Families, schools brace for K+12

With a combined monthly income of only P4,000, Sucilyn Ybag is fretting over the costs of sending two of her four children to school in the wake of this year’s K+12 program.

“Our monthly income is just enough for our daily expenses,” she said. Sucilyn and her husband Bienvenido are employed as utility workers in Pardo Elementary School.

She works as a yaya or nanny to earn extra for the family.

“Some teachers here in school usually ask me to send their children to their schools if they are busy. Every week, they gave me P100.” Sucilyn said.

Her eldest son Lourdinnez and her second daughter had to drop school due to rising costs. Lourdinnez works as a plumber while Sucilyn’s daughter got married.

Sucilyn, a resident of barangay Kinasang-an, Pardo said she wished that the K+12 program didn’t have to be implemented so families like hers won’t have to spend more for their children’s education.

“Since this is already mandated, we have no choice but, to strive harder. My husband and I were hoping that my younger children can finish their studies in due time,” she said.

The K + 12 program that was launched by the Palace last month mandates kindergarten education for five-year-old children and an additional two years of senior high school for all students.

At the Cebu City Elementary School, officials said they will hold morning and afternoon classes of 30 pupils each to make sure that the schoolchildren will be attended to.

“The parents should not worry about it because we have prepared nine teachers and nine classrooms for the K+12 program,” said Viviana Aytona, the school’s kinder coordinator.

Aytona said about 387 pupils graduated from preschool last year and they expect 420 pupils to enroll in preschool.

She said they will hire more teachers if they exceed the number of enrollees for this school year. The school is holding free summer classes for those who didn’t enroll in pre-school last year.