DepEd targets 100% coverage of kinder kids

DAGUPAN CITY—If there is a five-year-old child in your neighborhood who has not yet attended school, report it to the Department of Education (DepEd).

This is because DepEd is opening kindergarten classes this summer, said Education Secretary Armin Luistro, who was here on Wednesday for a two-day summit on the K+12 (Kindergarten to 12) basic education program, which will be implemented in June.

“I hope you can give us a list of those who were not able to attend kindergarten last school year so that they won’t be too traumatized when they enter Grade 1,” Luistro told some 1,500 teachers and education officials from the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera.

Last year, with the implementation of the universal kindergarten program in public schools, Luistro said some 1.7 million children enroled in public schools and another 400,000 were admitted in private schools.

“But our participation rate for five-year-old children is around 92 percent. We are looking for the missing 8 percent,” Luistro said.

In January, President Aquino signed Republic Act No. 10157, or the Kindergarten Act that institutionalized kindergarten education as part of basic education. It was partially implemented last school year.

In June, kindergarten education will be a prerequisite for admission to Grade 1 as part of the K to 12 basic education cycle.

Luistro said in the K to 12, students begin preschool or kindergarten at the age of five and finish the entire program at the age of 18.

“We need your help so that all children will be able to attend kinder. And all those who finished kinder will enter Grade 1,” he said.

“This is our dream for our K to 12. That no child will be left behind despite our shortcomings,” he said.

He said those entering Grade 1 next school year will be the first batch to undergo the full K to 12 basic education program. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon