House Senior Deputy Speaker and former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has filed a bill that seeks to change the current K to 12 education program into what she calls the K+10+2 system.
In the explanatory note, the Pampanga representative said that the bill seeks to replace the present K to 12 education program in the country as it failed to prepare students for employment.
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What is Arroyo's K+10+2?
Under the K to 12, Kindergarten and 12 years of education are mandatory to graduate with a diploma. However, in the K+10+2, Kindergarten and 10 years of basic education are compulsory, while the last two years are only for students seeking to proceed professional degrees.
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The additional two years are called post-secondary or pre-university education for those who will take up degrees such as accounting, engineering, law, or medicine.
In a nutshell:
K to 12 (current education system)
1 year Kinder
6 years elementary education
4 years junior high school
2 years senior high school
K+10+2 (proposed by Arroyo)
1 year Kinder
6 years elementary education
4 years secondary education
+2 years post-secondary, pre-university education as preparation for professional degree studies (accounting, engineering, law, medicine)
Study: Majority of Filipinos dissatisfied with K to 12
Arroyo said, that Grades 11 and 12 were added to the country's basic education program with the assumption that these two years will equip senior high school (SHS) graduates with enough knowledge and skills for employment, should they choose not to pursue college.
However, she said, the private sector prefers college or university graduates over those who finish the K-to-12 program.
"The failure of the K to 12 program to provide its graduates with promised advantages exacerbates the additional burden on parents and students imposed by two additional years of basic education" Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
The bill also cited a December 2020 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, which found that "only 1 in 5 senior high school graduates enter the labor force, with the rest opting to continue with their education."
In addition, the study revealed that there is "no clear advantage nor disadvantage [among] SHS graduates compared to [Grade 10] or second-year college completers.
A 2022 Pulse Asia survey meanwhile showed that almost 50% of Filipinos said they were dissatisfied with the K to 12 system.
"The failure of the K to 12 program to provide its graduates with promised advantages exacerbates the additional burden on parents and students imposed by two additional years of basic education," Arroyo said.
She maintained, there should be an option for the youth to graduate from basic education immediately after four years of high school, "so they can help their parents in their farms or micro-businesses."
"If they want to go on to a professional education, that is when they can prepare themselves by having two years of post-secondary or pre-university education after high school to enhance their chances of succeeding in college or university and onward to professional licensure," Arroyo adds.
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DepEd commits to participate in K+10+2 hearings
In a report by ANC, Arroyo said she filed the bill in consultation with Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte, and with the knowledge of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.
The Department of Education on April 27 meanwhile has committed to participate in the congressional hearings of the proposed bill, Manila Bulletin reports.
What do you think about Arroyo's proposed bill? Join the conversation here.
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