K-12 program can’t be abolished overnight, says Sara Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — The push to abolish the K-to-12 education system is an issue that “cannot be decided overnight,” incoming education secretary and Vice President-elect Inday Sara Duterte said Monday.

Duterte said the proposal to scrap the K-12 program needs to be discussed.

“That is something na kailangan mapag-usapan. It cannot be decided overnight but initially it is something na napag-usapan namin ni President [Bongbong] Marcos,” Duterte said in a press briefing in Davao City.

(That is something that has to be discussed. It cannot be decided overnight but initially, it is something that President Marcos and I discussed.)

For now, Duterte said Marcos Jr. has instructed her to review the implementation of the K-12 education system.

“He already gave instructions with regard to the review of the implementation of the K-12 program of the Department of Education,” Duterte said.

In 2020, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said the K-12 “congested curriculum” was a failure, resulting in Grade 4 students from the Philippines recording the lowest scores among participants from 58 countries in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2019.

Similar calls to abolish the K-12 program were also pushed by other groups such as Kabataan Partylist. 

READ: K-12 blamed for low math, science ranks 

Meanwhile, the Duterte camp earlier denied that the incoming education chief is pushing for a K14+ basic education program.

READ: Inday Sara camp: VP-elect not pushing for K14+, 2-year AFP service without pay

je/abc