City mayors back K to 12 implementation

CITY mayors nationwide have expressed their support for the implementation of the government’s major education reform program, widely known as K to 12.

In a press statement recently, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) said that they are “fully committed to work with the national government for the effective and successful implementation of the program.”

The group said that it is high time to implement the education reform program.

“We will never know when the country will be ready for a major education reform unless we do it now,” LCP added.

The city mayors also expressed their support for the implementation of the Senior High School (SHS) program or grades 11 and 12 in the new curriculum.

“Senior High School is a significant and necessary component of basic education reform. Cities across the country are fully committed to work with the national government for the effective and successful implementation of the program,” the statement read.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro, FSC welcomed the support of city executives, saying that they are the “leaders” in the implementation of the K to 12.

“Initially these cities are the leaders in the implementation of K to 12. Ang mas alam ng tao, ang Department of Education (DepEd) ang nag-i-implement ng reporma pero gusto nating ipakita na talagang kailangan ng very close partnership doon sa local government units. Kapag ginagawa natin iyan, mas nakatutok sa pangangailangan natin, ng industriya, at ng siyudad ang mga programa ng DepEd para sa Senior High School,” Luistro said.

The additional two years, which will constitute the SHS, is said to “ensure that basic education graduates are equipped and ready for employment, entrepreneurship, or higher learning further education and training.”

The first batch in the SHS program will be students of grade 11 in school year 2016-2017.