K-12 is the Right Path

Think long-term.

That's the message that President Aquino tried to send to the people with his recent talk on the K to 12 basic education program. He is right on the mark.

Here's what the President actually said: “I think that today’s students will thank us since we will give them more time to learn what they need to learn given the many information or stock knowledge today. They won’t get angry that they need to compress everything they have to learn in just a few years.”

According to the Chief Executive, it would not be prudent to delay the 12-year basic education curriculum since the Philippines lags behind its neighbors in Asean in terms of the competitiveness of our graduates. Prior to the passage of the K to 12 law, the Philippines was the only country in Asia with a 10-year pre-university cycle.

Some OFWs have actually complained that their educational background is sometimes questioned by prospective employers for being insufficient.

 “The problem will not go away if we will not act on it. We have an obligation that if we can provide a solution now, why should we delay it and not help the next generation in improving their lives? Why shouldn’t we maximize it?” Aquino emphasized.

He is correct in defending the new curriculum from bashers who seem to be

infected with tunnel vision and cannot think beyond the present.

These unthinking critics have questioned the new school curriculum before the Supreme Court and want the judiciary to issue an order deferring its implementation since thousands of teachers and non-teaching personnel would be adversely affected and thrown out of work. 

That may be true, but the Department of Education has given assurances that these teachers and non-teaching personnel would be helped in getting new jobs.

The argument that the K to 12 law is unconstitutional for failing to adequately consult stakeholders is untenable as the DepEd actually held dialogues with school administrators, parents and students.

We believe the K to 12 program will provide better education to young Filipinos and pave the way for their gainful employment in the future.

We should give it the chance to work.

             

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