High School and Students

The continuous deterioration of the quality of education in the Philippines has prompted the DepEd to push for the implementation of the K to 12 programs, which entails the institutionalization of kindergarten and the addition of two more years of high school in the basic education cycle. The proposal has spurred a heated debate on whether it could lead to improvements or just exacerbate thn e present state of education in the country. The Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program in the Philippines has been officially started. It has been initiated by the Aquino administration where students will have to undergo a new system of education. This program will require all incoming students to enroll into two more years of basic education. Thus, the K+12 System will basically include the Universal kindergarten, 6 years of elementary, 4 years of junior high school with an additional 2 years for senior high school. Moreover, the program aims to uplift the quality of education in the Philippines in order for graduates to be easily employed.

The program also aims to meet the standards required for professionals who would want to work abroad. Most importantly, the system aims to fully enhance and develop the students in order for them to be well-prepared especially in emotional and cognitive aspects. Through this, graduates will be able to face the pressures of their future workplace. However, not all are in favor of the K+12 Education. There are students complaining of the additional years and there are parents who are not in favor of the additional expenses. But indeed, it is an undeniable fact that additional years in the education system will really require more budgets not just from the government but from the parents as well. Aside from this, students will need additional classrooms, school supplies and facilities. The program would need more qualified teachers as well. The researchers believe that the K+12 Education in the Philippines would uplift the quality of lifestyle of the Filipino people. But, this could not be done without being prepared. And since the program has already been implemented, what is more important now is for students to do their best and study despite of the lack of facilities.

The Philippine educational system pursues the achievement of excellent undergraduates in the elementary and secondary level. Implementation of UbD is one of the proposals that undertook in the country recently. At present, the Department of Education pronounces the addition of two more years in the basic education of students, which according to them will benefit not only the Filipino youth but all the Filipinos in the Philippines. This proposal is part of P-noy’s Educational Reform Program. The administration asserts that with the implementation of such program, the problem of unemployment in the country will be resolved. In as much as employment in the Philippines is concerned, the K12 education also responds to the fact that most countries in the world already have the same plan in their educational institutions. With this, the standards of these countries go a notch higher than what the country has, thus, creating an expansion in the global competency. What can be really said about this plan?

While the reaction of the public is divided, where some are in favor and some are not, here are several issues that point out to the aggression of opposing groups especially the parents to this program. One of the main problems in the Philippines which the government needs to resolve is the lack of school and classrooms in the different parts of the country. It is important that students stay in a place that is conducive for study while they are away from home. In addition, with teachers go abroad to teach, or do another job, there is already a shortage of educators in schools that mold the minds of learners. And this deficiency has become a problem for the country in the past several years. Finally, there is a need for students to utilize the appropriate instructional materials and school equipment for them to learn and gain the necessary knowledge in school.

This lack of accessibility in books and other school supplies clearly manifest the scarcity in the public schools in the country. There is nothing wrong in aiming the other fraction of a horizon, and that is what the government attempts to accomplish. It is in fact an indication that to aspire for something higher, one must carry out certain actions to achieve the goal. However, the administration also ought to realize and clearly understand what the educational system in the Philippines needs to develop primarily. The mentioned issues above are only a few elements that entailed to be resolved. At some point, the Philippines cannot go ahead unless the concerns are faced and the difficulties are completely solved. There are a lot to be done to improve the competency of the youth. The government does not need to gaze from afar.

Conceptual Framework
The framework of this as can be viewed below was anchored on the dependent variable, student’s perception on the K+12 policy as the independent variable.

Research Paradigm
Fig. 1

Dependent Variable Independent Variable

Statement of the Problem

Major Problem:
1. What is the perception of the STMA high school students on K12?

Minor Problems:
1.What are the advantages and disadvantages of K12?
2.Does the student agree on the K12 policy?

Hypothesis
This study assumed the following:
1.That students have different definition about the K12 policy.
2.That students believe that K12 is a waste of time.
3.Most students will not finish high school.

Scope and Delimitations
The target respondents of the study are the high school students of the current academic year (2011-2012) randomly selected across all year level. It is limits itself on the perceptions of the students on the said topic and their preconceived notion.

