A PASSPORT TO THE WORLD OF WORK: A STUDY ON THE PROBABLE EFFECTS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE K-12 C
Upgrading the status of the country’s educational system should be an optimum goal. In order to upgrade such status, a change to basic education is highly needed. The country, in its aim to promote high economic stability, is undergoing a major overhaul to bring it in line with education systems worldwide, starting with the K-12 sector. This change to domestic education policy has far-reaching consequences and important for international educational institutions to consider when looking for potential new student recruitment markets.
With the new 12-year curriculum in place, future Filipino students will be ready and better equipped to join overseas universities at the undergraduate level. In addition, with a K-12 student population of 20.67 million, which will increase over the next 20 years, the Philippines is shaping up to be an attractive recruitment destination.
Section 2 of the Republic Act No. 10533, otherwise known as “An Act Enhancing the Philippine Basic Education System by Strengthening its Curriculum and Increasing the Number of Years for Basic Education” provides that the State shall establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people, the country and society-at-large. [1]
Likewise, it is hereby declared the policy of the State that every graduate
of basic education shall be an empowered individual who has learned through a program that is rooted on sound educational principles and geared towards excellence; the foundations for learning throughout life; the competence to engage in work and be productive; the ability to coexist in fruitful harmony with local and global communities; the capability to engage in autonomous, creative, and critical thinking; and, the capacity and willingness to transform others and one’s self. [2]
In May 2013, the then President, Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino Jr. signed into law a basic education curriculum that will see a mandatory kindergarten year and two additional senior high school years added to what was a 10-year education curriculum to make basic education 12 years. The programme has been adopted, not only in schools in the Philippines, but also in Filipino schools abroad that follow the department’s curriculum. [3]
According to Aquino, the K-12 programme will pave a way for an ever brighter future for young Filipinos by equipping them with basic education up to international standards.
The Technical and Vocational Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in that same year announced that they had completed the K-12 technical
vocational curriculum, and everything was in place for the start of the new school year.
As TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva said, “Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) will play a central role in the new education model that prepares students for tertiary education, middle skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.” Courses that include automotive servicing, horticulture, welding, consumer electronics, dressmaking or tailoring, carpentry, food processing and beauty care. With such a strong focus on promoting technical-vocational education, foreign providers who are looking to work in the Philippines might want to consider how they can contribute to this development. [4]
There are 10-Point Education Agenda that has been set upon its implementation. The move to the K-12 policy comes as part of the agenda which was set out by the current government administration. The K-12 Basic Education Program, universal kindergarten and instruction in mother tongue languages are but three of the ten points Aquino’s administration want to implement in order to improve the overall quality of education in Filipino schools. [5]
The other seven points include:
Establish a Madaris Education as a sub-system in the current education system;
Make every child a reader by Grade 1;
Improve Science and Mathematics;
Expand government assistance to private education;
Better textbooks;
Build more schools in cooperation with local government units (LGU’s);
Re-introduce technical and vocational education in public high schools. [6]
The aim of this study is to provide every Filipino with the education he or she needs to compete in a global context. Its goal is to give students enough time to master skills and concepts so that the are ready for tertiary education when the time comes.
Filipinos are known to be competitive in the international community. However, our previous education system hinders us from becoming even more competitive.
In the school year of 2012-2013, the education system of the Philippines was enhanced from the ten years of basic education to a 12-year program through an initiative called the K-12 Education Plan sponsored by the Department of Education.
The implementation of the K-12 plan in the Basic Education Curriculum is the key to our nation’s development. Though the government faces many problems as it implements the program over the course of several years, it is a necessary improvement since increasing the quality of our education is critical to our nation’s success.
Here are some ways that the K-12 education become beneficial for the Philippines (Isagani Cruz – 2010):
REASONS FOR THE K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM
1. Sufficient Instructional Time
With the K-12 education, students will have sufficient instructional time for subject-related tasks, making them more prepared in every subject area. With the old system, Filipino students were consistently behind on achievement scores.
2. More Skilled and Competent Labor Force
Another reason to support K-12 education is that the graduates of this programme will be more prepared to enter the labor force. High school graduates of the 10-year curriculum were not yet employable since they were not competent or well-equipped enough for the workplace.
In addition, high school graduates of the 10-year curriculum are not yet 18. With the new curriculum, senior high school students can specialize in a field that they are good at and interested in. As a result, upon graduation they will have specific job-related skills they need even without a college degree. When they graduate from high school, these young people will be 18 and employable, adding to the nation’s work force.
3. Recognition as Professionals Abroad
Finally, with K-12 education, Filipino graduates will automatically recognize as professionals abroad because we are following the international education standard as practiced by all nations.
There will be no need to study again and spend more money in order to qualify for international standards. With a K-12 education, Filipino professionals who aspire to work abroad will not have a hard time getting jobs in their chosen field. Furthermore, they will be able to help their families in the Philippines more with remittances, property purchase, and small businesses. [7]
However, Filipinos known for being competitive in the international community, our previous education system hinders us in becoming more competitive among other countries. As part of the probable long-term effects on the implementation of the K-12 education curriculum, it has already sighted that the programme will help Filipinos to gain a competitive edge particularly in the field of market and industry.
Long-term effects of K-12 education would be very beneficial to us Filipinos. It is not only in the aspect of academics that the K-12 programme aims to compete in a global context. Moreover, it also calls for the re-introduction of vocational and technical education specifically in high schools, which design is to give Filipino students practical skills to gain employment after graduation – a key component in tackling the high youth employment rate in the Philippines.
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
In order to make the community aware and understand the Basic Education System and its changes, most importantly the teachers, parents and students, a symposium should be conducted as a way of educating the public particularly on its probable effects upon its implementation.In order to make the community aware and understand the Basic Education System and its changes, most importantly the teachers, parents and students, a symposium should be conducted as a way of educating the public particularly on its probable effects upon its implementation.
HOMEROOM PTA MEETING
SCHOOL LEARNING ACTION CELL (SLAC) SESSION
CAREER GUIDANCE SYMPOSIUM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Novice Ypil Jorquia, a first year law student of the University of Southern Philippines – Foundation, is a teacher by profession.
He is a graduate of Bachelor of Secondary Education – Major in English.
He is currently teaching as a Senior High School Teacher 2 in Baliang National High School – Division of Danao City.
REFERENCES
[1] Sec. 2, R.A. No. 10533, 2013 – Declaration of Policy.
[2] Sec. 2, R.A. No. 10533, 2013.
[3] Gulfnews Reports
[4] TVET in the Philippines; UNESCO-UNEVOC. 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
[5] Sec. 4, R.A. No.10533 – Enhanced Basic Education Program.
[6] Sec. 4, R.A. No. 10533 – Enhanced Basic Education Program;Education in the Philippines - WENR".WENR. 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
[7] Isagani Cruz (2010) – Local Newspaper Column
Note: Digital photos or illustrations in this blog post were culled from the Department of Education Website. Credits to the owner/ Maker of this illustrations.
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