K to 12 begins

Yesterday was the start of classes in public schools and many students were  excited to attend classes especially with the introduction of the K to 12 educational reform program under President Benigno Aquino III’s administration.

Kindergarten and grade 7 is now compulsory and  eventually two years of senior high shall be introduced. Take note, not all high school graduates can proceed to a university for education where  admission exams are tough.

But what is important under the new program is that once a student graduates from senior high he is eligible and highly qualified to work. This means there is no need to go to college to qualify for employment.

Based on the estimate of Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD, president of the University of San Carlos, enrollment in the university will drop drastically from 17,000 to about 7,000 students.

Outcomes Based Education (OBE) will  be implemented in the university starting this school year in preparation for  full implementation of K to 12.

There are those who oppose the K to 12 program, including some politicians,   who don’t adequately know the program.

I think the K to 12 program is good since many parents wish that their children will find a job after high school. Admittedly we still lack classrooms, teachers and text books, but these problems have been and will remain with us for some time whether or not K to 12 is  implemented.

What is important is that the Aquino administration is seriously doing something about the gains  made through its anti-corruption program.

Another important education innovation under the Aquino administration is the compulsory instruction of students using the mother tongue until they reach grade three. This undertaking is based on local, national and international studies showing the effectiveness of using the native language in instruction.

There are some problems pointed out by teachers like absence of references written in the mother tongue. But such materials are now being formulated for production in a few months.

I welcome theese educational reforms  because this means we will have more intellectually mature students enrolling in college.

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I share the frustrations of businesswoman Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung over vandals destroying some of the decorative lampposts installed on the sidewalks of Osmeña Boulevard even before the whole project could be finished.

Yeung complained that  glass cases, bulbs and even  the Spanish-style posts themselves were taken out.  allegedly by streetchildren who frequent the area.

The police later clarified that one missing lamppost is in the City Traffic Operations Mangament office for safekeeping after a car hit one post. The person responsible paid for the damage.

Barangay officials, not the police, should be responsible for keeping the lampposts intact. They are in a better position to guard them.

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The Philippine National Police plays a very important role in maintaining peace and order now that classes have begun.

Fraternity violence is one of the  serious problems confronting our schools today.

I suggest that  government agencies be pro-active in addressing this problem.  Many students are being bullied and harassed by frat members. Petty crimes usually accompany the opening of school so the police should increase visibility to prevent these crimes.

School authorities should see to it that  students stop using illegal drugs on campus.  Everyone concerned should get involved in addressing these persistent problems.