K-12 Philippines & Thailand

A common goal of an educator is to see students become better people. As Aristotle once
said “the fate of empires depends on the education of youth”. How this is done is determined by
how well our learner internalizes the concepts of the discipline taught.

Every learner has the ability to achieve any objective set for them provided that they feel in tune
to what they are learning; without connection between the learner and the subject, the learning
process will be difficult and eventually the students’ loss interest. Citing Piaget’s theory of
development learning wherein, a child develops cognitive structures that connect previous
knowledge and experiences to new knowledge. This connection help the learner develop better
understanding and will be able to respond to his or her environment.
Wikepedia.com defines school as an institution designed for the teaching of students (or
pupils) under the direction of teachers. Students’ progress depends on a school system. Each
country develops unique system. Each school creates, adapts, revise and implement educational
system as deem necessary.
The Philippines is on its second year in implementing the K-12 program to cope with
educational systems worldwide under the supervision of the Department of Education. What is K
to 12 Program? “The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six
years of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High
School [SHS] to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong
learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development,
employment, and entrepreneurship” (Government Gazette).

Gov.ph/k-12 stated that “the k-12 curriculum comes as part of the 10 Point Education
Agenda set out by the Aquino Administration in order to improve the overall quality of education
in Filipino schools. The other nine points include: universal kindergarten; instruction in
mother-tongue languages; establish the Madaris Education as a sub-system in the current
education system; make every child a reader by Grade 1; improve science and mathematics;
expand government assistance; better textbooks; build more schools in cooperation with local
government units (LGUs); and, re-introduce technical and vocational education in public high
schools.”

According to President Benigno Aquino, “the k-12 will pave the way for an even brighter
future for young Filipinos by equipping them with basic education up to international standards.”
The goal of the new curriculum is to provide enough time for students to master skills and
concepts in preparation for their tertiary education. Future students will be ready and better
equipped to join overseas universities at the undergraduate level with this new curriculum.
While the Philippines is “new” to the K-12 system, Thailand’s educational system has
been using this system for 36 years already. The 6-3-3 system has been introduced in 1977
(MOE, 1998). MOE further discussed that 6-3-3, was patterned through the American and
Japanese education system. It means six years of compulsory primary education, followed by
three years of lower secondary school and by another three years of upper secondary schooling.
From 1977 to the present day, the Ministry of Education has been geared to provide educational
services as a means for a better quality of life and society (MOE- History of Thai Education).
At present, the Thai education system under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education is
divided into four levels: Anuban - preschool (ages 3-5 years old), followed by six years of
Pratomsuksa - primary education, and another six years of Mattayumsuksa which divided into
two, the Mattayumsuksa Ton – lower secondary and Mattayumsuksa Plai – higher secondary.
Under the ministry of Education, the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) is
responsible for improvement and development of preschool to secondary education.  HM the
King’s “Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy” has been adopted since the 8th period until now on
its 11th period (2012 – 2016). In this Philosophy, people are placed at the very heart of
development which is balanced in all aspects to attain well-defined outcomes at all societal
levels, and to position the country’s development on the middle path by integrating all aspects of
improvement from the level of the individual to society as a whole and incorporate economic,
environmental and political dimensions (OBEC).
 In a presentation made by Dr. Orathai Saksung on the comparison between the
educational system of Thailand and the Philippines, secondary level, she found out that the
curriculum and learning process at secondary education in Thailand is diversified and more
comprehensive. Thailand offers 6 years in secondary education while the Philippines offers 4
years only. The Philippines uses a bilingual medium of instruction while certain subjects are
taught in English, the rest are taught in the national language which is Filipino, Thailand on the
other hand generally use their Mother Tongue as a medium of instruction.