Makati to set aside P24.35M for K to 12 implementation

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A portion of the Makati city government’s budget was earmarked for the Department of Education’s pilot program K to 12 at the University of Makati this school year, city officials reported.

In a statement, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. announced that the city council has approved the P24.35-million budget allocation for the city’s K to 12 at UMAK, the DepEd’s first ever pilot test of the new education system, replacing the present 10-year education cycle to 12.

Binay said the city government would spend the money for the purchase of textbooks and instructional materials, school supplies, and uniforms of K to 12 students, which rose from 4,873 students in 2012 to 7,982 Grades 11 and 12 students in 2013.

The mayor noted that in the city’s K to 12 program, school supplies and uniforms, just like the city’s public elementary and high school students, would be provided free.

But the allocation would also cover the installation of the Interactive Rizal Park 3D/4D website for the use of K to 12 students, the program director, Dr. Emerita Reyes, said.

The setup of the website, which cost the government P1.5 million, contains historical excerpts of the heroism of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

Reyes said browsing the interactive website would be part of the curriculum in the subject Filipino in UMAK’s K to 12 program.

It showcases its so-called “signature instruction” wherein the social science component of UMAK K to 12 curriculum is an integration of the Filipino heritage.

The website allows students to engage in a 3D (three-dimensional) walk-through of Rizal Park, and experience virtual time travel to Manila in 1896 and Rizal’s execution through a 4D (four-dimensional) walk-through.

“Browsing the website can make you feel you have actually visited and explored Rizal Park while sitting comfortably in front of your computer. Our K to 12 students will surely find it a very interesting and enjoyable way of learning the history,” Reyes said.

In 2012, Makati through the city-run UMAK piloted the K to 12 program of the Department of Education, starting to open classes for Grade 11 where some 4, 873 students had enrolled.

To date, the Makati K to 12 program at UMak has 4,176 enrollees in Grade 11 and 3,806 enrollees in Grade 12.

Binay said the UMak K to 12 program was aimed at enhancing learning competencies in English, Filipino, Math, and Science as it would give a variety of course options aligned with students’ areas of interest for specialization and potential work opportunities.

It likewise promotes values formation and good citizenship while its program tracks include academic, tech-vocational, sports and arts, and needs of the locality/community.

The fund for the K to 12 program was sourced from the Special Projects Allotment of the Office of the Mayor.

Early this year, Makati has set aside a whopping P2.17 billion for education programs in the entire 2013. The amount is about half of the average yearly budget of the state-run University of the Philippines in the last 10 years, which is pegged at P5.63 billion.