Significance of the Study
This study is about the perception on K12 policy among parents and high school students of St. Thomas More Academy academic year 2011-2012. The persons that would benefit from the study are the following: Students

A better understanding on K12 policy would benefit the students on increasing their knowledge. Teachers
The finding of this study may likewise motivate and challenge them to guide their students on matters regarding K12 policy related issues considering the philosophy of loco parentis or the second parents; teachers will be able to explain things. Parents

Parents will be enlightened on how best to explain to their children matters pertaining to K12 policy.

Definition of terms

The following special terms has been sued to suit this study:

Deteriorate To make or become worse in character, quality, etc.

Exacerbate To increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of; aggravate.

PerceptionPoint of view; Opinion

Promptto obey

ENDNOTES

Websites:
www.wikipedia.com
www.wiki-answers.com
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_advantages_in_having_k_plus_12
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
In preparing this study the researchers seriously looked for different books, newspapers articles and other media as point of reference. There are numerous sources that the researchers found especially on the internet related to these. The researchers carefully examined the following related literature; If the K-12 Education Plan becomes successful, then the Philippine education system can become more competitive among other countries around the world. Though there are still some problems that the government needs to solve before they can successfully implement the plan. The proposed program is good but it still won’t work if the needed elements to make it work aren’t present. Such element includes the number of public school classrooms plus the adequate supply of classroom chairs, books, etc. If the government could allot a bigger budget to educational needs, then we could be one-step ahead towards the success of the K-12 program. Furthermore, parents (especially those who belong in the poor sector) should be properly informed and motivated of the advantages of the K-12 Education Plan.

This is very important since parents play a major role in providing the child’s school allowances, supplies, and fees for other school projects and activities. Add to that the support of parents towards their children in terms of guidance and teaching. The DepEd seems all set to add two more years to the country’s 10 year basic education curriculum. This is a very tough issue to crack. We think it is a clash between reality and the ideal. A question unanswered – is this for the common good? The truth is there are already many problems at the current 10-year curriculum and it has nothing to do with number of years. To enumerate a few – there are not enough qualified teachers to teach all the students; that is made worst with just too many students; there are not enough classrooms and schools to comfortably fit all the students (not to mention not enough bathrooms and water supply); there are not enough books; add the problem of poor quality books, on top of that there are not enough facilities and finally very high dropout rates.

The latter, high dropout rates are being caused by something out of the education system but affects large part of the population – poverty. There are just so many poor families and they are so poor that many of them cannot afford to pay for the already meager amount needed for the education of their children. Grade school and high school are free in public schools with parents needing to just spend on uniforms, fare and some expenses. The tuition which normally accounts for a very large share of the total expenses are free and yet most poor families can still not afford of what is left for them to spend. It is not that the expenses are high, it’s just their income is very, very low. It is this inability to afford the other expenses that has caused a very high dropout rate among students. This plan of the DepEd to add two more years will of course not solve any of the above problems.

In fact, it will only extend all those problems by two more years. A longer basic education will also mean even higher dropout rates. Then there is the problem of additional expenses for the government. As of now, with the 10 year curriculum, there is already desperate lack of classrooms and schools. The public schools cannot turn the student’s away when they show up to enroll. To cope many public schools have crammed as many students as they can inside the classroom with classrooms crammed with chairs from wall to wall. Not enough, the schools conduct classes in at least shifts, in some instances classes held very early in the morning till late in the evening. With two additional years, the schools will definitely need to construct new buildings and classrooms or God forbid conduct classes 24/7. The above is the reality part.

On the government side, in the discussion paper it disseminated during its press conference last Oct. 5, the Department of Education (DepEd) has given at least nine reasons for the K+12 project:

1. “Enhancing the quality of basic education in the Philippines is urgent and critical.” 2. “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 or time on task.” 3. International test results consistently show Filipino students lagging way behind practically everybody else in the world. In the 2008 mathematics exam, for example, we came in dead last. 4. “The congested curriculum partly explains the present state of education.” Twelve years of content are crammed into ten years. 5. “This quality of education is reflected in the inadequate preparation of high school graduates for the world of work or entrepreneurship or higher education.” If ten years were adequate, how come employers do not hire fresh high school graduates? How come most high school graduates flunk the UPCAT?

