Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

San Isidro Campus
Poblacion, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

TERM PAPER IN
ENGLISH 2
(Writing in the Discipline)

SUBMITTED BY:
Kenneth V. Reyes

SUBMITTED TO:
Mr. Jordan D.C. Manuel
 K – 12: A help or a waste?

The implementation of the K – 12 program is one of the hottest issues in the Philippines

with regards to its educational system. K – 12 curriculum is an educational program of the

Aquino administration that was implemented last 2011 and was approved last 2013 under the

Republic Act No. 10533. It prolonged the educational system in our country that features

additional two (2) years of schooling in the old curriculum of ten (10) years: six (6) years for

elementary; four (4) years for junior high school; and two (2) years for senior high school. Since

it prolonged the education of the students by two (2) years, would it be really unhelpful or

beneficial to a Filipino student?

Philippine education has undergone series of changes, modifications, and improvements

in the curriculum areas. Changes within the educational system have been constantly

implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) to adopt the Philippine educational

system to the needs and demands of globalization. These were experienced by the elementary

and secondary teachers, especially of public schools. Some of the changes were manifested in

curriculum programs and activities, which include the use of different approaches and teaching

strategies such as the use of both English and the Mother Tongue as medium of instruction and

most recently, the implementation of the K – 12 program initiated in the school year 2012 – 2013

which was considered the most astounding among the series of changes in the Philippine

educational system.

We all know that life is hard and public or private education is costly for parents. This is

one of the million reasons of Filipino parents why they are opposing to the K – 12 program. It is

just an additional years for the students. For them, the additional two years will also be an

additional expense for them because they will provide allowances, projects, and other needs of

the school. This will be a burden to every Filipino parent.

 However, K – 12 program aims to uplift the quality education in the Philippines. It is for

the fact that graduates are to be easily employed. The program also targets the graduates to be

globally competitive and to be young professionals who can work abroad. Furthermore, it would

help the students learn mastery of basic competencies and be more emotionally matured since it

denotes different strands or tracks: Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM) strand;

Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) Strand; Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics (STEM) Strand; Technical, Vocational and Livelihood (TVL) Strand; General

Academic Strand (GAS).

This system of education is popularly used in the United States, Australia, and Canada.

The mere fact that we are the last country in Asia to implement it, K – 12 program proves to be

very beneficial. The above – mentioned countries are the living proofs that their educational

system made them powerful countries in the world. Adapting their educational program could

uplift the lives of young Filipinos. Definitely, unemployment and poverty, the two of the cancers

of society, would be erased if we meet the standards required for the educational system.

In other points of view, K – 12 program is not an additional year but minus two (2) years

for those families who cannot afford a tertiary education yet still wishes to have their children

find a job. This system can produce full – equipped graduates that can work even without a

college diploma. They can get a certificate from the system for the application and preparation

for the real world. In effect, it is now the decision of the student if they will pursue another four

(4) – year tertiary education or not. They already have their choice.

The future of the Filipino children is flawed by various forms of uncertainties considering

the critical conditions of the Philippine socio – economic and political situations. While the rich
become richer and the poor become poorer, it is evident that there is a growing need to minimize

or control the rising unequal distribution of wealth and opportunities for success among

Filipinos, from which children are greatly affected. In view hereof, education is deemed one of

the best ways to neutralize the growing inequality and make the Filipino way of life less

conducive to poverty threats and its effects on the individual, the family, and the society as a

whole. After all, K – 12 program will be a great help to the Filipino students to attain better level

of learning, a better career to earn living, and a better Philippines. It will make a brighter future

for our country of all schools will upgrade the level of teaching. It will make a better generation

of Filipinos. It will make the Philippines better equipped to compete globally. These changes can

bring us some improvements. In addition, these improvements are the government’s solution to

the problem of our educational system to uplift also our economic stability. Building a strong

educational foundation could help all Filipinos to reach their dreams and make the Philippines a

better country.