The Philippine educational system pursues the achievement of excellent

undergraduates in the elementary and secondary level. The Department of Education

implemented the K-12 Curriculum in which according to them will benefit not only the
Filipino youth but all the Filipinos in the Philippines. The administration asserts that with
the implementation of such program, the problem of unemployment in the country will
be resolved. In as much as employment in the Philippines is concerned, the K12
education also responds to the fact that most countries in the world already have the
same plan in their educational institutions. With this, the standards of these countries go
a notch higher than what the country has, thus, creating an expansion in the global
competency.
However, the reaction of the public regarding this issue is divided, where some are in
favor and some are not. There are many speculations spoken by different people
regarding the implementation of the K-12 Curriculum. There are many questions still on
like:
Is it really the solution to our poverty, underemployment and unemployment? Will K-12
curriculum basically enhance our students knowledge? Will this curriculum help
eliminate and lessen poverty in our country?
Our DepEd Secretary, Bro. Armin A. Luistro said that he is trying to change the
traditional way of teaching, trying to resolve different problems, control and motivates
the teachers, students, parents and government officials to cooperate in order to help
our students to be globally competitive. In his Declaration of State of Philippine
Education, he emphasized the trend and issues in Philippine Educational system which
is according to him is under: Chronic Illness; Regression in Access; Bureaucratic Melee;
Appropriations allotted In Education; on the need of Reform; The Join Forces of 3
Agencies in Government: The DOLE, TESDA, and CHED; The Idea of EFA 2015 and
Millennium Development Goals.
In his speech, he said that our countrys educational system is not in a crisis but rather
under the chronic illness. Chronic in a sense that, the problems that beset the system
now have been in existence for close to a century. He cited the observation written by
George Counts, a Yale Professor and a member of the Monroe Commissions in 1925.
In his article
When Reforms Dont Transform, he cited issues on different reform programs
undergone by Philippine Educational System. One of the problems cited by Counts is
the issue about teaching English in the absence of lingua franca. He argued that the
curriculum which was borrowed from the United States was not suited to the Filipino
children of the 1920s. The many issues and concerns regarding the condition of the
Philippine educational system since 1920s to 2009 were not only remained but have
been continuously worsened.
Bro. Armin Luistro first stated the issues concerning Regression in Access of our
education system. This refers to the weakening of the students participation and
completion rate as well as the increasing rate of out of school youth from primary to

secondary level which considered as a problem.

He then stated the issue about Bureaucratic Melee, and cited two comments: wherein
according to the assessment of Counts, educational bureaucracy was being too
centralized; wherein according to Bautista et al, governance in the Department of
Education is not only highly centralized but extremely hierarchical and there is a culture
of obeisance.
The issue about the hierarchical structure and culture of obeisance is always true,
based on my personal experience in my 4 years of teaching in public school. When I
was a newly hired teacher in the school where Im currently teaching, I had a culture
shock and always wanted to ask questions regarding with the implemented school
systems and policies just like; why does our school head have to be like this and like
that? Why does our head teacher wont allow us to fail the students even though they
dont participate and do their activities in classes. Moreover, we havent seen some of
them for ages because some
of them are really not showing up in school to attend their classes. Still, they would say
its written in the DepEd Memo that we are not allowed to fail or drop the students
because we need to maintain the zero drop-out rates. Thus, we would able to get a
higher PBB or Performance based bonus because of the 100% passing rate. My
question goes the same with the open letter posted in a blog and that was addressed to
Bro. Luistro by the unknown sender which is also a public school teacher. Is it true that
DepEd issued a memo that students are not allowed to fail? Are teachers really required
to give a passing grade to all students without considering any of the following: Students
who are absent 80% of the time and do not submit any requirements; Students who are
present in school but do not do anything while in school; Students who have failing
grades on written activities, quizzes and quarterly exams
One of my co-teachers even said to me just dont go against them and dont do
something that might put your career at risk. Whatever they want or ask you to do, just
follow and go on with the flow and you wont lose your track. This statement made me
think, where is the justice in this? Does it always have to be like this, just because they
positioned on top and we are at the bottom, we have no right to contradict everything
they say or do?!
The issue about the teacher having to cook is not new to me, by the way. Being one of
the TLE faculty members, we are always assigned in Food and Refreshments whenever
there is a visitors or government officials which will come to visit during a particular
event or activity conducted in our school. However I find it a bit odd, when our school
head