UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Electrical Engineering

The Current Science and Technology Policies, Thrusts and Agenda of the
Government

ES101
Science, Technology and Society

Submitted by:
Stephen Mark O. Mirar
Noven S. Villaber
Jonathan J. Bacorro
Kim Ryan B. Solijon
Kim Jesuit J. Nazareno
(Group 7 - 1A_E1)

Submitted to:
Engr. Shella Talampas

January 2019
 K+12 Program

Introduction

Filipinos' high regards and respect for education is embody by a Tagalog

Proverb translated as "Learning is a wealth that cannot be stolen" (Cortes as cited in
Treby, 2008: 3). Any Filipino family would say that they would make any sacrifice just
to send their children to school even if it requires them to move heaven and earth to
achieve it would really captivate the importance given by Filipinos to education.
The Constitution also recognizes the importance of education to our nation. It
puts value on education and accords it with the highest budgetary priority as provided
by Article XIV, Section 5 that mandates the State to “assign the highest budgetary
priority for education". It also guarantees the right to education as embodied in Article
XIV, Section 1 which states that " The State shall protect and promote the right of all
citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such
education accessible to all" ( SEPO PB-11-02, 2011).

Discussion

The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education and

that is six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years
of Senior High School or SHS. According to the Official Gazette, the goal of K to 12 or
K + 12 is to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong
learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills
development, employment, and entrepreneurship. This will address the Philippines’
problem in the field of education that results to economic devastation like poor quality
education, too many non-practical subjects, not prepared for college education, too
young for labor force, no global recognition, and other problems. As stated earlier,
Philippines is one of the only countries that have ten years of Basic Education. This is
very clear that the effect of this is evident to the world that Filipino education system
is somehow out of this world thus, we do not have the recognition that we want from
other people.
According to the K-12 Philippines website, one of the best things of the K-12
scheme is that it offers students to learn modern yet rarely tapped fields of
specialization. But despite of all this positive things about K-12, some critics do not
agree with this because they see problems relating to the implementation of K-12. One
of the problems is that the supply of materials is not enough. The sudden
implementation of K-12 do not give enough time to give more supply to the country in
terms of books and other material to support every school in the nation. Another
problem is that teachers are not yet ready for the new curriculum. Seminars for the
new curriculum are not yet offered to every teacher in the country. Schools are not yet
equipped with facilities for the new system. One of the worst disadvantages of K-12 is
that the shifting from the old curriculum needs more time and preparations. This is a
struggle for the stakeholders in our education. The transition should be gradual not
sudden.
But to all the disadvantage and bad sides of the new K+12 curriculum, the
Department of Education is doing everything on its hands to make the new system
more and more effective and let our country to have the best education that it can
have. It is a shame to us that we do not compete with other countries’ education
system and forever it will doom us. The government also allocated Php 150B for the
program. It is better to change for something than some things cannot be changed.
The K-12 program is not only about adding two years of basic education but also it is
the tool for knowing our own country, knowing our own selves, knowing the new world,
knowing the technology and knowing other people.

Conclusion
The education system serves as the backbone of a nation. Literate citizens
equipped with competencies required by development shall serve as its strength. With
the current problems of Philippine education system, reforms are definitely needed to
address the gaps of education system and the world.
K+12 program, though addresses the issues of the current system, is not
automatically consider as the answers to the present failures of education. Increasing
the school years creates improvements in quality. In addition, the proposed program
needs a lot of funding but the government allocated funds for this, with the current
monetary and economic standing of the country, it could be possible to produce
students with efficient skills and knowledge that our country is needing. And most of
all, the additional years would not be a burden for the pockets of Filipino households
especially those of the marginalized who rely on education as a means for their
elevation from poverty.

References

Bernardo, Allan, I. The Paradox of Philippine Education and education Reform:

Social Science Perspectives. Philippine Social Science Council. Quezon City 2008
______________. Policy Brief-11-02. Senate Economic Planning Office. June
2011.
Official Gazette (2015). What is K-12 Program? Retrieved from
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/k-12/
Sun Star (April 3, 2017). Disadvantage of K-12 Program in the Philippines
retrieved from https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/sunstarpampanga/20170403
/281668254820716
Mariel Uyquiengco (2017). Benefits of K-12 Curriculum for Filipino Students!
Retrieved from https://ph.theasianparent.com/advantages-new-k-12-curriculum
K12Philippines (2016). Six Reasons Why Philippines should switch to K-12
curriculum retrieved from http://k12philippines.com/six-reasons-why-the-philippines-
should-switch-to-k-12-curriculum/