6. “Most graduates are too young to enter the labor force.” Since most children start Grade 1 when they are 6 years old, they do not reach the legal employable age of 18 when they graduate from high school today. 7. “The current system also reinforces the misperception that basic education is just a preparatory step for higher education.” Why prioritize the minority of high school graduates that go to college? 8. “The short duration of the basic education program also puts the millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially the professionals, and those who intend to study abroad, at a disadvantage. Our graduates are not automatically recognized as professionals abroad.” The best examples are our engineering graduates, who are condemned to international jobs not befitting their professional status due to our not having a 12-year basic education cycle. 9. “The short basic education program affects the human development of the Filipino children.” If we believe that 17-year-old high school graduates are emotionally, psychologically, and intellectually mature, why do we require them to get parental consent before they get married?

On the other hand, those opposing the plan put forward the following arguments:

1. Parents have to shell out more money (for transportation and food) for the education of their children. 2. The government does not have the money to pay for two more years of free education, since it does not even have the money to fully support today’s ten years. DepEd must first solve the lack of classrooms, furniture and equipment, qualified teachers, and error-free textbooks. 3. We can do in ten years what everyone else in the world takes 12 years to do. Why do we have to follow what the rest of the world is doing? We are better than all of them. Filipinos right now are accepted in prestigious graduate schools in the world, even with only ten years of basic education. 4. As far as the curriculum is concerned, DepEd should fix the current subjects instead of adding new ones. The problem is the content, not the length, of basic education. As an editorial put it, we need to have better education, not more education. 5. A high school diploma will not get anybody anywhere, because business firms will not hire fresh high school graduates. 6. Every family dreams of having a child graduate from college. 7. While students are stuck in Grades 11 and 12, colleges and universities will have no freshmen for two years. This will spell financial disaster for many private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). 8. The drop-out rate will increase because of the two extra years.

CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY

Chapter III

Methodology
This chapter deals with the methodology of the studies. This is presented on the following sections: (a) Research design (b) Sampling Technique (c) Instrumentation (d) Data-gathering procedure and (e) Statistical treatment of data.

Research Method
The descriptive survey method was man used in this research. The descriptive method is concerned with the analysis of the relationship between non-manipulated variable employing the use of the development of generalization. This means that variable have already occurred and are just selected and observed Fraenkel and Wallen (1998) also define the descriptive research as involving collection of data in order to test hypothesis and answer questions concerning the current status of the subject of the study. Since the study deals with perceptions of parents and high school students on K12 policy of the Philippine government academic year 2011-2012, the descriptive survey method was deemed appropriate to be used.

Sampling Technique
The population of the study involved a total number if 496 respondents randomly selected representing at least more than half of the school’s population irrespective of the age, year, selection and gender.

Research Instrument
The researchers devised a self-made questionnaire designed to obtain information related on the objective of the study. It consisted of the following parts: Part I – This part of the questionnaire dealt with personal information regarding the respondents (name and section). Part II – This part of the questionnaire was intended to ask the respondent’s definition about K+12. Part III – This part of the questionnaire was intended to ask the respondent’s idea about the advantages and disadvantages of K12. Part IV- This part of the questionnaire was intended to ask the respondent’s opinion about the benefits of K+12.

Data Gathering Procedures
The following data gathering procedures guided the researchers Phase 1 – a copy of the questionnaire was presented to the thesis adviser. The researchers asked for his comments and suggestions; Phase 2 – the researchers presented the edited questionnaire and asked for further assistance from parents. It was then presented for approval to the school principal who gave valuable insight and ideas on how best the data can be gathered. Phase 3 – the researchers conducted data gathering procedures during first week of February. The figure below is the flowchart of the Data Gathering Procedures done by the researchers.

Fig. 2

Statistical Treatment of Data
For analyzing the data, the researchers will be use of the following statistical tools: Percentage
This refers to the number of parts per one hundred. It is a statistical tool used to express how large one quantity is, relative to another quantity. To get the total percentage of specific number and total number respondents in the questionnaire the formula is: % = F/N * 100

Where N=370
Unless otherwise stated the above formula will be used except for multiresponse questions or for gender based questions.

Presentation and Data Analysis

Table 1

1.How do you define K12?

This table is a multi-response item which showed that majority of respondents surveyed that they defined K12 as an added two years in high school with 77.57% followed by it is an academic program with 20.54% and a government policy with 15.41%.

Table 2

2.What are the advantages of it?

The preceding multiresponse table2 showed that majority of respondents surveyed said that the advantage of K12 policy is to gain more knowledge with 62.97% followed by more chances to have work with 29.19% and free OJT with 18.65%.

