The kindergarten phase of K+12

The Department of Education is ready to implement the initial phase of the K+12 educational reform at the inception of next school year. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro is very optimistic that this program can be successfully carried out now at the Kindergarten level.

One is quite “allergic” to the precipitate haste for the change, that is, without surefire preparations. There are vital factors to consider, like, establishing first pilot schools in selective LGUs down to the barangays, adequate training and seminars of possible kindergarten teachers, ample time to set up financial capabilities for needed K-classrooms nationwide, including LGU participations through their limited special education funds (SEF), the satisfactory compensation for teachers, and an ideally effective courses of study, among others.

Probably, in the present public schools education system, there are in place some informal prep classes on-going, apparently patterned after, or in consonance with, the long-existing preparatory training in private institutions conducting Kinder 1 and Kinder 2 classes.

On the additional accommodations and the compensation for K-teachers, DepEd falls short, even from minimum standards. Secretary Luistro has already proposed to grant a monthly salary of only P6,000, quite a pittance from regular elementary school teacher’s salary, amounting to P17,000 including allowances and other benefits or increments.

And for shortage of K-classrooms, it would be 2-half-day sessions daily, one class in the morning, another in the afternoon; but, definitely, the two K-classes will be handled by only one teacher. For the latter then, it’s more than a double whammy, that is, handling two separate classes daily, and the low compensation is almost 2/3 lesser.

Owing to the unemployment prevailing, including the baccalaureate graduates with teachers’ eligibility, though perhaps most have no major specialty, there would be no shortage of teachers. Definitely though, they would enter the teaching service “at a sacrifice” by necessity.

In the case of the Mandaue City Division, the aspect of accommodations, according to Mr. Ben Tiongson who is handling administrative functions, would pose no epic problem. As they are now in the process of projecting possible Kindergarten enrolment, the worst scenario would be the 2-half-day session classes in affected schools, in lieu of on-going informal prep classes in 28 school sites.

There’s, however, a ray of silver lining that Mandaue City’s SEF – P80M in 2010, and now increased to P97M plus as of January 2011 yet – could tide over to double the monthly salary of P6,000. This depends on the City School Board vis-à-vis the final availability of the SEF this year. Its SEF has regularly supported some 60 regular teachers yearly, the same rate as the nationally-paid teachers receive in salaries, allowances, and other benefits.

The council of elders empathizes with the plight of kindergarten teachers who, by necessity due to unemployment would make do with the paltry P6,000 rate. Besides, it’s only proper to pay them better for their morale and dignity, and to ensure effective and quality teaching-learning process. However, such measure is subject to availability of the SEF.

Certainly though, only the big and relatively affluent cities and towns can afford to augment the K-teachers emoluments from their SEF. Less affluent LGUs with smaller SEF may perhaps augment, though at lesser rate, hoping that the DepEd could eke out additional funding.

The K+12 curricular reforms are radical changes in the public education system, perceived as defective, inadequate, and hardly effective in results. Studies reveal that for every five adults, only one is “literate” in terms of the basic literacy norms.

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