Supporting the K to 12 program

Next year, senior high school students will be graduating as products of the country’s biggest education reform, the K to 12 program. Some of us still haven’t fully grasped what the program encompasses and its rationale aside from the fact that it’s an added financial burden for the extra two years in high school. I want to point out, though, why we should support it.

If we examine it closely, it’s more of two years less of higher education than an additional two years in high school due to the employability of the graduates after undergoing the program. At least, now if they graduate from senior high school, many opportunities await those who want to work. Also senior high school graduates are of legal age.

The K to 12 program will also keep us at par with other nations. Those who want to study or work abroad won’t have a hard time catching up with international standards or qualifying.

It’s understandable that some were worried that we were not ready or prepared for the education reform due to the lack of facilities, competent teachers and other basic school needs. However, if we weren’t ready when the program was implemented, then when will we be? Knowing that even before the K to 12 issue, these problems already existed in the old system.

I think it is important that we consider our changing needs in these changing times. These problems should not be hindrances in addressing these changes nor should these be viewed as weaknesses. Instead, they should serve as catalysts to come up with immediate solutions and actions to address the matter at hand.-- Mitzi S. Padon, Cebu City