P12M for model technical-vocational high schools

The Department of Education (DepEd) has released P12 million to subsidize technical-vocational high schools now testing the Senior High School program under the new 12-year basic education curriculum.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said each school would get P1 million.

The 12 tech-voc high schools around the country are trying out a new curriculum  under the  Kindergarten to Year 12 (K to 12) program.

They are offering training in agriculture, fisheries and other trade-related courses.

In a statement, Luistro said,  “Just like a research and development process, we expect to draw out the best practices of participating model schools, which we can replicate in the years ahead.”

The Senior High School model is part of the DepEd’s phased implementation of the K to 12 program that seeks to produce employable high school graduates by adding two years to the 10-year basic education program.

In the two-year senior high school (Grades 11 and 12), students may undergo specialized training in sports, music and the arts, or get a technical-vocational education.

The  DepEd started implementing the K to 12 program by offering kindergarten in public schools last year and new curricula in June for Grades 1 and 7, which is equivalent to first year high school.

The first senior high school students will be admitted in

June 2016.

Luistro said the subsidy could be used to prepare instructional materials, teacher training, student assessment and consultation with industry partners.

Last month, the DepEd created a technical-vocational unit under the Bureau of Secondary Education to oversee the integration of tech-voc in K to 12.

Qualifying math test

A qualifying examination for students of public and private elementary and secondary schools nationwide who excel in mathematics will be conducted on

July 21.

Those who pass the test will participate in a series of intensive training to further enhance their skills.

The test will be conducted by the  DepEd with the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild (MTG).

Luistro  said the training aimed to develop further the students’ potentials so they could meet international standards.

Qualifiers can enroll in the 12-Saturday Mathematical Challenge for Filipino Kids Training Program, which will prepare them for international competitions

Visit the MTG website

www.mtphil.org or e-mail [email protected] or call Roberto Degolacion at 0917-3246302.