Issues & Concerns on RA 10533

                        R.A. 10533 is an “Act Enhancing the Philippine Basic Education

System by Strengthening its Curriculum and Increasing the Number of Years
for Basic Education, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes,” 
this act has been approved by Pres. Aquino last May 15, 2013 and it took effect
on the following month, June 8, 2013. After reading this act, I have learned
that this actually dealt on the implementation of the “K to 12”to upgrade
Philippine education whose quality has deteriorated in recent decades and
improve national competitiveness and also in order to make up for the
shortcomings of the Philippine’s 10 years of basic education cycle by adding
three more years in the curriculum thus making kindergarten compulsory and
adding another two more years in the former basic education which was 6
years of elementary education and 4 years of secondary education with the
vision of providing students ample time to acquire knowledge and skills.
                        When I first heard about this act, I thought it would be a burden
especially for parents like us because adding more years to the length of
education of our children would also mean prolonging our obligation to
provide and finance their education. Aside from that, I used to have the
thinking that there was nothing wrong with the former number of years in
school and that if we want to improve the learning of the students, then we
must improve the quality of teaching rather than its quantity. But after having
read more about the act, I have learned that the government ensures that
poverty and other problems will not keep us parents from sending our
children to school, and through further reading I somehow come to realize
that as a teacher, this is actually a better way to truly prepare our students for
their future work because this act intends to implement a program in our
education that is rooted on sound education principles and geared towards
excellence, it is in some way designed to equip our students to compete and
work globally which for me is very agreeable since most of our students work
abroad after they graduate so I think it is just right to prepare them for it, and
in addition to that, it will also try to develop productive and responsible
citizens equipped with the essential competencies, skills and values for both
life-long learning and employment.
            Another provocative issue about RA 10533 is the mandating of the use
of the mother language or first language learned by the child as the medium of
instruction. Since the said act adheres to make the curriculum a learner-
centered, it will try to create a learning setting that is designed to make the
students understand and grasp the ideas taught in the easiest possible way. As
a teacher in a place where every students speak the same native language it
would be easy for us to apply this mode of teaching but how about those in
areas where students speak different native languages? So with that, it will in a
way create confusion on the part of both the teacher and the students.
            One of the beneficial things about the implementation of this act is that
it will prepare students to pursue either vocational courses, which offer quick
employment opportunities, or regular college courses. The government
through this program can fine-tune the program to reduce the current
mismatch between skills and job requirements in many industries both local
and national.

            Finally, as a parent and a teacher at the same time, I believe that this act
is very favourable because if this will be carried out and implemented
accordingly, then, our country will be able to produce skilled workers and
professionals who will generate more income and that would be advantageous
to our country’s economy as a whole and with that it may lessen our county’s
number one problem which is poverty.

Glance on Republic Act No. 10533

May 23, 2013 | Published by: Teacher Leann C. Luna | Posted in: Essay on Education

President Benigno Aquino signed into law Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhance Basic Education Act
of 2013 last May 15, 2013. A law that implements K to 12 Program which covers kindergarten and 12
years of basic education.

The enhance basic curriculum aims to produce Filipino graduates who are holistically developed with
21th century skills. This curriculum also gives great chance to all graduate to acquire middle-level
skills for better work opportunities.

Under Republic Act No. 10533, mother tongue language is the language of instruction from
kindergarten to Grade 3 to attain mastery of learning competencies. On the other hand, starting Grade
4 to Grade 6 teachers will use English and Filipino as their medium of instruction.

Enhance Basic Education Act of 2013 is final and it is real. Department of Education and the whole
nation come across the gigantic challenge in our educational system.

Let's start with the cons, because apparently, that's what matters most to the people
affected, a.k.a. the parents.

The cons are that the parents have to spend 2 extra years for school, and if their children
decide to enter college, there's an additional 2-year spending that was never supposed
to be there. As for those affected who are NOT the students, the college professors will
have to cope with the first generation of K+12 students. There would be no college
freshmen FOR 2 YEARS.
But that's it. Those are ALL the problems that they have to face.

For 2 years worth of sacrifice, these are what you'll get:

The students are more competent, they're not there to cope up with the world because
they're up to speed. The unemployment rates would plummet, because the K+12
program makes high school graduates eligible for MANY jobs that previously required a
two-year college degree. During the 2 year empty period, unemployed graduates can
start going out again, entering a LOT of job openings that the first generation of K+12
students made from having no college grads for 2 years.

The extra 2 years also gives more time for students to think of what to become as a
member of society. That's more than enough time. It also reduces the risk of students
shifting a lot due to a lack of contentment in school.

Vocational programs are also easier to access, like what Don Bosco is doing to its current
students, giving them practical lessons on mechanics and etc.

Think of it for the long term. More people who have jobs is what's important. K+12
allows us to have that.

The K-12 system, believe or not, is actually the international norm now. Both US and UK
school systems use the K-12 system with their own takes on it.

The K-12 system does not hold much cons to it. In fact, it was something that was
needed long overdue. The 10 year system was simply insufficient if you considered the
first 6 years as ‘basic’ education. Basic English, basic arithmetic. That leaves you with 4
years for intermediate education, not even advanced! High School doesn’t open up work
opportunities as a result and since tertiary education isn’t free, most become slackers or
unemployed. If I was to mention a cons, it would be the time taken to finish your general
curriculum. It will take 2 years to complete it and instead of graduating at 16, you
graduate at 18.

Other than that, the system is just pros, pros, pros! The extra 2 years means all are
eligible to study abroad without needing to retake 2 years in a foreign high
school/secondary school. You will only need to take an IB or SAT exam to enroll into
foreign universities.

The extra 2 years also means relevant skillsets can be taught to hopefully open up more
job opportunities for high school graduates, that means a falling unemployed rate and
an overall economic and social benefit.

The extra 2 years also means students can spend more time in school to ponder on their
aspirations. It may sound corny but being in school just makes it easier to ponder such
things. Furthermore, that means students will be exposed to their friends on a daily basis;
a strong deterrent to the current isolationist nature of teenagers who only spends time
behind a computer monitor.

If you consider all of that, the extra 2 years is practically a short-period of time. Consider
the UK, they also end general curriculum at the age of 18 after completing their ‘A’
levels, in fact, all countries that take IB and ‘A’ levels end at the age of 18, this includes
Malaysia, Singapore, etc. Filipinos ending at 18 doesn’t mean we will fall behind others in
terms of completing high school but rather, we’re finally catching up to the new norm.

Legal Basis of Philippine Education

The Constitution, Article 2, Section 17: "The State shall give priority to education, science and
technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social
progress, and promote total human liberation and development."

Adlib: as we know, innocence does not excuse anyone to the Law. sometimes teacher do bad or
illegal things because they are not aware of the law. but that should not be an excuse, because as a
professional teacher, it is expected to know all the legal basis that is connected to education. to avoid
wrong practices and to be aware of the real goal and meaning of Education in our country.

As laws were made for the people, it is also our responsibility to be knowledgeable of these legal
bases for us to know our rights and responsibilities. Laws are like subject matters or lessons that can
be considered to be effective, only when it is taught and understood by the pupils. For teachers to
become effective, it is but proper that they understand the legal bases of education for it is the
foundation of all policies and rules concerning education. It is like a guiding star that will help teachers
find the right path that they must follow so that they can achieve the objectives of education. They will
be able to make things essential for the lives of the pupils and also in their profession, for knowing of
the root of education means understanding the purpose and importance of education.