‘K to 12 program may not improve education system’

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday aired his doubts about the K to 12 program as an effective way to improve the quality of education in the country.

Marcos said there are other issues in the country’s education system that must be addressed first before implementing a program that would add another two years to high school.

“Adding two more years to the high school program will not improve the educational attainment of our students. What we should do is strengthen the education system that we have,” he said.

Marcos said the Department of Education (DepEd) should first focus on raising the competency of teachers and upgrading educational materials to raise the quality of education in the country.

He said that he would push for the upgrading of the economic condition of teachers by increasing their salaries and providing them with trainings and seminars to enhance their competencies.

He said the government should invest in procuring modern and high standard books as well as construct more school buildings, classrooms and other educational facilities.

“Teachers need support so that they do not have to find other ways to earn a living, thus allowing them to concentrate on teaching. We do not have enough school buildings. Our materials, school supplies that we provide our students in public schools, are below standard. These are the first things that we should attend to,” Marcos said.

Sen. Ralph Recto, for his part, urged the DepEd to speed up hiring of new teachers.

According to Recto, the DepEd has been allocated P9.35 billion in this year’s national budget for the hiring of some 39,066 teachers.