Youth group challenges Aquino to debate on K to 12
A youth group has challenged President Benigno Aquino III to a public debate on the issues surrounding the administration’s landmark education reform program, known as K to 12.
In a statement on Tuesday, League of Filipino Students national spokesperson Charisse Bañez said Aquino should clarify the issues regarding the K to 12 program before the Filipino people.
“President Aquino, his allies in Congress, the Inter-Agency Technical Working Group of DepEd, CHEd, DOLE and Tesda, and even business groups have been peddling a lot of lies regarding K to 12. We are challenging President Aquino to face us in a public debate televised nationwide to put an end to these lies once and for all,” Bañez said.
“Instead of the SC, President Aquino has a lot of explaining to do to the Filipino people. It’s them who’ll bear the brunt of K to 12,” she added.
The statement was issued by the militant youth group following the pronouncement made by Malacañang that it was ready to justify the K to 12 program before the Supreme Court.
• Palace set to battle ‘K to 12’ critics in SC
Article continues after this advertisementThe group said the debate could be held at Plaza Miranda and in Mendiola.
Article continues after this advertisementThe youth group maintained that the K to 12 program would only increase joblessness and drive more Filipinos to become migrant workers and not improve the quality of education.
Last week, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo party-list Representatives Gary Alejano and Francis Acedillo filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to declare the said education reform program as unconstitutional.
• Trillanes, lawmakers file petition vs ‘ambitious’ K-12 program
In a statement issued on Monday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. defended the K to 12 program, saying it is essential for the country’s future.
The Department of Education (DepEd) said that it was also ready to implement the program.
The K to 12 program, which was enacted through the Republic Act No. 10533, or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, had been met with public criticism, particlularly from teachers, parents and lawmakers.