Table 3

3.What are the disadvantages of it?

Multiresponse table 3 showed that more money to spend was the top disadvantage of K12 with 79.19% followed by waste of time with 16.22% and lack of leisure with 15.41% as the final point of view.

Table 4

4.Do you agree on K12 policy?

More than half of the respondents said that they disagreed on the K12 policy with 67.57% and the remaining 32.43% of the respondents agreed.   Table 5

5.Do you think you will be well educated if you graduated under the K12 system?

Table 5 showed that the majority of the respondents agreed that they will be well educated if they graduated under the K12 policy with 70.27% and the other respondents left disagreed with 29.73%.

Table 6

6.In K12 system, do you think it will be helpful to all students?

The greater part of the respondents believed that K12 policy will be helpful to the students.

CHAPTER IV
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

CHAPTER IV
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations

This chapter presents the summary of findings, conclusions and recommendations.

Summary of Findings
This first table is a multiresponse item which showed that majority of respondents surveyed that they defined K12 as an added two years in high school with 77.57% followed by it is an academic program with 20.54% and a government policy with 15.41%. The second table is also a multiresponse item which showed that majority of respondents surveyed said that the advantage of K12 policy is to gain more knowledge with 62.97% followed by more chances to have work with 29.19% and free OJT with 18.65%. Multiresponse table 3 showed that more money to spend was the top disadvantage of K12 with 79.19% followed by waste of time with 16.22% and lack of leisure with 15.41% as the final point of view. Table 4 illustrates that more than half of the respondents said that they disagreed on the K12 policy with 67.57% and the remaining 32.43% of the respondents agreed. With this, it showed that the most of the students doesn’t like to implement the K+12 policy due to their concern for their time and to their parent’s money.. Table 5 proved that the majority of the respondents agreed that they will be well educated if they graduated under the K12 policy with 70.27% and the other respondents left disagreed with 29.73%.

In table 6, it shows that the greater part of the respondents believed that K12 policy will be helpful to the students. Conclusions
It has proved that the respondents showed their different views or perceptions on the K-12 system of education in the Philippine government. The following conclusions have been drawn:

1. That students were all informed and yet educated what the K-12 system is about.

2. That disadvantages were showed by the majority of the students through the data gathered whereas it resulted the students not to agree on the said system.

3. That students will be well educated after finishing the K-12 system in their education.

4. And on the other side it will be a great help to the students to learn more and adequate information that will mold them into a better person.

Recommendation
It is with fervent wish of the researchers that the following recommendations be considered by the concerned;

Students
1. Responsible is the key to the effectiveness of this program.

2. Should be responsible enough to fulfill the given task of their teachers.

Teachers
1.Teachers should encourage their students to open up if they have their problems on their subjects.

2.Since teachers are willing to help the students be more cooperative and open-minded to develop their skills and studies.

Schools
1. Schools should provide clean and green surroundings.

3.Monitor the students in having gangs/fraternities.

4.They should provide and recuperate their facilities.

Parents
1. Parents should help their children in their problems.

2. Parents should encourage their children to keep not neglect their studies.

St. Thomas More Academy Incorporated
Molino III, Bacoor, Cavite

Survey questionnaire

Title: Perception of STMA High School Students on the K12 policy of the
Philippine Government Name:
Year and Section:
1. How do you define K12?
a. added two years in high school
b. academic program
c. government policy

2. What are the advantages of it?
a. free OJT
b. more chances to have work
c. gain more knowledge

3. What are the disadvantages of it?
a. waste of time
b. more money to spend
c. lack of leisure

4. Do you agree on K12?
a. no
b. yes

5. Do you think you will be well educated if you graduated under the K12 system? a. yes
b. no

6. In K12 system, do you think it will be helpful to all students? a. yes
b. no
Title: Perception of STMA High School Students on the K12 policy of the Philippine Government Name:
Year and Section:

1. How do you define K12?
a. added two years in high school
b. academic program
c. government policy

2. What are the advantages of it?
a. free OJT
b. more chances to have work
c. gain more knowledge

3. What are the disadvantages of it?
a. waste of tim
b. more money to spend
c. lack of leisure

4. Do you agree on K12?
a. no
b. yes

5. Do you think you will be well educated if you graduated under the K12 system? a. yes
b. no

6. In K12 system, do you think it will be helpful to all students? a. yes
b. no