K to 12: A Must or Not

Moderator: To our dear teacher, fellow classmates, a pleasant morning to all of you.

The Department of Education has proposed to overhaul the basic and secondary

education curriculum by adding 2 more years to the system. This team will present a

panel discussion on the merit of this proposal. Our group had conducted thorough

research from the internet and had interviewed various groups.

The result is some very interesting insights which we hope to present to you this

morning. Please be attentive as you will be given a chance to ask questions or give

additional information after our discussion. The proposal, better known as K-12 had

been met with criticism from various groups. But despite the negative reactions, DepEd

seemed determined to enact the program arguing that the K-12 program will address

the deteriorating quality of education in our country. Do you agree on this argument?

Panelist 1: K to 12 program offers decongested 12-year program that gives students

sufficient time to master skills and absorb basic competence. Students in the new

system will graduate at the right age and eventually they will be ready for employment,

entrepreneurship, middle level skills development and higher education upon

graduation.

Moderator: How about you, Sir? Do you really think our country needs this kind of

curriculum? What ideas can you add to this claim
Panelist 2: Yes, I think so. With K to 12 Program, the students will have more sufficient

time for subject related tasks and making them more prepared in every subject area.

Thus, produces more skilled and more competent students. In additional, with this

curriculum Senior High School students can specialize in any field that they are

interested in. As a result, upon the graduation they will have the specific job related

skills that they need without a college degree adding to the nation’s man power.

Panelist 3: I couldn’t agree more. With this kind of education, Filipino graduates will

automatically recognize as professionals abroad because they are following the

international education standards as practiced by all nations like U.S., Japan, Singapore

etc. There will be no need to study again in order to qualify for international standards.

With K to 12, Filipino professionals who aspire to work abroad will not have a hard time

getting jobs in their chosen field. Furthermore, they will be able to help their families in

the Philippines more with remittance, property purchase and small businesses.

Moderator: How does K to 12 help in assuring employment for our graduates?

Panelist 4: The K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum will be sufficient to prepare

students for work. The curriculum will enable the students to acquire certificate of

competency and National certifications. This will be in accordance with TESDA training

regulations. This will allow graduates to have middle level skills and will offer better

opportunities to be employed or become entrepreneurs.

Moderator: It seems that it is a good education program. What do you think are the

disadvantages of the K to 12?

Panelist 5: Parents have to earn more money for like transportation, food, and other

expenses for the additional years in sending their children to school. The government

does not have enough money to pay for two more years of free education. The

government does not even have the money to fully to support today’s ten-year

education curriculum.

Panelist 6: The Department of Education must first solve the problems regarding lack

of classrooms, furniture and equipment, qualified teachers and error free textbooks.

Panelist 7: That is so true. We can do in ten years what everyone else in the academe

can do in 12 years. Why do have to follow what the rest of the world is doing? Are we

not as good as them? As far as the curriculum is concern, the Department of education

should fix the current subjects instead of adding new ones. The problem is the content

not the length of basic education. We need to have better education not more

education.

Moderator: So there you have them. You heard a lot of sides on what K to 12

Program is all about. To sum it all up, we have to clear the advantages and

disadvantages of the K to 12 Program. Undoubtedly, we had presented its possible

effects in our deteriorating educational system, the necessity for our country to be

globally competitive, and the effects of budgetary constraints in our system. You may

now raise your questions to any member of the panel. I assure you that we are ready for

an open forum.

Activities


Activity 1: In My Opinion

In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the K to 12

Curriculum? Fill in the columns below.

Advantages


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Disadvantages

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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