Quality education thru K-12 Curriculum

❙ By: Elma Flores,

Truth be told, the K-12 curriculum does not only mean adding two more years in high school. It does not really add workload for students-_but rather seeks to produce more competitive and employable graduates. It also aims to prepare graduates to join the workforce right after high school and/or groom those who will pursue college. The purpose of the new curriculum is to render a holistic education for all. especially because it gives the students enough time to both master the basic academic skills and participate in co- curricular and extra-curricular activities Thus it also ensures the future of college graduates who might want to seek work abroad -particularly because it has already prepared them to counter the idea that "developed countries view the 10-year education cycle as insufficient." In 2011. K-12 introduced the universal kindergarten and in 2012, schools already implemented the curriculum decongestion. Public schools also began having half-day classes for first-graders, introducing the mother tongue as the medium of instruction. K to 12 graduates will now be older compared to those under the 10-year education cycle. As such, young adults graduating at age 18 or so will be more prepared to pursue college. However. the new system must be perceived not as having two extra years of high school, but rather having two years less of higher education, primarily because graduates will already be equipped to join the workforce right away with the help of the electives to be offered during grades 11 to 12. These include academics for those who will prefer college; technical-vocational for those who want to be already employed after high school; and sports and arts for those who are inclined in these fields.(