Why can't K- be developed?

to-12
A crowded classroom at Batasan National High School in Quezon City during the opening of
class. A crowded classroom at Batasan National High School in Quezon City
opening of classes. Pher Pasion

ANALYSIS ICONThe role of the government to provide education to the

its citizens to ensure that the quality of this education is improved based on
the needs and aspirations of the country.

As a step towards the improvement of education in the Philippines, it was strongly pushed by
The Aquino administration's Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 or the K-to- program
12 that changed the education system in the country. From the former ten years in basic
The education curriculum has been extended by two years.

The K-to-12 program will make kindergarten mandatory, six years in elementary school.
(Grade 1 to 6), four years in junior high school (Grade 7 to 10), and
two years in senior high school (Grade 11 to 12). But for the critics of K-
that the said program will improve the overall condition of
education in the Philippines.

Colonial design

The Philippines is one of the countries in the world that had not yet implemented K-to-12.
curriculum. This is supposedly one of the reasons why the quality of education is low in
Philippines. They say this is not 'appropriate' to international standards so it needs to
Implement the reform in the K-to-12 system, according to the government.

The K-to-12 program is said to be a big step towards making education globally competitive.
Philippines.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), a national alliance of teachers, believes that
association of teachers in the country, focused on the K-to-12 program for international
on standards and requirements. But this will not help education.
in particular and in the community in general at present.

The quality of education does not mean following the needs of

foreigner

The quality of education does not mean following the needs of

foreigner Pher Pasion

According to the curriculum of the program, the courses or subjects that can be found are
focused on technical skills such as welding skills, housekeeping, care
giving, massage, sewing, and other training focused on the production of semi-
skilled workers.

If you really look at the content of K-to-12, you will see the characteristics of colonial
education for students focused on producing only skilled labor," he said.
Mabel Caboboy, teacher at Manuel Roxas High School in Quezon City.

By the time a student graduates from senior high school, it is expected that
This 18-year-old NASA - the legal age to work.

This means that everyone who graduates from senior high is ready to work.
schools inside and outside the country. The state can early benefit from the youth to
work instead of spending government money on college.

This is one of the clear admissions made by the Department of Education (DepEd) that
"It is said that it will be helpful for the youth to be able to work immediately after their ".
senior high school.

But it is expected to further increase the number of unemployed in the country due to
The jobs created by the government each year are insufficient.

According to data from the Ibon Foundation, a group of researchers, there are about 4.3 million Filipinos who are
The number of unemployed was 6.9 million and the underemployed in 2014.

In this framework, the number of unemployed is expected to rise even more.

capitalists or businessmen can dictate lower wages, none or
lacking benefits and a contractual system.

Due to the competition for limited jobs, one will blindly accept a
workers supporting a family — even in the worst conditions
making.

This also drives Filipinos to go abroad to seek their fortunes there.

A government that lacks creative jobs will want this for its people.
citizens because it will earn more in the form of remittances from
overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in accordance with its labor export policy.

According to Ibon, the government releases more workers (4,500) every day.
than the additional number of people employed (2,800) per day in the country when
2014.

According to the data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in 2014, cash reached $26.924 Billion.
non-cash remittances in the country from $25.351 in 2013.
Because of this, the number of incoming college students who will provide will be significantly reduced.
reason for the government to reduce funding for state universities and colleges
This will lead to higher college tuition in both private and public institutions.
public university

This is the outline of the objectives of the Roadmap for Public Higher Education or RPHER of
Aquino administration. One of its objectives is to reduce the budget for education.
to push them to become self-sufficient or to rely on themselves. This also aims to
transform SUCs into sources of cheap labor for the global market.

At the time when SUCs raise tuition fees, it gives more reason for
private higher education institutions that will raise tuition fees,
chairperson of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP)

This year, around 313 private universities have been authorized by the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) to increase tuition fees. Almost every year if allowed by CHED.
the increase in tuition fees. It cannot be regulated by the government itself due to the Education Act
of 1982 granting permission for this.

