Advantages And Disadvantages Of K-12 Education

Introduction
The Department of Education (commonly known as DepEd), an agency that tasked to manage and
govern the Philippine system of basic education, pronounces the two additional years in the basic
education of the Filipinos. According to them, this will not only benefit the Filipino students, but as well
as the whole country and its citizens. Prior to the implementation of the K-12 curriculum guide, the
Philippines was one of only three countries in the world and the only one in Asia that still had only 10
years in basic education.

The Department of Education asserts that with the implementation of such program, the problem of
the unemployment in the country will be resolved. The K-12 programs is said to enhance the quality
of basic education in the Philippines. This program gives the Filipino students a chance in the global
competency. The K-12 programs will also support graduates seeking for work abroad. All in all, the
now decongested K-12 curriculum will give Filipino students ample time to master the basic
academics.

“We need to add two years to our basic education. Those who can afford pay up to fourteen years of
schooling before university. Thus, their children are getting into the best universities and the best jobs
after graduation. I want at least 12 years for our public school children to give them an even chance at
succeeding.” (Aquino III, 2011)

The K-12 or K-6-4-2 program includes six years of Elementary School (6 to 11 years old), four years
of High School (12 to 16 years old) and 2 years of Senior High School (15 to 17 years old).
Kindergarten started in school year 2011 to 2012. The new and enhanced curriculum in Grade 1 and
first year high school started in school year 2012 – 2013. The first year senior high school or the
eleventh year will begin in school year 2016 – 2017. The first graduates of the 12- year curriculum will
be in 2018. (DepEd)

Advantages
As stated above, Philippines is one of the three countries that still had 10 years in the basic education
program thus seen as a disadvantage for the Filipino students to compete in the increasing global job
market. To Individuals and Families there some advantages the k-12 curriculum can give such as:

1. An enhanced curriculum will decongest academic workload, giving students more time to
master competencies and skills as well as time for other learning opportunities beyond the
classroom, thus allowing for a more holistic development.
2. Graduates will possess competencies and skills relevant to the job market. The K-12 proposal
 will be designed to adjust and meet the fast-changing demands of society to prepare graduates
with skills essential for the world of
3. Graduates will be prepared for higher education. Due to an enhanced curriculum that will
provide relevant content and attuned with the changing needs of the times, basic education will
ensure sufficient mastery of core subjects to its graduates such that graduates may opt to
pursue higher education if they choose to.
4. Graduates will be able to earn higher wages and/or better prepared to start their own business.
There is a strong correlation between educational attainment and wage structure and studies
specific to the Philippine setting show that an additional year of schooling increases earnings by
7.5%. This should also allow greater access to higher education for self-supporting students.
5. Graduates could now be recognized abroad. Filipino graduates, e.g. engineers, architects,
doctors, etc., could now be recognized as professionals in other countries. Those who intend to
study abroad will meet the entrance requirements of foreign schools.

And also there are some advantages the society and the economy can get from the k-12 program
such as: The economy will experience accelerated growth in the long run. The objective of the K+12
programs is to improve quality of basic education. Several studies have shown that the improvements
in the quality of education will increase GDP growth by as much as 2%. Studies in the UK, India and
US show that additional years of schooling also have positive overall impact on society.

The Philippine education system will be at par with international standards. K+12 will facilitate mutual
recognition of Filipino graduates and professionals following the Washington Accord and the Bologna
Accord.

A better educated society provides a sound foundation for long-term socioeconomic development.
The Enhanced K+12 Basic Education system will contribute to the development of emotionally and
intellectually mature individuals capable of pursuing productive employment or entrepreneurship or
higher education disciplines.

Disadvantages
The K-12 program does proves to help the students as it gives them ample time to study the basic
academics and to give them the ability to compete with the other students worldwide, but the program
also has it’s disadvantages.

With the additional two years of education, parents will have to provide more money (for tuition,
transportation, allowances, etc.). Middle class and high class families would rather have little to no
problems at all. But majority of the Filipinos are having a hard time in providing a budget for
the primary needs of their families. This only creates a problem for those parents who can’t afford
high tuition fees that seemingly increase year after year.

Filipino citizens are also concerned as to how the government will fund the educational programs,
specially for public schools. “K-12 is the flagship program of this administration and therefore
education sector should be given the funds it needs for successful implementation.” Said Emmalyn
Policarpio, an elementary teacher from Valenzuela City and the Secretary General of the Teachers’
Dignity Coalation (TDC)

The TDC group expressed that the mere signing of the law would not resolve existing problems of the
education sector without first resolving the resource shortages. The TDC said that the program does
not guarantee a solution to the dismal condition of the Philippine public school system. It is true that
the 12-year of basic educational system provides enough time to study and master the basic
academics but most people, specially the parents see this as a disadvantage as it cost time and
money. The K-12 program might not be as effective as in the other countries if the country are still
faced with problems such as lack of classrooms, facilities, comfort rooms and teachers who are not
well-trained to adjust to the K+12 curriculum. Also the ability of the government to release funds that
would shoulder all the expenses in adopting this education system is another pressing concern.
Therefore, K-12 education system will not work unless all of the other pressing matters would be
addressed.

Conclusion
1. The K-12 program provides ample time for students to master the basic education and global
competence.
2. The program will not work if the government doesn’t resolve the funding of the resources.

For me I am not against the K-12 program you can say that I am PRO K-12 because having this
program may have some disadvantages such as parents having to work harder because of higher
tuition fees because of the extra 2 years in school. But if we look thoroughly and understand the facts
that by using the K-12 program we can provide students with more knowledge and be more globally
competent. And students will be more critical in thinking and in problem solving. They can master the
basic education and be more skillful in the fields that they chose. Personally for me adding 2 years is
nothing compared to the knowledge and virtues we will learn and the experience too. Having the K-12
program can open up more possibilities for success. And it can also help make the Philippines more
fruitful. It can help solve other problems such as poverty.

It can help lessen poverty because children who only finished high school can now get jobs that’s not
under the minimum wage. And less poverty means less crime because some people do crime
because of money. And people having stable job can help lessen the effects of people who will do
anything for money. And the K-12 program can also solve overpopulation and less children abused.
Because one cause of overpopulation is due to over mating of those who have no jobs because they
have nothing to do which can lead to children being abandoned , being sold, and being abused. Let
me state what President Benigno Aquino III said “We need to add two years to our basic education.

Those who can afford pay up to fourteen years of schooling before university. Thus, their children are
getting into the best universities and the best jobs after graduation. I want at least 12 years for our
public school children to give them an even chance at succeeding.” In the last line he states that
children who can’t afford to attend private schools would be given an even chance at succeeding.
This helps the children look at the world that even if they didn’t have a good start they still have their
fair chance in life this is what the K-12 program provides us with a fair chance in life that every people
will be treated the same.

Sources
1. http://www.k12academics.com/education-policy/year-round-school/disadvantages
2. http://www.academia.edu/1525168/K12_Educational_System_in_the_Philippines_-
_A_Policy_Paper

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