Palace Emphasizes Necessity of Implementing K to 12 Program

The Palace on Monday reiterated the necessity of implementing the K to 12 basic education program in enhancing the competitiveness of the Filipino workforce in the global economy.

“Kailangang-kailangan ang pagpapatupad nito upang mapanatili at matiyak ang competitiveness ng mga Pilipino sa global economy,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

“Tayo na lang po ang isa sa iilang bansa na hindi pa nagkakaroon ng globally accepted basic education program na labing-dalawang taon dahil ang ating basic education program na papalitan nitong K to 12 ay 10 years lamang,” he noted.

Secretary Coloma further said that several options have been made available to teachers who will be affected by the program’s implementation this coming academic year.

“Kung gusto nilang tumigil na sa pagseserbisyo, merong inilalaang mga benepisyo sa kanila na naaayon sa batas. Kung gusto naman nilang mag-training, meron ding opportunity for retraining na ibibigay. Kaya nga mainam na pagkakataon ito na mag-level up din sila sa kanilang skills development habang isinasagawa ang transition,” he said.

Coloma said that in the next few days, the Cabinet’s education cluster, composed of Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva, Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Cynthia Bautista, and other officials, will release more detailed information on how to address the concerns raised by some quarters on the implementation of the program.

“Tinitiyak lamang na ang lahat ay ginagawa upang maibsan ang epekto nito sa mga guro at sa mga mag-aaral; at tinitiyak din na lahat ng nararapat ay ginagawa para maging maayos ang pag-transition natin sa K to 12,” he said.

According to the Department of Education, the Philippines is the last country in Asia, and one of only three countries worldwide (along with Angola and Djibouti), with a 10-year pre-university cycle.

The department said the 12-year program is found to be the best period for learning under basic education and is the recognized standard for students and professionals globally.

A coalition of teachers, non-teaching staff, parents and labor groups has however sought to stop the implementation of the K to 12 program, claiming it has failed to protect teachers and non-teaching staff who will be displaced when the program is carried out. PND (ag)