The estimated cost is between P60,000 and P80,000 per semester in college.
present

Even the calendar shift in the academic year is part of the choice of only the
"marketable" or easily sellable courses for students. This was initiated by the University.
in the Philippines (UP) that pushed UP Los Banos to conduct a 'marketability assessment'
in their subjects. In UP Manila, there is also a program review
will pave the way for the rationalization and realignment of their so-called limited budget
for 'competitive subjects'.

This means that the education created, the skills learned by Filipinos
what should have benefited the country will instead go to the advantage of foreigners
country based on the needs of the foreigner.

A curriculum without history subjects, without Filipino subjects, without literature,

the Philippine Government and Constitution will produce students who have
colonial mentality. They are obedient to their masters, to foreigners, with no identity, none
valuing the history of the Philippines, so they will not be of use to
Philippines,” according to David Michael San Juan, a doctor from De La Salle University-Manila and
spokesperson of Tanggol Wika (an alliance that aims to preserve the Filipino Language at
college).

This may affect the country's potential to develop because it is not anchored or
based on the needs of the country rather than on foreign ones. It is based on international
design of capitalism to source cheap labor for larger
the Philippines will continue to be a source of raw materials, he added.

In this framework, nothing significant will change K-to-12 in the situation of the country.
Instead, it will strengthen the mentality of Filipinos and even the economy of
the country; remaining reliant on foreigners instead of nurturing the Philippines' own potential.

Erased identity

The characteristic of the K-to-12 system being foreign-influenced erases its nationalist aspect.
Filipinos. This is similar to what the Americans did when they occupied the country and attacked.
the patriotism of Filipinos in banning patriotic symbols such as
the flag itself of the Philippines.

The Americans used education to create the characteristic of being obedient.

Surrender and accept the conquerors.

In the K-to-12 curriculum, the similar goal is to further reduce the

a subject focused on providing national identity to Filipinos for
accept foreign interests and programs.

The K-to-12 program attacks the general education curriculum in the country for this purpose, according to
Jonathan Geronimo, a teacher from the University of Santo Tomas and secretary-general of ACT-
private schools.

In the design of our National Law for tertiary education, the role of
general education curriculum in developing the skills of our students. It clarifies
this is the molding of them as humane citizens of the Philippines that will -
contribution to national development,

He added that the social sciences were the first to be attacked in the new general education curriculum.
In the humanities, critical thinking of students is shaped here.

According to Louie Zabala, a social studies teacher at FG Calderon High School in Tondo, Manila,
Students are severely lacking in knowledge regarding culture and history.
Philippines. This is very concerning because it is important for a person to have
identity.

It is saddening when you ask students who (Andres) Bonifacio is.

They said he was the one who waved the flag of the Philippines in Cavite. It is indeed lacking.
There is not enough time to teach such an important stage of their Filipino identity.
(Then) it will be reduced or removed from K-to-12,” Zabala explained.

The government is also removing subjects such as Filipino Language, Philippine

Constitution and Government, and Philippine Literature in college. Currently,
The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the removal of
Filipino language in college.

For San Juan, the purpose of this removal is clear: To dilute the being
patriots of the Filipinos.

If a citizen does not value their being Filipino, you cannot

he is expected to help improve not only the country's economy but also
including its cultural and political aspects,” San Juan explained.

Two classrooms at Batasan National High School. One has ventilation, the other has
none.

Two classrooms at Batasan National High School. One has ventilation, the other has
nothing. Then Passion

The aim is to eliminate critical thinking and have only sufficient knowledge.
for the needs of entrepreneurs. There will be workers who will not
it's against the anti-labor policy of low wages, none or lacking
benefits, contractual, and no union.

This stunts knowledge and narrows the perspective on the capabilities of Filipinos to remain
expectation from foreigners. In this framework, Filipinos will not think about developing the
self-economy and develop its own natural resources.

Profitable system

This means additional expenses for the additional two years of K-to-12 for the
parents. But for private schools, this is additional income or profit for them.

Due to the lack of budget for the education sector, it has not yet been addressed by
The government addresses the shortcomings in basic educational needs.

