CHED expects resistance to changes in curriculum

Cebu - The Commission on Higher Education says it is prepared for the expected resistance from parents and students in the recent move to extend to five years existing four-year courses like Nursing and Education.

“We expect resistance but wala na silay mahimo ana. The new curriculum will be implemented in the next school year,” said CHED acting regional director Candelario Aytona.

Aytona said the country’s educational curriculum has to be revised in order for the Philippines to be globally competitive.

“Sa pagkakaron, ang ato-ang mga engineers kung mo-apply abroad kay equivalent lang as technician,” Aytona said.

Under the Roadmap to a Quality Higher Education dubbed as “A New Philippine Education Highway,” four-year courses like Accountancy, Architecture, Education, Engineering, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Pharmacy would already be five years starting this opening of classes.

The amendment in the curriculum of these courses will be implemented in two phases.

For Phase I, which covers academic year 2009-2010, existing five-year programs with Philippine Regulation Commission licensure examinations, as well as Education and Nursing, shall follow the 10+2+3 system or 15 years of education.

The 10+2+3 system means a student shall have 10 years of basic education (six years elementary and four years high school), two years of post secondary or junior college, and three years of the main curriculum itself.

Engineering and Architecture programs shall follow the 10+2+ (3 or 4) in accordance with the Washington Accord, APEC Registry for Engineers and Architects and other international accrediting bodies.

For Phase II, which covers academic year 2010-2011, all four-year board and non-board programs shall follow the 10+2+3 system in accordance with the Bologna Accord.

The Bologna Accord is a process creating the European higher education area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe.

The Washington Accord, on the other hand, is an international accreditation agreement for professional engineering academic degrees between the bodies responsible for accreditation in its signatory countries.

Graduates of accredited programs in any of the signatory countries are recognized by the other signatory countries as having met the academic requirements for entry into the practice of engineering. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)