DepEd sets May 24 target to finish K to 12 review
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
The Department of Education (DepEd) targets to finish its review of the country’s K to 12 educational program in May this year as part of its continuing effforts to upgrade the country's basic education system.
Vice President Sara Duterte talks to Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian during a sectoral meeting in Malacañang. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
“Tuluy-tuloy pa rin naman po iyong ating senior high school review ‘no, ang target date po natin para matapos iyan is May 2024 (Our senior high school review is continuing, our target date to finish is May 2024),” DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa said during a Palace briefing on Thursday, Jan. 11, after a sectoral meeting with President Marcos.
However, he was quick to clarify the outcome of the review is not a revised curriculum.
“So, ang review is May 2024, so after the review bibigay sa atin, ipiprisinta sa kung ano iyong mga napansin nila (So, we will receive the review in May 2024, they will present what they observed) and then we will start with the revision process. That’s what happens,” the official explained.
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte announced in January of last year that the agency plans to revise the K-12 curriculum to produce more job-ready and globally competitive graduates.
She said that the program has not delivered its promise to bring more employment to the graduates.
In turn, DepEd created a task force to review the existing curriculum.
The task force was responsible for reviewing existing program policies “to ensure consistency, responsiveness, and relevance” to the needs of the learners and stakeholders.
It also aims to strengthen partnerships with private sectors and various industries at the national and regional levels to improve the employability of senior high school graduates.
The K-12 program, passed during the Aquino administration, aimed to make Filipinos more globally competitive through an allegedly enhanced curriculum that would’ve made them master skills and concepts.
However, educators and parents have continually called for a review of the program because of the added burden of sending kids to school an extra two years to finish high school and the unreadiness of school facilities and educators’ capabilities in shouldering the immense work of the program.