Palace set to battle ‘K to 12’ critics in SC

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Monday said it was ready to justify before the Supreme Court (SC) the controversial “K to 12” flagship education program of Aquino administration, which has been met with public criticism, particularly from teachers and lawmakers.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the education program was important in building a strong future for the country, even as the government was doing everything to facilitate the smooth implementation of the 12-year program.

He said the perceived disadvantages brought about by the program’s implementation were being addressed by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

Earlier, Coloma described the K to 12 program as one that would “enhance the competitiveness of the Filipino in the global community.”

The program became national policy with the enactment of Republic Act No. 10533, or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, which came into effect on June 8, 2013.

Coloma said that since the effectivity of the law, the DepEd, CHEd and Tesda had conducted consultations with various stakeholders from both public and private schools to provide a clear understanding of the program and ensure its smooth transition from the current school program by school year 2016.

For his part, President Aquino had said K to 12 would “advance the competencies of Filipino graduates to enable them to stand at par with global practices and be equipped with relevant skills and knowledge in their chosen professions.”

“This program gives our youth steady, confident footing in pursuing a career and, thus, will empower them to become able and productive participants in our shared task of nation building,” he said.

Strengthen education

The President said his administration was “committed to upholding the welfare and interests of our countrymen and central to our national agenda is the strengthening of the educational system.”

Last week, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, along with Magdalo party-list Representatives Gary Alejano and Francis Acedillo, urged the high court to declare as unconstitutional RA 10533.

The petitioners said the law fails to comply with the Constitution because the program was implemented without consulting the people that would be affected by it.

The government pushed for the program’s implementation based only on a “few isolated academic papers of private individuals” and in the “belief that it would be good for the country,” the petitioners said.

They said many students from poor families who were “barely able to make both ends meet would be compelled to forego these additional years of schooling and just drop out of school.”

Similar petitions against the K to 12 were filed by the various groups, among them the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisang Progresibong Manggagawa, Federation of Free Workers and the National Confederation of Labor.

But foreign business groups last week raised the need to address the nagging issues that could hamper the smooth implementation of the K to 12 curriculum.

The local business community also made the call through a letter to President Aquino on May 8, as the groups sounded off anew on their unwavering support for K to 12.

“We are writing in strong support of the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (K to 12 Law) which aims to produce college and career-ready graduates that are globally competitive. Indeed, we applaud the administration’s resolve and commitment to the K to 12 reform and, thus, fully support its continued and proper implementation,” the groups’ letter read.

“We also believe, however, that the labor issues that have been raised these past few months should be looked into and thus need to be addressed. We therefore call on the government to address these issues with legitimate solutions,” the groups said.

Signatories to the letter were the Philippine Business for Education, Makati Business Club, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Management Association of the Philippines, Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.