For the past decades Philippines used the K-10 education for the education to teach children.

However, last May 15, 2013, President Benigno Aquino ||| approved Republic Act (RA) 105333,
signing into law which implement the K-12 program. K-12 program covers kindergarten and 12 years
basic education – six years of primary schooling, four years of junior high and additional two years of
senior high. Provides mastery of skills for lifelong learners, prepare the students for career
opportunities and student’s global competency.

Philippines is the last country in Asia and one of the only three countries in the world with a ten
years pre-university program. The implementation of K-12 program in the Philippines is the key to
our country’s development. Filipinos are known to be competitive in the international community.
The K-12 program helps them from becoming even more competitive and prepare graduates for
tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.

Many Filipinos parents think that K-12 program is just a waste of time and money. Because of the
additional 2 years in the senior high before the tertiary education, the parents will invest more
money for students because of K-12 program. No, it’s not a waste of time because K-12 program
offers a decongested 12 year program that gives the students sufficient time for them to masters
their skills and absorb more basic competencies, that can use after they graduate senior high to join
the labor force of the country.

According to Isagani Cruz (2010), The graduates of this program will be more prepared to enter the
labor force, high school graduates of the 10-years curriculum were not competent or well-equip
enough for the workplace. In addition, high school graduates of the 10-years curriculum are not yet
18. With the new curriculum, senior high school students can specialize in a field that they are good
at and interested. As a result, upon graduation they will have the specific job-related skills they need
even without a college degree. When they graduate from high school, these young people will be 18
and employable, adding to the nation’s work force.

The K-12 students can help their parents for daily expenses for their family after they graduate from
this curriculum, it is just their choice if they continue to go to college. Parents think that going to
college is a problem because of tuition and other expenses. Yes, it is more expensive if unfortunate
students will go to college when the students can get a job after they graduate and can help their
parents. However, it is more advisable and has advantage in the the workplace if the students can
graduate a Bachelor’s degree and in studying, expenses and investments is unavoidable for the
greater good of their children in the future.

According to Ma. Teresa Montemayor (2018), With the K-12 program, students are given better
options and opportunities to improve their education and quality of life. To those who will go to
college, the chances are all up to their hard work since the tuition is already free in state colleges
and local universities.

The education for college than the senior high is more expensive because of the tuition, projects,
daily expenses, and the expenses for their thesis. Nevertheless, as a said earlier, it is unavoidable but
when the student and their parents join their hard work it is a great and satisfying for them and their
hard work will be pay off.

The K-10 program has enough quality for the Filipinos to compete internationally and it has a good
goal which Filipino students achieve their dreams. Yes, many Filipinos have become successful in
their career in other country but that is just half of the story. Many in our OFWs are graduates of
Bachelor’s degree in our country, but when they go to abroad to find job they end up being just a
domestic helper or caregiver because of the 2 years lack in the country’s education. They invest and
struggle to graduate a Bachelor’s degree but they just end up to do that job abroad and some of
them are working hard to save up money so that they can study again while working and work for
their chosen career in other country for high monthly salary. However, with K-12 program the whole
story will be different.

According to Isagani Cruz (2010), Filipino graduates of K-12 program will be automatically recognize
as professionals abroad because we are following the international education standard as practiced
by all nations. There will be no need to study again and spend more money in order to qualify for
international standards. With the K-12 program, Filipino professionals who aspire to work abroad
will not have a hard time getting jobs in their chosen field. Furthermore, they will be able to help
their families in the Philippines more with remittances, property purchase, and small businesses.

After the implementation of K-12 the quality of the education in the Philippines, become higher than
before. According to the ICEF Monitor, last 2013, in January 2013, the Philippine Bureau of
Immigration reported that of the 203,753 foreigners in the country, 47,478 are studying in schools
and universities across the country (which 14% higher than the 41,443 foreigners who applied in
2011).

As the Bureau’s Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said: “Our country is fast emerging as a new
educational hub in the Asia-Pacific region. More and more foreigners are coming here to study and
it’s demonstrate recognition of the improved quality of our educational system.”

According to ICEF Monitor (2014), reported that for international students studying English in
Australia, the Philippines had entered the competition as a destination option for the first time in
2011.

As the Programme Director of the Philippines ESL Tour Program Ruth Tizon said from an article in
The PIE News, “the Philippines can compete with the US, UK or Australia as an ideal destination for
studying the English language. Aside from its large English-speaking population [93.5% of Filipinos
speak English well], competent schools and faculty, the Philippines has a rich cultural heritage, offers
diverse tourism attractions and activities, and warmth and hospitality not found anywhere else in
the world.”
The implementation of K-12 program the number of population will decrease and the dropout will
increase because the student’s do not have time to go in school and study because of the additional
2 years in senior high. Yes, in the early implementation of K-12, many of the Filipinos parents have a
dilemma if they will continue their children to go to senior high. The unfortunate ones, because of
having a financial problem they do not continue to study. But not now, public schools is now offering
a K-12 program, it is more efficient for those who can’t afford private school that offers K-12
program. In addition, the government officials offer and help the unfortunate students by giving
them scholarships.

According to Philippine News Agency (PNA), Assistant Secretary Nepomuceno Malaluan, that a
survey in 2018 showed that Senior High School (SHS) education has decreased the percentage of
dropouts among high school students. “Before, less than 50% of fourth year high school graduates
go to college. Now, 93% of the SHS graduates will continue to college, this shows strong support
from learners.” he said.

The K-12 is not a wasting time and money. It is very helpful to the Filipino students in the future
because of the benefits that they will get. It will help not just the students but also the parents and
especially the country because of becoming one of the catalyst to improve our economy. Filipinos
will become more famous because of the quality of education and became one of the destination
not just in tourism and hospitality but also one of the destination to study. Moreover, because of the
increasing on our economy, we can help our fellow unfortunate Filipinos to improve the daily living;
we can help the children to cross the mountain in ease to study, we can help other Filipinos to have
their jobs, we can help the government and fellow Filipinos to improve everything in our country, to
improve each other so that we Filipinos may not perish in the future.

We, in our generation can change the future, we just need hard work, patience and help each other
to be on top. It may be critical as of now because of the country’s still adjustments of this new
curriculum. Nevertheless, with the help and guide of the government officials and our fellow
Filipinos, we can pass this and the K-12 program will be very successful and bang its way to the
future.

References
Abueva, N. (2019, September 5). Why does the Philippines need the K-12 education system?
Retrieved from Soapboxie: https://soapboxie.com/social-issues/The-implementation-o-the-
K-12-Program-in-the-Philippine-Basic-Education-Curriculum

Calungsod, M. D. (2017, June 7). A position paper on K-12 program. Retrieved from
https://markrevin-wordpress-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/markrevin.wordpress.com/
2018/03/11/a-position-paper-on-k-12-program/amp/?
usqp=mq331AQNKAGYAYDZtu7LyNWsRw%3D
%3D&amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1#referrer=https://www.google.com

Montemayor, M. T. (2018, August 2). K-12 implementation must be continued after review: Advocacy
group. Retrieved from Philippine News Agency: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1043466

Montemayor, M. T. (2018, June 5). K-12 program to improve quality og education: Briones. Retrieved
from Philippine News Agency: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037617