DepEd starts offering kindergarten classes

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Education (DepEd) foresees many students enrolled in kindergarten classes, which is a requirement for the K+12 Program that will be implemented starting this year.

According to DepEd-7 assistant director Dr. Carmelita Dulangon, with the K+12 Program, they will start to offer kindergarten classes in all public schools in Central Visayas.

Dulangon said that children should attend kindergarten to enable them to become better prepared to enter Grade 1, observing that children who directly enrolled in the first grade would find it difficult to read and write.

“This (kindergarten) is to strengthen their competencies.” Dulangon said.

She said that K+12 refers to the department’s new program in which a student will enroll in kindergarten, go to elementary for six years, enroll in junior high school for four years, and must go to a two-year senior high school before entering college.

Dulangon said they used to have kindergarten classes before but there were only few schools that offered the program.

Although some parents may disagree on the program, Dulangon said they are still looking forward for them to enroll their children in the program since it is free. — (FREEMAN)