Marikeños rally behind K-12 program

STUDENTS from San Roque National High School in Marikina City attend a DepEd-initiated pro-K to 12 rally at the Marikina Sports Center. Jovic Yee

In the wake of several anti-K to 12 rallies, around 13,000 Marikeños composed of students and teachers from the city’s various schools, businessmen and local leaders gathered at the Marikina Sports Center earlier this week to express their support for the educational reform program.

“We’re being left behind by the global trend in education. We need to keep up with the pace. If we’re thinking global, we need to act global as well,” Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman said.

Education Undersecretary for Governance and Operations Rizalino Rivera said the gathering was not in response to protests against the educational reform program.

“We will do this whether there are protests or not. It’s important to let the people know what the [program] can do,” Rivera said. He added that similar gatherings were also held in Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Davao and Pampanga provinces and the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Baguio.

Rivera allayed a group of parents’ fears about the type of jobs their children would qualify for should the program be implemented. According to the concerned parents, the technical-vocational track of the K to 12 program may lead to the production of “cheap labor.”

“That’s why we’re improving the competency [of the students] so they can land quality jobs. With the senior high school program, they can improve their competencies that match available jobs. By that, they get a bigger chance of landing a better job,” he said.

Rivera added that through the K to 12 program, students would become “job ready” even without entering college. They could also start their own business after graduating from the senior high school program, he said.