RESOLVING: THAT THE K-12 CURRICULUM BE REPEALED

INTRODUCTION:
Education in the Philippines has undergone several stages of development from the pre-Spanish
times to the present. Now, the K-12 Curriculum was introduced in 2013 and became a law
known as Republic Act 10533, known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. The K-12
Curriculum involves 12 years of education. 6 years primary education, 4 years JHS, and 2 years
of SHS.
POINT 1:
While the aim of this program is to help improve the quality of education in the
Philippines and produce better skilled students for maximum employability, K to 12 has also
been bombarded with criticisms, mainly on the financial ability of Filipinos to support their
children through the additional years of school. Under the current setup, two more years of
school means thousands more in expenses.
STUDENTS’ SIDE:
Unfortunately, this additional financial burden also forces thousands or even millions of
students to drop out of school. In 2017, based on PSA, 9 percent or 3.53 million of the estimated
39.2 Filipinos aged 6 to 24 years old were considered OSYs. PSA also indicated that one of the
main reasons is due to high cost of education and financial concerns. Also in 2018, Filipino
students ranked last in reading comprehension out of 79 countries.
PARENT’S SIDE:
In an article by Manila Bulletin, Yelyn Mestionla, a mother of a Grade 11 student, shared
her sentiment that the education reform is still a burden because of the additional expenses.
Also, this was this viral post of a student who graduated, and he stated that, “The weight of
poverty pushed my parents into a constant struggle for survival.” As much as this educational
development can help students, Filipino parents and families are still ill-equipped.
TEACHERS’ SIDE:
Another drawback is how it places pressure on Filipino educators, especially in public
schools. Teachers and other educational custodians are required to undergo extensive training to
be able to offer the courses that need to be taught to senior high school students. A study
conducted by Braza and Supapo (2014), stated that the teachers were discovered to struggle in
delivering the content of class materials and possess poor teaching skills.
SCHOOL’S SIDE:
In line with this, the data of the National School Building Inventory S.Y 2019-2020,
shows that when the school buildings’ inventory was done, 35% of the targeted 75,017 new
classrooms had not begun construction. Issues affecting this problem include delays in the
release of funds, land titles, or the lack of buildable space.
COMMUNITY’S SIDE:
While public schools are now offering free education and better equipment, a lot of
Philippine towns and villages still lack access to educational institutions within their
communities. One of the episodes of I-Witness, a documentary by Sandra Aguinaldo, In
Sindangan Elementary School in Southern Leyte, the students are situated in a mountainous area
and they will have to travel down which is very risky.
Affirmative Side: Resolving that the K-12 Curriculum be Repealed
Introduction:
The K-12 Curriculum in the Philippines has been a subject of debate since its implementation in
2011. While it aimed to improve the quality of education and provide better opportunities for
students, several issues have arisen affecting students, teachers, parents, schools, and the
community. This affirmative argument aims to present facts supporting the repeal of the K-12
Curriculum.
Point 1: Burden on Students
The implementation of the K-12 Curriculum has placed a heavy burden on students. They are
required to undergo two additional years of senior high school, resulting in increased costs for
parents. Furthermore, the extended years of education have limited the employment
opportunities for those graduating from senior high school, as industries have not adequately
adjusted to accommodate the additional years in the educational system.
Fact 1: According to the 2020 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey, the number of out-of-school
youths has increased since the implementation of the K-12 Curriculum, reaching 2.4 million in
2019.
Point 2: High Demand for Qualified Teachers
The K-12 Curriculum has resulted in a high demand for qualified teachers, particularly for senior
high school subjects. However, the number of available qualified teachers has not matched this
demand. As a result, some schools have resorted to hiring underqualified teachers, which
compromises the quality of education.
Fact 2: A study conducted by the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) in 2018 revealed that
there is a shortage of around 26,066 teachers for senior high school, which poses a significant
challenge to the effective implementation of the curriculum.
Point 3: Limited Resources for Schools
Implementing the K-12 Curriculum requires additional resources, such as classrooms, textbooks,
and teaching materials. However, many public schools, especially in rural areas, lack these
resources. This scarcity limits the quality of education provided to students, contributing to the
educational inequity experienced across the country.
Fact 3: In a report by UNICEF and the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2018, 27% of public
elementary schools in the Philippines still do not have adequate classrooms, while 24% do not
have electricity.
Point 4: Negative Impact on the Community
The K-12 Curriculum has had a negative impact on the community, particularly in rural areas,
where students often need to travel long distances to access senior high school education. This
puts a strain on their families and increases the likelihood of students dropping out due to the
difficulties of daily commuting.
Fact 4: A survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2018 revealed that
transportation expenses were one of the primary reasons for students' dropping out, with 33.5%
of respondents citing it as a significant barrier.
Conclusion:
Based on the aforementioned points and supporting facts, it is evident that the K-12 Curriculum
has presented numerous challenges for students, teachers, parents, schools, and the community.
The burden placed on students, the shortage of qualified teachers, limited resources for schools,
and the negative impact on the community all warrant the repeal of this curriculum. Reevaluating
the educational system and seeking alternative approaches that address these issues more
effectively is crucial for ensuring quality education for all Filipinos.