'K+12 implementation hampered by lack of funds'

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) wants to implement its ambitious K (Kindergarten) +12 Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) plan as early as possible but is being prevented by “realities” such as the passage of an enabling law and other necessities.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said he welcomed the “inputs” of his immediate predecessor, former education secretary Mona Valisno, and understood and agreed with her position that there was a need for urgency in the implementation of the K+12 program BEC program.

“However, much as we wanted to implement the basic education curriculum as soon as we possibly can, we have to deal with realities on the ground,” Luistro said in a statement, pointing out that there were resource requirements that the DepEd would need to get other sectors, especially the lawmakers and local governments, to step forward and help in the allocation of the necessary budgetary support for the program that needed billions.

“We are still mustering support from our legislators, the local government units and the private sector so that we can fill up the resource gaps that traditionally hound the education sector, most notable among them are shortages in teachers, classrooms, textbooks, and educational tools,” he said.

Luistro pointed out that DepEd was also taking much care in drawing up the curriculum content of the additional two years of senior high school or Grade 11 and 12 to be laid out by the program to ensure that the additional years will produce employable high school graduates ready for the local and international job markets.

Another concern that DepEd was currently addressing to provide a sound foundation to the K+12 BEC program was a lobby effort for Congress to institutionalize it in the Philippines.

“Parallel to these efforts, we are also working with lawmakers so that a law will be passed to institutionalize K-to-12. That way it will not be subject to political shifts,” Luistro said.

Valisno, in an exclusive STAR report, had issued a call for DepEd to push the implementation of the K+12 BEC program because it was a vital educational reform measure that needed urgency in adoption.

She said the DepEd’s timetable setting the start of the Grade 11 phase-in of the senior high school by 2016 was too slow.

Valisno pointed out that starting the additional two years of senior high school in 2016 would expose it to the danger of being junked by the administration that will succeed President Aquino.

She said that with DepEd getting a huge hike in budget this year from P175 billion in 2010 to P207 billion, and the P237 billion it was asking for 2012, DepEd should allocate a portion for starting the senior high schools with a Grade 11 in 2013, or even 2012.

Luistro, meanwhile, said that Valisno’s call for an early implementation of K+12 BEC program showed that she supported it.

“Coming from a former secretary of education who has an illustrious track record and therefore knows whereof she speaks, we are all the more encouraged to pursue K to 12,” he said.