary education, four years in Junior high school (Grade 7 to 10) and two years in senior high school (Grade 11 and 12) to provide mastery of concepts and skills and prepare students for tertiary education.

National, Local and Professional Issues on K to 12. Additional years in High School. Supplies of books, references and other materials. Are teachers are prepared for this curriculum? Are schools fully equipped to cater to the demands of the new curriculum? Are teachers well trained to teach skills related subjects Like TLE(Technology Livelihood Education)?

Major perspectives on the issue.

INTERVIEW Mr. Carlo G. Espiritu Middle School English Teacher Reedley International School, Quezon City What is the K-12 program?  What are the advantages of K-12? What are its disadvantages? What is the impact of the new program to students?

What is K-12 Program? - “DepEd's much vaunted K-12 curriculum is seen as the country's response to the challenge of creating an educational system that adheres to international standards and produces graduates who can compete in the global scene. With this program, students will have to undergo 12 years of basic education instead of the usual 10, in addition to the now mandatory kindergarten, with 6 years in elementary, 4 years in junior high school (JHS), and 2 years in senior high school (SHS).”

What are the advantages of K-12? - ”Integrating these subjects into basic education also opens up an opportunity for the less privileged to gain access to the same set of knowledge that, under the previous educational system, could only be achieved by getting into college. Upon finishing Grade 12, students are expected to have the competencies that would allow them to be employed in the fields of agriculture and trade, among others. The K-12 system is widely used by countries around the world, making students who have gone through the said program more likely to secure a job than those who have not. The new system is also seen to attract more international students as our curriculum is now aligned with theirs.”

What are its disadvantages? - “The transition between the old curriculums to the new one can be quite challenging for stakeholders, that is, the school administrators, teachers, parents, and students. Such a drastic change in the system requires long-term preparation and solid implementation. As of yet, it is fair to say that a large number of teachers in the country have not been fully prepared for the program, which may have an impact on the overall quality received by the students. The added two years in basic education will also cause a low turnout of enrolees in colleges and universities for school year 2016-2017. Current high schools that will open up the senior high school department might lack facilities and teachers to cater to the students. This has led the Department of Education to allow the employment of non- license holders in high school, provided that they obtain one within the next five years.”

What is the impact of the new program to students? - “The disadvantages of implementing the curriculum are real and urgent. Students need to adjust to the new curriculum and have to condition themselves in spending a longer time in school. SHS is relatively new so its efficiency is yet to be determined, and this is one risk which may have dire consequences. However, the advantages of the program far outweigh its negatives. In the long run, students are being honed to be on par with the rest of the world in terms of academic excellence. By aligning our system with global benchmarks, students are given the opportunity to be recognized as professionals abroad, thereby lessening the unnecessary expenses of having to obtain other degrees in the countries where they wish to work.”

Rhetorical Analysis on Mr. Carlo Espiritu's Perspective Mr. Carlo Espiritu sees the k-12 program to have more advantages than disadvantages. He is positive that the new curriculum is will greatly benefit our country in the long run. The new curriculum seems to be struggling in its first two years but the long term effect of the curriculum will be seen after the first batch that will finish the program. The efficiency of the program itself will determine our nation’s future with the help of the government’s initiative to improve the quality of education. He mentioned that with this program, students will be more aware on what courses are offered in college and they can easily choose one that suits their capabilities. This program in some term solves the problem of the Department of Education in mismatched jobs in the industry. The field of work requires many skills that universities and colleges can't cater. Mr. Espiritu's concern on the preparation of the schools that will be catering the SHS is indeed a problem that the government should be addressing. A school without a complete facility and well trained teachers is a problem the government should take seriously because the program is opts in producing competent graduates who can compete with other graduates from all over the world. The issue on the preparedness of the teachers is now been improving or has been solved because the Department of Education has conducted a Mass Training for teachers. The training has been conducted for 2 years now. An example of a memorandum is attached to show that the mass training for teachers was being implemented nationwide to prepare our educators in the new curriculum and cater the needs and demands of the program.

Article about k-12 Program. President Noynoy Benigno S Article about k-12 Program. President Noynoy Benigno S. Aquino sign “K-12” law.