Secondary principals to join conference on K-to-12 senior high school

Education Secretary Armin Luistro. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Secondary school principals nationwide are to take part in a conference that aims to prepare them for senior high school under the K to 12 program in 2016.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro, in a memorandum issued on Monday, encouraged high school principals as well as school division and regional senior high school coordinators to participate in the activity, which will be held from July 31 to August 2 in Bacolod City.

The conference, organized by the National Association of Public Secondary Schools of the Philippines (Napssphil) Inc, aims for a smooth implementation of senior high school, apprising principals of their role in achieving the objectives of the Philippine Basic Education at the secondary level.

Senior high school is grades 11 and 12, which will be introduced in school years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. The two years will be added after the four years of junior high school or grades 7 to 10.

Under K to 12, those who go through the 12-year program will receive diplomas for six years in elementary, four years in junior high school, and two years in senior high school. A full 12 year-education will subsequently be required for college entry.

The senior high school curriculum will focus on the core subjects of Math, Science and English with elective courses responsive to both the student’s interests and the needs of the local industry. Graduates will receive accreditation in their respective areas of specialization, particularly in Academics, Technical-Vocational, as well as Sports and the Arts.

Napssphil president and Sum-ag National High School principal Warlito Rosareal said that the conference would help in realizing the smooth implementation in 2016 of senior high school in all secondary schools nationwide.

“It is important for us to hold this conference to prepare all the principals in their respective high schools,” Rosareal told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, adding that anything new naturally would have “birth pains.”

He said that some 30 high schools, which have served as models for senior high school, have been asked to share their experiences, observations and insights on the new setup with the participants.

Through the conference, he said, possible concerns over the implementation of senior high school under the K to 12 program would hopefully be addressed.

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