Name: Fernandez, Mark Lorenz B.

Subject: APP 002 - EAPP

Section: 12STEM02

Activity 5 A
TOPIC: EDUCATION
Issue: Continuity of K-12 Program in the Philippines
Thesis: K-12 Curriculum in the country drew negative reactions from various societal
groups. The government isn’t yet ready for this new system and that this is more of an
additional burden to students and their parents. Currently, this reform was
unsuccessful in achieving its aims. Moreover, the new system failed to ensure that
upon Senior High School graduation, students are able to get a job easier and faster as
well as making students ready for entrepreneurship, middle level skills development,
and higher education upon graduation.
Reasons: The K-12 program is expanding basic education by adding two years to a ten
years cycle which can be a solution to yearly deteriorating quality of education.
However, these aims were partially fulfilled. DepEd's K-12 is an inferior curriculum. It
is a huge waste of money. DepEd's K-12 introduces huge challenges especially in the
senior years of high school rather than combatting the education dilemmas and
issues. In addition, every grade has been dramatically changed ever since such that
everything needs to be reworked. A sad reality where a twelve year curriculum is only
delivered in 10 years which results in insufficiency of mastering the basic
competencies among students later leads to incompetent and unskilled graduates.
Another reason is not all people are privileged and either struggling or due to financial
constraints are limited or could not access senior years. Inevitably, due to these
reasons, dropout rates increase. I believe that if students cannot even go through all
ten years of education, what more the extra two years? More so, parents viewed this
program in a negative light, which gave them and their children a different burden
both physically and financially. Lastly, the curriculum did not ensure employment
after graduation as a lot of companies are still hesitant to hire K-12 graduates.
K-12 revised curriculum isn’t the cure-all solution for our educational woes.
Either way, adding the two-year course will not repair the defect if the foundations, in
the first place, are weak. In fact, the problem is the content, not the length. It is all
about having better education, not having more education.
Support: Government enhancing the quality of basic education in the Philippines is
urgent and critical. Parents have to shell out more money (for transportation and food)
for the education of their children due to the extension of the curriculum. The poor
quality of basic education is reflected in the low achievement scores of Filipino
students. One reason is that students do not get adequate instructional time on tasks.
The government does not have the money to pay for two or more years of free
education, since it does not even have the money to support today’s ten years.
International test results consistently show Filipino students lagging way behind
practically everybody else in the world. We can do in ten years what everyone else in
the world takes 12 years to do. The congested curriculum partly explains the present
state of education. As far as the curriculum is concerned, DepEd should fix the
current subjects instead of adding new ones. The quality of education is reflected in
the inadequate preparation of high school graduates for the world of work or
entrepreneurship or higher education. A high school diploma will not get anybody
anywhere, because business firms will not hire fresh high school graduates. The
current system also reinforces the misperception that basic education is just a
preparatory step for higher education. Every family dreams of having a child graduate
from college. Most graduates are too young to enter the labor force. And completing
formal schooling, reducing the short duration of the basic education program also
puts the millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially the professional, at a
disadvantage. The drop-out rate increased because of the two extra years. The short
basic education program affects the human development of the Filipino children.

Counter Arguments: The K to 12 uplift the quality of education in the Philippines in

order for graduates to be easily employed. The K-12 meets the standards required for
professionals who would want to work abroad. It enhances and develops the students
in order for them to be prepared especially in emotional and cognitive aspects. The K
to 12 prepare 5 years old children chance for surviving and formal schooling, reducing
dropouts incidence and ensuring better school performances. It will be the readiness
and foundationally skills of the children to be ready for primary grades. The K-12
decongest and enhance the basic education curriculum. It provides better for all.
Studies in the Philippines have shown that additional years of schooling increase
earnings by 7.2. The advantages to society: K to 12 will facilitate an accelerated
economic growth. K to 12 will facilitate mutual recognition of Filipino graduates and
professionals in other countries. In fact, K to 12 education can open new doors and
increase the chance of finding a stable job. Students can get the opportunity to build a
network, acquire more skills, and find the career that they really love. K to 12 can get
students the access to all these great opportunities and have a fulfillment during this
learning experience. A better educated society provides a sound foundation for
long-term socio-economic development.