An estimated 23,928,335 books and modules are lacking, about 57,167 teachers, about
112,942 classrooms, as well as schools.

In the report of the DepEd to Congress, there are between 800,000 to 1.1 million students in
public schools can accept senior high school students next year
even if the number of incoming students in senior high school is expected to increase to 1.6 million
that year.

Due to the lack of facilities provided by the government for those entering senior high school, in
Private schools will be pushed for K-to-12 and it will not be free.

In fact, only 60 percent of students are able to accept that

public schools this year. In private schools, it is expected to be allocated.
40 percent of them. Others will definitely not be able to study or will drop out.

That is why parents bring their children to public schools.

children because they cannot afford private school. Why does the government insist on enrolling them
What about private schools? The cost level there is different, for example in uniforms.
books, projects, and others are indeed far from the costs of public
"school," said Aries Gupit, spokesperson of the League of Filipino Students.

According to Anakbayan, between 800,000 and 1.4 million youth will become dropouts.
out due to K-to-12.

In the National Capital Region alone, nine out of ten (or 287 out of 330) schools are already
The approval to provide senior high school is for private schools. It is two.
only ten (or 43 out of 247) public high schools in the region will be able to provide
senior high school. In Caloocan, Makati, Parañaque, and San Juan, there are no public
High school will provide senior high school, according to the League of Filipino Students.

Citizens acted in front of the Supreme Court to fight against K-to-12.

The groups of parents known as the Parents' Movement Against K-

12th expects the Supreme Court to fight against K-to-12.

This coincides with the approval of DepEd for 1,245 private schools to raise their tuition fees.
from 1.25 percent to 29 percent this school year.
Private schools will not allow the use of their facilities
free. It is clear that there is a fee. It means you cannot study without money.
I am Benjie Valbuena, chairperson of ACT.

As a 'solution,' the voucher system is being implemented by the government. It is said to address
the government will pay for private schools. But this will not address the whole
pay.

Under the voucher system, the amount covered ranges from P16,500 to P22,500 only.
government. The average tuition in private schools ranges from P25,000 to P70,000.
schools.

This is contrary to what is stated in Article XIV of the Constitution of the Philippines that education should be free.
basic education is ensured by the government for its citizens.

And if in case the government covers the full tuition of a child,

if it happens, it will still go to private. Private schools are still the sure ones
victory here. Instead of allocating sufficient funds for public schools
This is caused by the government to private schools,” according to Valbuena.

In addition, the additional expenses will amount to between P100,000 and P200,000.
a student for an additional two years, according to Anakbayan.

If so, it is not an improvement of the education system under K-to-12, but how
how to enhance business in education from school expenses to
from the earnings of school owners, according to the ACT.

This is further exacerbated by the fact that it is the government itself that is pushing for this.
system instead of pulling the youth into school,” according to Valbuena.

Calendar, contractualization

Job creation is said to be one of the goals of the K-to-12 program according to the government. But
In the path to K-to-12, around 100,000 teachers and staff are expected to lose their jobs.
in work here, especially the contractual workers.
There was supposedly no consultation, particularly with the teachers, that took place before it was implemented

program, according to Geronimo.

The government disregarded the participation of the citizens in the formation of this.
patriarchal laws, which will also affect the labor sector and of course the teachers.
artisans are the craftsmen of education in the Philippines,” according to Geronimo.

It is expected that college teachers will be affected because there will be a strike.
enrollment in the first year of college. And because the K-to-12 program is also designed to push for
Those who graduate from senior high school are expected to work, the number of ...
will enter college.

It is also expected that this will remove other college subjects. Although there is
The Supreme Court in Filipino continues to fight for this.
The government also does not have a clear or concrete plan for those who will lose their jobs.
because of K-to-12," according to Geronimo.

There are also concerns that the reduction measures could be used as a form of union-busting.
college teachers especially the organized ones and union members.

Many of our unions are being attacked because of their conduct of forums and
action against K to 12. Because they know they will profit, they will gain a lot from K to 12
That's it,

An example of this is what happened to the president of the union at Adamson University.
He was reportedly removed because he was merely joining the fight for K to 12 and actively
participate in the ACT.

