Teachers and parents from Manila Science High School are up in arms against the ”Kindergarten to Grade 12” or K to 12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd).
In a statement issued Monday, the teachers and parents claimed that the K to 12 program has diluted their curriculum contrary to the government’s rationale that it would strengthen the country’s education system.
They said they would file a petition with the Supreme Court to nullify and stop the implementation of Republic Act 10533, or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, that paved the way for the K to 12 program.
The Manila Science High School follows a special science curriculum that has math and science subjects heavier in scope and more advanced than those of other schools.
“By diluting/weakening the School’s Special Science Curriculum…the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum in effect has denied to Petitioner students the education that they are entitled to. It has denied to them the education commensurate with their abilities and the opportunity and encouragement to develop their special talents,” the petitioners said.
They added that Congress has violated the student’s rights to due process, equal protection and to select the course of study when they passed RA 10533.
Once filed on Tuesday, this will be the fifth one filed seeking the nullification of the K to 12 program. Other petitions include that of the group of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, the petition of the Coalition for the K to 12 suspension composed of teachers and staff from colleges and universities, the group of National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera and the Makabayan bloc and the petition filed by several students and a baby.
Another petition, which was filed by party-list groups, national artists and university professors, questioned the order of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) which sought to abolish the Filipino, Literature, Philippine government and Constitution subjects in college. The high court issued a restraining order against the CHED order. AU