‘K to 12’ highlight of Education Week

The government’s flagship “K to 12” (Kindergarten to 12th Grade) program will take center stage in this year’s celebration of Education Week as the Department of Education (DepEd) pursues the extension of the basic education cycle from 10 to 12 years.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro called on schools to “drum up support for the implementation of K to 12 in the week-long celebration from December 5 to 9.

The K to 12 program hopes to improve the quality of Filipino high school graduates by adding two more years of senior high school to the current 10-year curriculum.  Students may choose their preferred specialization—whether in the arts, sports, agriculture, technical-vocational courses—in the additional two years.

The program was introduced as K+12, but the DepEd revised the name to K to 12, saying the education cycle should be viewed as a continuum.

Critics oppose the program, saying he DepEd should first address the perennial shortages in school resources.

In a memorandum, Luistro said Education Week “aims to reaffirm and emphasize the role of education in empowering and developing the young to be productive citizens of the country and responsive to the need of the times.” Tarra Quismundo