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The document discusses the K-12 curriculum reform in the Philippines. K-12 refers to kindergarten plus 12 years of elementary and secondary education. The reform aims to better prepare students for employment and higher education by focusing on understanding and skills over content, providing certifications, and improving international recognition of Filipino degrees.

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Rhea Mae Tindugan Bautista
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43 views

Reality Check

The document discusses the K-12 curriculum reform in the Philippines. K-12 refers to kindergarten plus 12 years of elementary and secondary education. The reform aims to better prepare students for employment and higher education by focusing on understanding and skills over content, providing certifications, and improving international recognition of Filipino degrees.

Uploaded by

Rhea Mae Tindugan Bautista
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Committee: Department of Education

Topic: K – 12 Curriculum
Country: Philippines
Delegate: Rhea Mae Tindugan Bautista, Southern Leyte State University
College of Teacher Education

K to 12 means Kindergarten and the 12 years of elementary and secondary education.


Kindergarten refers to the five-year old cohort that takes a standardized kindergarten
curriculum. Elementary education refers to primary schooling that involves six years of
education (Grades 1 to 6). Secondary education refers to four years of junior high school
(Grades 7 to 10) and two years of senior high school (Grades 11 to 12).

As stated by the Department of Education, “The K to 12 basic education curriculum will


prepare students with life skills that they earn while schooling. The curriculum will enable
students to acquire Certificates of Competency (COCs) and National Certifications (NCs) issued
by the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA). These NCs signify that K to 12 graduates
have acquired middle level skills and will have better opportunities for gainful employment.
The additional years will also ensure that K to 12 graduates are better prepared for college.

This reform in the curriculum is made to fit the Philippine context when it comes to
culture and livelihood. It is also apparent that this was made to put our education in the
running in the competition for globalization since we are far behind other Asian countries who
already have 12 years or more in the basic education. This is how most of our countrymen view
this step of the government which started in full swing with the nationwide implementation of
having the Junior and Senior High School in 2015. This also means that by 2018, we will have
the first cohort and products of the said program. These graduates even if not completely but
will partially show us the salient and valid results. The expectations are high.

If we think this through, since we are just adjusting to the newly adapted curriculum
(specifically with the enactment of Republic Act 10157 in the year 2012 of mandatory
Kindergarten), we can’t help to have loopholes. The schools, public and private, are in chaos
due to curriculum changes and the quick demand and need of qualified teachers increase every
year resulting to mass hiring, putting the DepEd in a pressure cooker and many more.
Consequently, the learners are left to be one of the least prioritized at the moment. It is very
ironic but let us dissect the issue accordingly. As we move forward, surely, the situation can
only get better.

In the old curriculum, so much knowledge, skills, and values were expected to be learnt
by students within a limited period of time. Moreover, learning tended to be more focused on
content, which was fragmented and disintegrated. These could be some reasons why many
Filipino students failed to master the competencies and gain lifelong learning skills necessary
for a productive life. Thus, this program is made to address the shortcomings by reforming the
basic education curriculum with the following features of the curriculum: (1) the new
curriculum focuses on understanding for mastery and has removed the unnecessarily repeated
competencies; (2) smooth transition between grade levels and continuum of competencies
through spiral progression where learning of knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes increases
in depth and breadth; (3)it is developmentally appropriate (age appropriate) and focuses on
succeeding in the 21st century. Moreover, the curriculum responds to the needs of the
community and learning will be systematically matched with labor market requirements; (4) it
uses integrative, inquiry-based and constructive approaches to develop the competencies of
learners and (5) it focuses on the optimum development of the Filipino child by having learner –
centered instruction.

Through this, learners with decongested study loads have more time to master the
desired learning competencies. Further, they will be given opportunity to learn beyond
academics through a career pathways program, thus allowing for a more holistic development
with life skills. The graduates will not only gain a high school diploma but they will acquire
Certificate of Competencies or National Certification in their field of specialization and will be
better prepared for higher education and families can better afford education as the cost of the
additional two years in high school is significantly lower than longer collegiate or university
level.

With K to 12, learning and quality of education will improve. As Filipino students learn
better, it is expected that the Philippines will improve its performance in international academic
examinations and gain international recognition of Filipino professionals. Academic degrees of
Filipino graduates will now be recognized in other countries. It ensures that studies,
diplomas, and degrees of Filipinos are recognized as widely as possible. Significant changes in
the world’s education standards brought by globalization will increase cross-border provision,
and continued expansion of education that have resulted in increased quality assurance of
education.

Thus, with the given features stated, even if loopholes are apparent, the government
believes that this will still be an effective reform to push the country towards a better future.
Education after all is the biggest factor when it comes to growing professionally and ethically as
an individual and a productive citizen. Therefore, we have to make this change.

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