K TO 12: FINAL STAGE

MARIA TERESA CAPARAS SANTIAGO

The historical moment of the implementation of K to 12 happened five years ago when it started in Grade 1 and Grade 7 in the year 2012, and lately became a law through RA 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. This is what makes the K to 12 legal.

As prescribed by the law, there will be six years in elementary, four years in junior high school and two years in senior high school. The implementation of the K to 12 is now being experienced from Grade 1 to Grade 5. Together with its implementation, changes in the content, instruction, and assessment are also part of these big moves of the Department of Education.

Along with its implementation, new problems arose and added to the existing unresolved problems in education. These problems will still be faced by the teachers and pupils even during the implementation of Grade 6 in elementary. These include but not limited to inadequacy of facilities, books, materials, buildings, chairs, and even the number of teachers.

Indeed, Secretary Briones mentioned that the K to 12 will continue to its implementation, however, there must an adequate preparation in order to make sure that the needs of the pupils and the teachers will be addressed in order to provide the quality education that the Department of Education states in its Vision and Mission.

Few months from now, the final stage of K to 12 will be rolling. The higher ups of the department are now preparing in the implementation of Grade 6 and Grade 12. In line with this, various trainings are expected to be given to teachers in order to cope up with the changes in the curriculum, assessment, and other things related to the implementation. Moreover, these shift will not only affect the teachers and the learners; school heads are also affected on the things that they need to prepare as part of their compliance. Truly, it is final and we are just waiting for it to happen – K to 12: Final Stage.

— oOo— The author is Teacher III at Sagrada Familia Elementary School, Masantol South District