K to 12 is coming to town

“You can resist an invading army; you cannot resist an idea whose time has come.” Its Victor Hugo saying these fluttering words . And Voltaire too.” Nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come”. François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire and Victor Hugo are both French writing legends. However, the parallels of these two quotes are light years away from the time and place of this piece.

The K to 12 , has got little too do with the two writers but the idea whose time has come is something that they are in unison with and ergo, they have a stake on the basis of admission that when an idea is ripe and immense bearing with
it the element of time, its unstoppable…

Happening today at the Leyte Normal University is the Regional Training of Teachers on the K to 12 Curriculum, it’s a necessary reform as the dynamic President of LNU Dr. Evelyn C. Cruzada declares. Dr. Cruzada and the LNU is the training provider to an approximate 4,000 strong mentors divided in four batches. Tough task but attainable with LNU Faculty and DepED Officials and Trainers working in tandem. Cruzada further exhorted that “very few countries in the world clings to the ten-year basic education curriculum and it will be unimaginable if change will not be adopted in the country. Secretary Armin Luistro declares its “ our own curriculum based on best practices gathered from the country’s brightest”. Education Assistant Secretary Elena Ruiz and DepEd Region 8 Director Dr. Luisa Bautista –Yu observed with zeal a session in Science Grade 7 training at the LNU Library Mini Auditorium Friday and they were visibly convinced how rosy the future looks. Mr. Mel Brian Berida , had apparently discussed the subject matter well. Asec. Ruiz give an impromptu talk on the beauty of “meaningful learning” not simply the summary or enumeration of facts but applicable tenets useful and handy when needed. Dr. Malaquias Conde LNU Dean of the College of Education and this writer ushered the visitors to the eight training venues . And this early it seems we are on the road to splendor .

However the biggest heroes that day were the teachers who travelled and to the words of Asec. Ruiz ‘ plucked early from their summer vacation to serve’. A little less than a thousand came, just for ENGLISH and MAPEH Grade 7, the first batch of mentors are majors and specializes this learning areas. They are give the impression of being locked and loaded for the task of executing a major educational change, come June.

For the sundry whose questioning minds are boiling , please read. Here are the answers to K to 12 FAQ.(FROM deped.gov.ph)

When will the K to 12 program be implemented?

* Universal Kindergarten started in SY 2011-2012.

* The new curriculum for Grade 1 and Grade 7 (High School Year 1) will be implemented in SY 2012-2013 and will progress in the succeeding school years.

* Grade 11 (HS Year 5) will be introduced in SY 2016-2017, Grade 12 (HS Year 6) in SY 2017-2018.

* The first batch of students to go through K to 12 will graduate in 2018.

Where will the additional two years be added?

* The two years will be added after the existing four-year high school program. This will be called Senior High School.
Why is the K to 12 program better than the current program?

* K to 12 offers a more balanced approach to learning that will enable children to acquire and master lifelong learning skills (as against a congested curriculum).

* It will help in freeing parents of the burden of having to spend for college just to make their children employable.
Will this address the dropout problem?

* The decongested curriculum will allow mastery of competencies and enable students to better cope with the lessons. This should partly address those who drop out because they cannot cope with schoolwork.

* The curriculum will be learner-centered, enriched, and responsive to local needs. It will also allow students to choose electives that suit their interest. This should partly address those who drop out because of lack of personal interest.

1 DepED will also continue to offer programs such as home schooling for elementary students and the dropout reduction program for high schools. These programs address the learning needs of marginalized students and learners at risk of dropping out.

Lets welcome the dawn of Philippine Educational Revolution, the K to 12 is coming…

By: Clemelle Montallana

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