Opinions of Selected Feu Ias Students on Th Implementation of K-12 in the Philippines

K-12 educational systems are the additional years to secondary level. This research contains some information about the curriculum of K-12. Interviews, books and newspapers were the researchers’ major instrument in gathering information and were augmented with other data collected through readings. Studies cited by the researchers have also shown that the country’s education program is equivalent to the 12-year education cycle followed abroad except that it is being completed in only 10 years. The respondents of this research are the selected IAS students of Far Eastern University who will give their opinions on the implementation of K-12 educational systems in the Philippines.

This research analyzes and studies what will be the effects of the K-12 educational systems to the country, parents, and students. The researchers used the random sampling method as a mean to know the views of the respondents on the implementation of K-12. At the latter part of the study, the researchers found out that most of the respondents are in favor on the idea of the implementation of K-12 in the Philippines, but most of them believe that our country is not ready for K-12. As a conclusion in regards to the study, for most respondents, they believe that the idea of implementing K-12 is good, but they know that the country is not yet ready to have this kind of implementation, one reason is they believe that the lack of rooms and teachers should be given attention first.

Introduction:

As early as 1925, studies have observed the inadequacy of the basic education curriculum. As one of the most well studied reforms, recommendations of either adding or restoring 7th grade or adding an extra year to basic education have been put forward. The K-12 education system is the public education system that most of us are familiar with today. Comprised of thirteen grades, kindergarten through 12th, the K-12 Education System refers to the public school system in all of the United States, Canada, UK, and parts of Europe as well (Wisegeek articles 2009). The adoption of the program in the Philippines is in response to the need to improve the competitiveness of our country’s graduates as the ten-year basic education cycle is seen as inadequate for work and higher education (Official Gazette 2010). In fact, overseas Filipino workers are not automatically recognized as professionals in other countries that view the ten-year education program as insufficient. President Aquino led the formal launching of the K-12 reformed basic education program at Malacañang which makes mandatory kindergarten education for five-year-old children and two additional two years of senior high school for all students. The President noted that the Philippines is the only country in Asia and one of only three in the world – two of which are in Africa – with a 10-year basic education program.

And President Aquino also stated that how will Filipinos become competitive if from the very beginning we are already at a disadvantage in the number of years of studying and training and what we want is to give the next generation a strong foundation (The Philstar April 2012). According to Secretary Armin Luistro from the Department of Education, K-12 basic education program will take-off next school year 2012-2013. The said program is comprised of universal kindergarten education, 6 years of elementary education, 4 years of junior high school and an additional 2 years for senior high school (Kuro-Kuro Archives 2010). Although our country started out late, the said program has faced a lot of criticisms both from government officials and concerned citizens even before it was approved.

K-12 has its own pros and cons and for a Third World country like the Philippines, such initiative have so much potential in bringing progress to the people as long as rampant issues in the educational system will be weeded out in the process (Philippine Online Chronicles). The curriculum of the K-12 program will focus on the core subjects –Mathematics, Science and English– with electives that are sensitive and responsive to the learners’ interest and local industry needs. Graduates will be accredited in their areas of specialization, including academics, technical-vocational and sports and arts. The Department of Education (DepEd) said an enhanced curriculum would decongest academic workload, giving students more time to master competencies and participate in co-curricular activities and community involvement, thus allowing for a more holistic development. Graduates would possess competencies and skills relevant to the job market. They would be given a certificate of proficiency, certificate of competency or national certification in their areas of specialization.

The purpose of this research is to further enhance the understanding of students, teachers and parents towards the implementation of K-12 in the Philippines. More facts on this topic can provide evidence on how K-12 will affect the country’s performance. Furthermore it will also supply information to other research papers and future studies and to drive other researcher to study K-12 more deeply about its benefit and drawback. The current System of Education in the Philippines is in the brink of extinction for a new Education System is being proposed. Poverty remains the most critical social problem that needs to be addressed. Philippines’ poverty line marks individuals earning less than 16,841 Peso a year. According to the data from the National Statistical Coordination Board, more than one-quarter (26.5%) of the population falls below the poverty line in 2009 (Wikipedia). The lack of interest among school children indicates a weakness on the part of the school system to make education interesting for the students.

This may be due to poor teaching quality, inadequate facilities and supplies and poor infrastructure. Poverty, social exclusion, school distance and poor health care, likewise, factors that weigh heavily on children and dampen their interest to pursue schooling, said the report (gmanews.tv August 2008). The goal of the Enhanced K-12 Basic Education Program is to create a functional basic education system that will produce productive and responsible citizens equipped with the essential competencies and skills for both life-long learning and employment. The program will enhance the basic education system to full functionality to fulfill the basic learning needs of students. This is in line with the agenda of the President Aquino of having quality education as a long-term solution to poverty. The hopes, dreams and aspirations of our people can only be articulated fully through an education system that expects excellence from its learners as it nurtures in them an unwavering desire to achieve their true potential. Quality Education, broadly and freely accessible is indeed the best weapon against poverty, because it forges an Education Nation, a nation where citizens are imbued with purpose and vision.

Body:

The researchers were able to survey all 40 respondents from different courses in the institute of arts and science. The respondents are asked if they are in favor on the implementation of K-12 here in the Philippines. The following graph shows the viewpoint of every respondent.

The graph above shows that 47.5% of the total respondents strongly agrees, 12.5% agrees, 20% are neutral, 10% disagrees, and 10% strongly disagrees on the implementation of K-12.From the results of the survey, it appears that almost half of the total respondents are in favor on the implementation of K-12.

