Malacañang has clarified President Marcos' stand on the K-to-12 curriculum, saying he did not say he was against its implementation.

“Gusto po nating liwanagin ito: Hindi po niya sinasabi na tutol siya sa K-to-12 (We want to clarify this: He is not saying that he is against the K-to-12 program),” Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Wednesday, July 2.

Castro clarified that Marcos only expressed his concern over the effectiveness of the curriculum, which added two more years to the years of basic education in the country.

Marcos will keep supporting the implementation of the program and its improvement, she added.

“Ang sinabi lang po niya ay hindi naging epektibo agad dahil hindi nai-prepare ang mga ahensiya para dito. At ngayon po sa pamamagitan din po ni Secretary (Sonny) Angara, ini-improve po ito (What he said was that it was not immediately effective because the agencies were not adequately prepared for it. And now, through the efforts of Secretary Angara, it is being improved),” Castro said.

“Pero ayon po sa ating Pangulo, hangga’t nandiyan po ang batas para sa K-to-12 ito po ay susuportahan at palalawigin at pag-iibayuhin nang maayos para sa ating mga estudyante (But according to our President, as long as the law for K-to-12 exists, it will be supported, expanded, and properly strengthened for the benefit of our students),” Castro stressed.

In his podcast on June 18, Marcos renewed his frustration over the K-to-12 curriculum, which, he said, has burdened parents while not serving its purpose.

Marcos said it was costing more for the parents because of the added two more years, noting that they have to pay tuition, buy school supplies, and buy books.

“So, hindi naman po siya tutol talaga sa K-to-12; aayusin po ngayon. Pero kung ano po ang magiging batas, iyon din po ang susundin. Pero sa ngayon na nandidiyan po ang batas, ito po ay bibigyan po ng halaga at palalawigin at pagagandahin pa po (So, he is not really against K-to-12; it is being fixed now. Whatever the law mandates, that is what will be followed. But for now, since the law is in place, it will be given importance, expanded, and further improved),” the Palace official reiterated.