reasons why the Department of Education abandoned the old system and opted for a K-12 curriculum.

 Only country in Asia with 10 years of basic education – Before implementing K-12, the
Philippines was the last Asian country and one of only three nations in the world with 10 years
of basic education. The new system, which follows a global standard, will put Filipino students at
par with the rest of the world.
 Poor quality of education – Students’ low scores in the National Achievement Test (NAT) and
Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMMS) are a reflection of the current quality
of education in the country.
 Too many non-practical subjects – Supported by the findings of the study performed by SEAMEO
INNOTECH, the country’s old curriculum was too congested and lacked practical application.
While students did not get enough instructional time to learn, they also missed the chance to be
prepared for actual professional work.
 Not prepared for college education – Due to lack of practical application, past high school grads
(in the old curriculum) could not qualify to pursue higher education.
 Too young for labor force – High school graduates of the old curriculum are generally less than
18 years old and are too young to work after graduation. This young age is deemed unripe for
them to enter the workforce or enter into business contracts.
 No global recognition – Filipino professionals who have finished a 10-year basic education may
not be acknowledged in many parts of the world. This is due to education requirements set by
some international accreditation agreements.

All these reasons can best explain why the Philippines made a right decision to switch to a K-12
curriculum. One of the best things about K-12 scheme is that it offers opportunities for students to learn
about modern yet rarely tapped fields of specialization, such as animation.