K-12 System in the Philippines

The K-12 model is an educational system for basic and secondary education patterned
after the United States,Canada, and some parts of Australia. The current basic
education system is also an archetype of American schooling but with a 10-year cycle.
DepEd’s stands for the adaptation of the K-12 program due to the low achievement
scores and poor quality of basic education to the present school setup. By
understanding the deeper implementation of this curriculum to every Filipino learner
based on the vision mission of the department, we can say that this is now the answer
to the long time competitiveness of our basic education graduates worldwide. Because
of the Philippine education system continuous aims for higher education, the
pronouncement of the K-12 program for more excellent undergraduates in the
elementary and secondary level has been proposed. According to them, this is for the
benefit of not only the Filipino youth but all the Filipinos in the Philippines.

What are the advantages of K-12?

The K to 12 curriculum is far different to the previous curriculum that the Department of
Education has offered in the past. This new curriculum now believes that a 5 year old
child is capable of learning the basic knowledge, skills and values leading to higher
ones. And so the kindergarten as the starting level of the curriculum is now included,
The different subject areas in the elementary level to the junior high school level were
improved too including the number of hours for itch subject areas, the skills to be
developed and a lot more changes.
Students will be able to get sufficient instructional time to do subject- related tasks
which makes them more prepared and well- trained on that subject area. On the other
hand, if we remain in the old system, Filipino students would continually get low
achievement scores. For instance, international test results revealed that we often come
at the tail end in the exams compared to other countries. The graduates of this program
will be more prepared to enter the labor force. As we all noticed, high school graduates
of the current curriculum are not yet employable for the reason that they are not yet
competent and well – equipped with the skills needed in the workplaces. In addition,
most high school graduates are not yet reaching the legal age of 18. With the new
curriculum, senior high school students can choose a field that they are good at and that
they are interested in.

How about disadvantages? Are there any disadvantages in K-12 Curriculum?

Parents have to shell out more money (for transportation and food) for the education of
their children. The government does not have the money to pay for two more years of
free education, since it does not even have the money to fully support today’s ten years.
DepEd must first solve the lack of classrooms, furniture and equipment, qualified
 teachers, and error- free textbooks. Filipinos right now are accepted in prestigious
graduate schools in the world, even with only ten years of basic education. As far as
the curriculum is concerned, DepEd should fix the current subjects instead of adding
new ones. The problem is the content, not the length, of basic education. As an editorial
put it, we need to have better education, not more education. A high School diploma will
not get anybody anywhere, because business firms will not hire fresh high school
graduates

With all the issues that the K-12 Program is facing, it is important that we Filipinos keep
faith in our ability to find solutions despite various constraints. It is a timely move of our
government to come up with such a reform. If the students will give their all in their
studies and competent teachers will equip them with the necessary instructions, then
surely, the program will succeed together with realization of all its aims. Getting a K to
12 education can open new doors and increase the chance of finding a stable job.
Students can get the opportunity to build a network, acquire more skills, and find the
career that they really love. K to 12 can get students the access to all these great
opportunities and have a fulfillment during this learning experience. Obtaining a K to 12
diploma will make students more likely to be hired because employers usually assume
that someone who completed the K to 12 curriculum has the basic skills necessary for
the job, have adequate communication skills, can get along with the rest of the team
and follow objectives like they are supposed to.