BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

PHILIPPINE CURRENT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

WHAT IS THE K TO 12 BASIC EDUCATION
PROGRAM?
K to 12 (also K-12) is an education system under the Department of
Education that aims to enhance learners basic skills, produce more
competent citizens, and prepare graduates for lifelong learning and
employment. K stands for Kindergarten and 12 refers to the
succeeding 12 years of basic education (6 years of elementary
education, 4 years of junior high school, and 2 years of senior high
school).
WHAT IS THE K TO 12 BASIC EDUCATION
PROGRAM?
Alternative Learning System (ALS)- K to 12 Basic Education Program

Communication Skills (English)

Learning
Strand 1:
Communication Skills (Filipino)

Learning Scientific Literacy and Critical

Strand 2: Thinking Skills
Learning Mathematical and Problem
Strand 3: Solving Skills
Learning
Life and Career Skills
Strand 4:
Learning Understanding the Self and
Strand 5: Society
Learning
Digital Literacy
Strand 6:
WHO LAUNCHED K TO 12?
The K to 12 Basic Education Program is the flagship program of the
Department of Education in its desire to offer a curriculum which is
attuned to the 21st century. This is in pursuance of the reform thrusts of
the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda, a package of policy reforms
that seeks to systematically improve critical regulatory, institutional,
structural, financial, cultural, physical and informational conditions
affecting basic education provision, access and delivery on the ground.
The Department seeks to create a basic education sector that is capable of
attaining the countrys Education for All Objectives and the Millennium
Development Goals by the year 2015. These policy reforms are expected to
introduce critical changes necessary to further accelerate, broaden,
deepen and sustain the Departments effort in improving the quality of
basic education.
WHO LAUNCHED K TO 12?
A recent change in the Philippines educational system was
implemented starting in 2011. President Aquino signed the K 12
education into law in 2013, adding three years to the countrys basic
education curriculum.
The new K 12 curriculum guide requires all Filipino students to have
one year of kindergarten, six years of elementary schooling (grades 1
to 6), four years of junior high school (grades 7 to 10), and two years
of senior high school (grades 11 to 12).
 K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM
The K-12 program offers a decongested 12-year
program that gives students sufficient time to
master skills and absorb basic competencies.
Students of the new system will graduate at the
age of 18 and will be ready for employment,
entrepreneurship, middle level skills
development, and higher education upon
graduation.
The K-12 program accelerates mutual
recognition of Filipino graduates and
professionals in other countries.
Kindergarten is mandatory for five-year-old
children, a pre-requisite for admission to Grade
1.
The new curriculum gives students the chance
to choose among three tracks (i.e. Academic;
Technical-Vocational-Livelihood; and Sports and
Arts) and undergo immersion, which provides
relevant exposure and actual experience in
their chosen track.
OLD SYSTEM
Students lack mastery of basic
competencies due to a congested ten-
year basic education curriculum.
Graduates of the old curriculum are
younger than 18 years old and are not
legally ready to get a job or start a
business.
Foreign countries perceive a ten-year
curriculum as insufficient. They do not
automatically recognize Overseas
Filipino workers (OFWs) as professionals
abroad.
Kindergarten (a strong foundation for
lifelong learning and total development)
is optional and not a pre-requisite for
admission to Grade 1.
Old education system offers a broad
curriculum that does not include enough
practical applications.
The rationale
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.
This has always been seen as a disadvantage for our students who are
competing in an increasingly global job market. The longer
educational cycle of the K 12 curriculum is seen as critical in giving
Filipino students a higher quality of education.
Filipino graduates need to develop a competitive advantage over
others in the ASEAN region and in the world. Unfortunately, the ten-
year basic education system handicaps overseas Filipino professionals
competing in the world market.
Why the leaders of our country are pushing
for the K to 12 basic education curriculum?
Salient features that will yield fine learners with 21st century skills have triggered this move.
1) Strengthening Early Childhood Education
Research shows that children who go through standards-based kindergarten programs have higher completion
rates than those who do not. Through required pre-school, each child aged 5 years old will now gain access to
early childhood learning.
Students will learn letters, numbers, shapes, and colors through songs, dances, and games using their mother
tongue. This is a bold step toward making Grade 1 students a reader and a way to get them ready for formal
schooling.
2) Making the Curriculum Relevant to Learners

Studies show that students grasp their lessons well if they can relate to them. Thus, the new program will
include examples, activities, songs, poems, stories, and pictures based on culture, history, and reality. Added as
well are thoughts on issues such as disaster prevention, climate change, and Information and Communication
Technology or ICT.
Through relevancy, they expect the students to gain in-depth knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes through
continuity and consistency across every level and subject.
Why the leaders of our country are pushing
for the K to 12 basic education curriculum?
3) Building Skill
Experts have proven that children learn lessons and a second language better and are more active
in class when mentors teach them in their mother tongue. To build skill, learners must keep their
ethnic uniqueness, values, and culture. To do this, the program will use the childs main language in
studying and on learning tools from kindergarten through third grade.
4) Ensuring Unified and Seamless Learning
In spiral progression, students first learn the basic concepts while they will study the complex ones
in the next grades. This lets them learn topics and lessons that match their developmental and
cognitive skills. As learners revisit and share them over again, they strengthen retention and
enhance mastery of the topics and skills.
5) Gearing Up for the Future
The new program aims to guarantee college preparedness and brace TechVoc education and
training. This lets students choose their career path based on talent, interests, and the schools
capacity. Their track choice will define the subjects they will study in Grades 11 and 12.
6) Nurturing the Fully Developed Filipino
Beyond kindergarten, elementary, junior high, and senior high schools, each K-12 graduate will be
ready to move to different paths. It could be for education, employment, or enterprise.
 http://www.deped.gov.ph/k-to-12/bec-cgs/als-program
https://ph.theasianparent.com/advantages-new-k-12-curriculum/3/
http://k12philippines.com/six-key-characteristics-of-the-k-12-basic-
education-program/