As for private schools, this does not mean certainty in

work. It is definitely expected that contractualization will intensify due to the business
characteristics of these to earn more.

Due to the expected job losses for those in college, they will be pushed by K to 12.
in senior high school or basic education. But this will not be an easy transition.

When you apply for senior high school, you need to re-apply. So there is
reapplication will take place. And what conditions will be imposed by the senior high
this school has no choice but to accept because there are some
a person without a student in college,” said Geronimo, including the system of
contractualization.

Teachers in tertiary education will also face a freeze on promotions due to the impending ...
the transition of K-to-12 in 2016.

Because of this program that lacks preparation and will just trample over the ...
rights and privileges of an ordinary teacher, whether in the private or public sector
education,

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers gathered signatures to stop the implementation of K-

to-12. Pher Pasion

truly ready

One of the characteristics of K-to-12 is its multimedia approach. This means that it will require
the equipment or gadgets such as projectors, computers, and other technology.

But in the situation that remains lacking even the basic needs
the needs in the education sector year after year, seems to be an additional problem
K-to-12

The recorded shortages of ACT this school year; there are 112,942 classrooms (59,671
my classroom was budgeted but not constructed by DepEd in 2014), at least
23,928,335 in textbooks (12,775,823 were supposed to be completed last year), and 57,
167 teacher.
Likewise, there are 4,281 schools without a water supply (16,920 water supply projects)
not done by DepEd in 2014) and there are 10,514 without electricity service, according to
in ACT.
It was also reported that the 34,935 pieces of equipment in science and mathematics were not fulfilled.
10,383 ICT (information and communications technology) packages in 2014. There are 395.
internet connectivity projects that were also not implemented.

According to the ACT, these are just a few of the failures to be addressed by the DepEd for
implementation of the budget provided in 2014. This is not just an issue of
mismanagement, this is allegedly a blatant neglect of the responsibility of the DepEd.

If these basic needs are not yet met by the government,

how else the

What are the needs for K-to-12? How about those in remote areas without electricity?
Oh, it's terrible, no classroom? It's not a myth that classes are held under the tree.
Philippines. This is a reality even today,” said Joy Martinez, vice president of ACT.

To achieve the objectives of K-to-12, 6-8 percent of

gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. But only two percent of the GDP is
currently allocated by the government

The problem has been ongoing since the first year (2012) when the K-to-12 program was implemented, the modules that

should be used by teachers in teaching the new curriculum.

Since Grade 7 of K-to-12, the materials have been severely lacking. There will come the
materials for fourth grade, what will happen in their first lessons?” said Solita Daz,
teacher from Raja Soliman Science and Technology High School.

A classroom was divided to accommodate the students at Batasan National High.

School. <strong>Pher Pasion</strong> Divided a classroom to accommodate the
student at Batasan National High School. <strong>Pher Pasion</strong>

A classroom was divided to accommodate the students at Batasan National High.

School. Pher Pasion

Daz added that due to the lack of modules and books, the teachers are the ones who are pushed to
make a photocopy. That's why even students take out their own
pouch.

Aside from this, the training of teachers who will be involved in K-to-12 was rushed. Some even,
These trainings are effective, according to ACT.

How can one be prepared if rushed? How can one be prepared if still lacking? None.
Do we still have sufficient budget? The quality and right to education of ...
this generation due to the forced implementation of K to 12,” according to Valbuena

Purpose and role

The objective of K-to-12 seems good to enhance education in the Philippines. But always
The remaining question in this program is, for whom will K-to-12 develop education for?
Philippines?

Having an education is what many Filipino families hope for.

to rise from poverty. That's why this is one of the main expenses being allocated for.
Filipino family. The ability for their children to finish their studies and have a good
life.

It is always the duty of the citizens to ask from their government, not just
the possession of education, but the education that is truly for them and truly
for the country.

Based on what we see now, this is not the education we have.the Filipino in the present.