From the outcome of the graph, it shows that most of the respondents are neutral on the issue, but we cannot let go of the fact that there are still a number of respondents who agrees.  The graph above indicates that 20% of the total respondents strongly agrees, 25% agrees, 22.5% are neutral, 12.5% disagrees, and 17.5% strongly disagrees that there will be more job opportunities because of K-12. As can be seen on the graph, most of the respondents agree that the implementation of K-12 would bring more job opportunities.

Based on the results, most respondent believes that students would not lose interest in college prior to the implementation of K-12, due to the fact that 35% of the total respondents strongly disagrees on it.

This graph shows that 32.5% from the respondent strongly agree that K-12 is vital to the future of the youth. And about 30% from the respondents chose to agree, 20% from the respondents answer that they are neutral which means that the respondents are not sure if the implementation of K-12 is vital or not. And about 12.5% of the respondents chose to disagree in the question. Lastly 5% of the respondents strongly disagree because of the reason that they do not believe if K-12 is really vital to youth.

This pie chart shows the respondents view concerning the waste of governments resources on K-12. Most of the respondents chose to answer neutral, 42.5% from the respondents tells that they are not sure if K-12 is a waste of government resources because it is just getting started. 20% from the respondents disagree because they believe that there is no waste issue when it comes to education. At the same time 30% of the respondents strongly disagrees for the same reason. About 5% of the respondents agree because they believe that this can cause another acts of corruption, at the same time 2.5% strongly agree for the same reason.

The bar graph above shows that 65% from the respondents strongly agree that it is more important to give attention in the lack of rooms and teachers here in the Philippines. 10% from the respondents agree, and also 10 % of them are neutral. 15% from the respondents strongly disagree because they believe that Philippines is ready for the K-12 and the problem is the proper distribution of students to classroom. And lastly no one disagree which results to 0%.

The graph above shows that 45% of the respondents agree that the country is not yet prepared for K-12 because we lack teacher’s rooms and class equipments. 15% of the respondents agree also for the same reason. 10% of the respondents are neutral because they cannot decide. 7.5% from the respondents disagree and lastly 22.5% of the respondents strongly disagree for the reason that they believe our country is ready but the people are not.

Conclusion:

The results were interesting that majority showed favor and had positive answers for the implementation of K-12 in the Philippines. There were two astounding facts that the researchers found out while conducting the survey. While most of the respondents answers where good about K-12 they showed neutral answers that it would be a waste of government resources even though the respondents already pointed out that rooms and teachers where needed for the implementation of K-12 in the Philippines. What’s more intriguing is the fact that majority of the respondents wants K-12 to be implemented but also answered that the country itself is not yet prepared for it. This goes to show that the respondents have a clear idea of what K-12 is and what it could bring to the country but lacks consistency on the matter. It may be for the reasons that there is corruption in the government or the negative influence of poverty in the Philippines. Apparently, because of the corruption in government most people have the mentality that soon it will only benefit the government further on and it will just add as another burden to the Philippines.

This forming of mistrust of the government shows relative doubt and gaps the people’s knowledge about the implementation of K-12 itself. However, with this in mind Filipinos clearly see its benefit but doesn’t give importance or even strive to accomplish its implementation. The same goes for the country’s problem of poverty. In addition to corruption poverty has also dramatically changed the way of life in the Philippines. This resulted to much more uncertainty if something like K-12 could lead to the rise of the Philippines. The researchers would like to recommend more intensive research for the implementation of K-12 in the Philippines. It could yield more plausible information and answer once deep study or research is applied. In addition, the researchers advise that such information about K-12 should be widespread or made known to the public. Many people have not yet fully comprehended K-12 in the Philippines and its content. This goes to show that answers, opinions, and beliefs about the said study may change in the long run. The respondents have already pointed out that the Philippines is not yet prepared for the implementation of K-12.

The Philippines has a simple problem, the lack of the basic Education necessities on public schools. Simple problems require simple solutions; the simple solution is increasing the allocated budget for Education. Many suggest rechanneling the budget used on paying foreign debts to Education Sector, and I see it very appropriate (kuro-kuro.org). There is no harm on a society prioritizing on the Education of its people, for Education is one of the essentials of an effective society. The problem is visible, the solution is available and the only things is needed is action. Before any major reform, the Department of Education must fill out its gaps and deficiencies. There are many that are needed to be taken care of, before even trying to adopt a new system.

The current Education Sector is like a boat, with many holes in it. Placing a better captain will not make-up to the fact that there are holes in the ship; what will fix the problem is repairing the holes of the ship (Philstar 2009). When the Department of Education has already taken care of things that needs to be taken of – when it has already enough books, enough teachers, enough classrooms, enough chairs and stable budget – only then can we start considering a new system; and not until we take care of old problems, it will continue to hunt us no matter how good the new system is. With the current situation, K-12 will just worsen the situation (News Inquirer 2010).

References:

Department of Education (2012).The K-12 Basic Education. Retrieved September 28, 2012 from Official Gazette website

Department of Education, Region 6 (2012).The Enhanced K-12 Basic Education Program. Retrieved September 14, 2012 from DepEd website

Elefante F. (2012, June 23). The K+12 Basic Education Program: Helping Filipino Children Adapt To Ever-Changing World. Retrieved September 14, 2012 from Business Mirror website

Flores M. (2011).Is the Philippines ready for K+12. Retrieved October 9, 2012 from Kuro-Kuro website

Quismundo T. (2010, October 6). K+12 won’t happen until after Aquino term. Retrieved October 9, 2012 from New Inquirer website

The Philippine Star (2012, April 25). K+12 education program launched. Retrieved September 14, 2012 from Philstar website

Velasco P. (2012, March 6). Smart Parenting: A Primer on the New K-12 Philippine Education Curriculum. Retrieved September 14, 2012 from Smart Parenting website

Analysis on the opinions of selected Institute of Arts and Sciences of Far Eastern University on the implementation of K-12 in the Philippines.