Cebu City vice mayor opposes K+12

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young is against the government’s plan to add two more years in the basic education system, saying this would only lead to an increase in students dropping out of schools.

Young used to be the Cebu City education consultant for several years before he was elected vice mayor last May. He said many parents could not afford to send their children to two more years in school before going to college.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III had announced during the presidential campaign period that he wants to apply in the Philippines the so-called K+12 Enhanced Basic Education Program.

“K” means kindergarten, while “12” refers to the six years in elementary and six years in high school. At present, our high school is only four years.

Department of Education (DepEd) 7 Regional Director Recaredo Borgonia said that in some countries, only those who graduated from K-12 will be accepted for jobs. This would leave out Filipinos, who only complete the existing K-10 basic education program, out of the race.

“Ang isyu nga angay’ng tan-awon diha dili kon maka-afford ba ang atong gobyerno pagpatuman sa K-12, kon dili angay’ng tan-awon kon maka-afford ba ang mga ginikanan pagpatungha og dugang duha ka tuig sa ilang mga anak,” Young said. (The issue is not whether our government can afford to implement that. The question is whether the parents can afford to send their children to two more years of schooling.)

Some congressmen in other parts of the countries are not supportive of the President’s plan, noting that our public schools do not have enough classrooms, teachers and well-equipped educational facilities which are required for the effective implementation of the proposed K-12.

In Cebu City some public schools have to divide their classes to morning and afternoon sessions to accommodate more students. Even with just the current 10-year basic education cycle, Cebu City’s schools already lack teachers.

But while Young is not supporting the President’s plan, he has no plan to ask any of the city councilors to sponsor a resolution calling the attention of President Aquino to reconsider his decision. (THE FREEMAN)