Changing the Landscape of Basic Education: Developing a Framework for a Seamless K12 Education for the Filipino Learners

Greg Tabios Pawilen

The blind men and the elephant

John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend

It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.

The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: "God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, "Ho! what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To me 'tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!"

The Third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: "I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee. "What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain," quoth he; "Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said:"E'en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, "I see," quote he, "the Elephant Is very like a rope!"

And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!

Curricular Reforms in the Philippines

K-12 Curriculum Standards

CHED College Readiness Standards

Questions on K-12
What is the content of the K-12 Curriculum? Are the Filipino teachers prepared? Is the K-12 Curriculum spiral? How should the MTB-MLE curriculum be implemented? What are the subjects and specializations that will be offered in Grades 11 & 12? How does the K-12 Curriculum respond to the need of preparing students to be globally

Questions on the CHED College Readiness Standards

Are the graduates of K-12 Curriculum prepared for college? Are the standards clear to all teachers? How is the CHED College Readiness Standards aligned to the K-12 Curriculum?

New Focus of Education

Teacher Centered to Learner Centered Content-based to Outcomes-based Knowledge Consumers to Knowledge Producers

ASEAN 2015
Common Standards Common Competencies based on Economic Needs Mutual Recognition of Curricular Programs/Equivalency Market-driven

REX Mission: Seamless K-12

Learners and Teacher Support System
ICT Integration Teacher Resource Manual Seminars & Conferences Magazines

STANDARDS & COMPETENCIES

CONTENTS LEARNING EXPERIENCES

ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION

Textbooks: REX Instructional Design Emphasis Learner-centered Activities Aligned with the Curriculum Standards Socially & culturally relevant Emphasis on 21st Century Skills

Textbooks

Contents are aligned with the K-12 Curriculum Include 21st Century Skills Relevant to the context of Filipino Learners

TRM

Instructional Approaches that are Learner-Centered Assessment tools that measures students mastery of the standards ICT Integration in every lesson

Teacher Support System

Help teachers understand and teach the K-12 Standards Help administrators on how to effectively support and supervise the implementation of the K-12 Curriculum

Learner Support System

ICT Tools to support learning