Six Reasons Why the Philippines Should

Switch to K-12 Curriculum

It has been four years since the Philippines shifted to a new educational system. But this reform program,
which added two more years to the old basic education system, has since met with so much public
opposition. Until now, critics continue to insist that the country is not yet prepared for this transition.

Many have been said about K-12 curriculum—what it is, what it covers, what it offers, and what it hopes
to achieve. Despite numerous awareness campaign efforts, opposition still exists. This is, perhaps, due to
lack of information about the differences between the two systems.

Are you still skeptical of this new program? Below are six good reasons why the Department of
Education abandoned the old system and opted for a K-12 curriculum.

 Only country in Asia with 10 years of basic education – Before implementing K-12, the Philippines
was the last Asian country and one of only three nations in the world with 10 years of basic
education. The new system, which follows a global standard, will put Filipino students at par with
the rest of the world.
 Poor quality of education – Students’ low scores in the National Achievement Test (NAT) and
Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMMS) are a reflection of the current quality of
education in the country.
 Too many non-practical subjects – Supported by the findings of the study performed by SEAMEO
INNOTECH, the country’s old curriculum was too congested and lacked practical application. While
students did not get enough instructional time to learn, they also missed the chance to be prepared
for actual professional work.
 Not prepared for college education – Due to lack of practical application, past high school grads (in
the old curriculum) could not qualify to pursue higher education.
 Too young for labor force – High school graduates of the old curriculum are generally less than 18
years old and are too young to work after graduation. This young age is deemed unripe for them to
enter the workforce or enter into business contracts.
 No global recognition – Filipino professionals who have finished a 10-year basic education may not
be acknowledged in many parts of the world. This is due to education requirements set by some
international accreditation agreements.

All these reasons can best explain why the Philippines made a right decision to switch to a K-12
curriculum.

One of the best things about K-12 scheme is that it offers opportunities for students to learn about modern
yet rarely tapped fields of specialization, such as animation. For more details about the K-12 curriculum,
please browse through our website at www.k12philippines.com.