Curriculum Reforms:

1. Why is there a need to reform the curriculum?

Educators need to change curriculum from time to time because of the current
trends and needs of society.  This is appropriate since there is a constant change
happening in every areas of life in the community.  And a little bit of change
entails ability and knowledge of work a student has to face soon in his/her life.

Another reason is the growing demand of workers abroad.  The curriculum has to
be aligned within the international standards so that the competency of Filipino
workers is compatible with the given standards, and the quality of work would not
be compromised.

A third reason is the upgrade of knowledge and discovery of some areas of

knowledge especially in the field of research, science and technology.  As time
goes by, the facts that discovered since might become obsolete. 

2. Rationale of K to 12? Why k to 12?

The first rationale in implementing the K-12 curriculum has something to do with the
mandate of the fundamental laws of our country. The K to 12 Deped Primer (2011)
defines it as an educational reform to be realized by allotting two more years for
senior high school or grades 11 and 12. However, the DepEd discussion paper
(2010) states that the primary aim of implementing the K-12 curriculum is not to
merely prolong the basic education program but to provide every Filipino with a 12-
year basic education curriculum of high quality. And this aim is anchored on the
provision of the 1987 Constitution which provides that, “The state shall establish,
maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education
relevant to the needs of the people and the society”. This constitutional
mandate, Velasco (2012) argues, provides the corollary justification for the
implementation of the K-12 curriculum.

The second rationale refers to the previous curriculum itself. As Velasco (2012)
claims, it is a curriculum too congested in nature. Because of this, the students are
not given enough time to accomplish the required performance tasks. Moreover,
Quismundo (2010) observes that many secondary school students who graduated
from the previous curriculum were inept of readiness either for employment or higher
education. In other words, the K-12 curriculum, aside from being longer in terms of
time frame, is also more effective in terms of decongesting the previous curriculum.
The third and last rationale for the implementation of the K-12 curriculum is alignment of
our system of education with the global education system. Prior to the implementation of
the K-12 curriculum, UNESCO reported that our country is the only one with a 10-year
cycle. Furthermore, Quismundo (2010) argues that academically speaking, our students
are at a disadvantage. This academic disadvantage is reflected in an international
platform. In 2003, our second year high school students ranked 41 st among 45 countries
in the Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMMS) (Department of
Education, 2011). By implementing the K-12 curriculum, our graduates will be provided
with higher academic skills and competencies needed to cope with the global stage.

The aims of the K-12 curriculum are noble. It envisions learners who are developed in a
holistic manner equipped with the necessary skills and competencies relevant to the
21st century trend. This enhanced education program, which is already at the
implementation phase, has at its core the complete development of every student
(DepEd Primer, 2011). Implied in these aims too is the consideration of every student’s
need to understand their world and to harbour a strong devotion towards life-long
learning.

By taking into account the above rationale for the implementation of the K-12 curriculum
in our country, the criticisms, no matter how substantial are criticized too—not
suspended. And as a civilized community, we are ought to resolve those criticisms in
favour of the posterity.

3. What are the features of K to 12?

FEATURES
STRENGTHENING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (UNIVERSAL
KINDERGARTEN)

 Every Filipino child now has access to early childhood education through
Universal Kindergarten. At 5 years old, children start schooling and are given the
means to slowly adjust to formal education.
 Research shows that children who underwent Kindergarten have better
completion rates than those who did not. Children who complete a standards-
based Kindergarten program are better prepared, for primary education.
Education for children in the early years lays the foundation for lifelong learning
and for the total development of a child. The early years of a human being, from
0 to 6 years, are the most critical period when the brain grows to at least 60-70
percent of adult size.
  In Kindergarten, students learn the alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors
through games, songs, and dances, in their Mother Tongue.

MAKING THE CURRICULUM RELEVANT TO LEARNERS (CONTEXTUALIZATION

AND ENHANCEMENTS)

BUILDING PROFICIENCY (MOTHER TONGUE-BASED MULTILINGUAL

EDUCATION)

ENSURING INTERGRATED AND SEAMLESS LEARNING (SPIRAL PROGRESSION)

GEARING UP FOR THE FUTURE

NURTURING THE HOLISTICALLY DEVELOPED FILIPINO (COLLEGE AND

LIVELIHOOD READINESS, 21ST CENTURY SKILLS)

4. What are the tracks offered in SHS?

Each student in Senior High School can choose among three tracks: Academic;
Technical-Vocational-Livelihood; and Sports and Arts. The Academic track includes
three strands: Business, Accountancy, Management (BAM); Humanities, Education,
Social Sciences (HESS); and Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM).

5. Interview a teacher who has been teaching for 15 years. Ask him/her, which
curriculum is better, the BEC or K to 12? WHY?

Person to interview: Mrs. Maribel Aguirre- Grade VI adviser for almost 24 years
She said that for her, it is just the same, nothing is better. The BEC and K to 12
curriculums are both preferably to her. It is because for her, it depends on how the
teacher adopts the curriculum. She also said that teachers should flexible to keep and
cope up with the changes in the curriculum. It is their job to be committed and fully
accept whatever changes happen in education system for the betterment of learners to
be competent and efficient in future.