Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program in the Philippines: For Better of For Worse?

ENHANCED K+12 BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE

PHILIPPINES: FOR BETTER OF FOR WORSE?

A Simple Research

Presented to the Faculty of the

College of Arts and Sciences

West Visayas State University

La Paz, Iloilo City

In partial fulfillment of the course

Writing in the Discipline

(Eng 104)

by

Ayesa Bermejo

Rachind Charo Palmaira

Cherry Mea Bendicio

Catherine Ann Bermil

February, 2012

Introduction

Each Filipino is entitled to acquire a high quality education and this is consistent with Article XIV, Section 2(1) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which states that the "the state shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all". To provide Filipinos the quality of education that is advanced and capable of making the most out of them, the government decided to propose the K+12 Education Program for the education system of the country. The country has been facing problems regarding its declining quality of education and the government's solution for these problems is the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program. K+12 means kindergarten and 12 years of elementary and secondary. Under the K+12 program, the aim is not just to add two years of schooling but more importantly to enhance the basic education curriculum of the country. This is in line with the agenda of the President Aquino of having quality education as a long term solution to poverty.

The K+12 education system is a system that is being applied in the education system of most of the countries around the world because this is very beneficial for it allows specializations in science and technology, music and arts, agriculture and fisheries, sports, business and entrepreneurship.

The K+12 program can be considered a solution to the problems experienced by the government in improving the quality of education in the country yet along its advantages are disadvantages as well. Proper weighing of ideas is needed before the implementation of this program because it can either help or hinder the enhancement of the education system of the country and what is at stake here is not only the future of the Filipino students but of the whole country as well.

The objective of this study is to know the possible advantages and disadvantages gained from the proposed K+12 Education Program, to know the strategic ways of the government to sufficiently aid the program and lastly to comprehend whether the program will be for the better or for worse of the Philippine Education System.

Review of Related Literature

In this study, researched literature and other studies related to the research are discussed in order to clarify certain aspects of this research and to establish rich information to serve as a backbone of the research. This part deals with the discussion of what a quality education is all about, history of the K+12 Education System, Education System in Asia and K+12 Education System in the Philippines.

Education

Education is one of the most essential parts of a man's life. It is an act or process of providing with knowledge, skills, competence or usually desirable qualities of education as defined by the Webster's International dictionary. According also to Chesterton ( ) education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another while Woodson ( ) defines it as a mean to inspire people to live more abundantly, to learn to begin with life as they find it and make it better.

Education is considered as one of the best tools needed in realizing great dreams that's why we are entitled to acquire and experience a high quality education. Adams (1993) asked about what quality really means in the context of education because many definitions of quality in education exist, testifying to the complexity and multifaceted nature of the concept. He also pointed out that terms efficiency, effectiveness, equity and quality have been often used synonymously. Considerable consensus according to UNICEF (2000) however exists around the basic dimensions of quality education today. Quality education includes:

o Learners who are healthy, well nourished and ready to participate and learn, and supported in learning by their families and communities.

o Environments that are healthy, safe, protective and gender sensitive and provide adequate resources and facilities;

o Content that is reflected in relevant curricula and materials for the acquisition of basic skills, especially in the areas of literacy, numeracy and skill for life, and knowledge in such areas as gender, health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention and peace;

o Processes through which trained teachers use child-centered teaching approaches in well-managed classrooms and schools and skillful assessment to facilitate learning and reduce disparities;

o Outcomes that encompass knowledge, skills and attitudes, and are linked to national goals for education and positive participation in society.

K+12 Education System

To achieve a more defined and advanced quality of education, a certain education system was specially designed which is the K+12 education system. The K+12 education system is the public education system that most of us are familiar today. Comprised of thirteen grades, kindergarten through the 12th and it also refers to the public school system in all the United States, Canada, the UK, Asia and parts of Europe as well (What is the History of K+12, 2012).

History of the K+12 Education System

Today the K+12 education represents the compulsory education required of all children in the U.S. Though a K+12 education can be attained from either publicly or privately funded institutions, children who have reached compulsory school age are required by law to attend school. Compulsory education began in the United