K to 12 program ‘failed’ to address PH’s quality of education
SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, said with the “lackluster” implementation of the K to 12 Education Program due to insufficient funding and facilities, the government has two choices: either fully fund the program or suspend its implementation.
“The immediate solution is simple: either i-suspend ang K to 12 for five to 10 years until we have enough resources, or fund the K to 12 now as it was envisioned,” Cayetano said in his interpellation during the November 14, 2022 discussion on a budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) which is being sponsored by Sen. Pia Cayetano.
Cayetano said when the K to 12 Law was being discussed, it promised to make the program’s graduates employable even if they don’t proceed to college. Those who do go to college would be able to complete their degree in a shorter period of time.
“They [DepEd] promised na bubuhusan ng pera, na after senior high, employable na; ladderized, babawasan ng one year ang college, and better quality of education,” he said.
Cayetano, who was one of only two senators at the time who opposed the program when it was being discussed, said the K to 12 programs have so far failed to address problems concerning the quality of education in the country, noting the stark difference between what was promised for K to 12 and what the reality is on the ground.
“Ang ipinangako sa atin, ‘pag pumunta ka sa school at sports track ‘yan, may oval, gym, equipment, coaches, swimming pool. ‘Pag pumunta ka sa tech-voc, may garahe, testing equipment, motor, at akmang professors,” he said.
He also noted that the time spent in school had been reduced from eight hours to six hours. “Hindi ‘yan ang usapan namin noon bago naipasa ang K to 12,” he said.
Cayetano said K to 12 should zero in on improving the quality of education and not just add two years of schooling, noting that the bottom line for most parents is not the technicalities of the program but how their children will benefit from it.
“Basta ganito lang: ang anak nila may talent sa arts, anong school ang puwede nilang pasukan? At pag-graduate nila, may trabaho na sila. That is the promise of K to 12. K to 12 is not just adding two years,” he said.
The senator clarified that he is for K to 12 but said after ten years of unfulfilled promises, the government should either fully fund it or suspend it for a few years to improve the previous education program of ten years.
“My point is, we should put money there… para makita naman ng mga magulang na ito (talaga) ang K to 12,” he said.
