Republic of the Philippines

Philippine Normal University

The National Center for Teacher Education
Mindanao
Multicultural Education Hub

Submitted to:
Dr. Rennie C. Saranza
Course Instructor

Submitted by:
Jenny-Vi B. Logronio
BEE III Student

Date of Submission
August 25, 2017
 Reforms in the Philippine education system: The K to 12 Program

SUMMARY:

On the month of June, year 2017, the wave of Filipino teens became the first
students required to complete grades 11 and 12. As such, they are at the leading age of
a major education reform effort that will bring the Philippines primary and secondary
education systems into alignment with international norms. While aimed at the K-12
sector, the reforms are expected to dramatically affect the nation’s higher education
system – and potentially Filipino students’ international mobility – as well.

The program replaced the 10-year basic education curriculum, which consisted
of six years in grade school and four years in high school that concentrated on the
English language and Filipino, the sciences, arithmetic and mathematics, and the social
sciences.

It also incorporated these basic lessons to include basic science and technology,
engineering, mathematics, accountancy, business and management, humanities and
social sciences, and general academic courses such as technical-vocational-livelihood,
arts and design, and sports.

Accordingly, the implementation of the program has aroused fear among 13,600
teachers and 11,400 nonteaching staff in higher education institutions (HEIs) that they
would end up losing their jobs due to the lack of college enrolees.

Lack of infrastructure is also one of the issues confronting the DepED prior to
and during the initial implementation of the program. Needed for the new curriculum are
30,000 new classrooms; 30,000 new teachers; and 6,000 nonteaching staff.

Nevertheless, modernizing the higher public education system is an integral part

of making school facilities a conducive environment for students to learn. Hence, to
improve the country’s state universities and colleges (SUCs), a total of P44.4 billion was
allocated to the SUCs, 16.8 percent higher from last year.

The P2.5-billion allocation is designed to aid 40,453 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program beneficiaries.
 To aid students who want to earn a college degree, the DBM allotted P7.9 billion
for scholarship grants and financial assistance. Under this allocation, the CHED’s
Students Financial Assistance Program was appropriated a total of P763 million that will
help 54,208 students nationwide.

REFLECTION:

K-12 Curriculum: The Key for a Better Future

Poverty is a major problem of the Philippines before yet a major problem until
now. Philippines is one of the poorest country around the globe. The setting is always,
“the rich become richer, the poor become poorer.” What do you think are the reasons
why? It is because corrupt people are everywhere, from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Rich people specifically the politicians or people in authority deceive the so-called
“taong-bayan” of the Philippines through flowery words and then take the Filipinos for
granted. Takes for granted in the sense that, they do not give the correct amount of
money allotted for a certain project or help to the people. They pocket the other funds
without the knowledge of the poor, pitiful Filipinos. And I do believe that Education has a
vital role in this aspect.

There are so many deceivers and many were deceived as well; hopefully,
nothing will be fooled again. I believe that the sole reason why Philippines still belongs
to the poverty line is because of our educational system. A better education is the key to
a better future and the change has finally come. The change that I am referring is the
‘Reforms in the Philippine education system: The K to 12 Program’.

The K-12 Curriculum educates and molds the ability and skills of the Filipinos.
Changes to the education system are intended to better equip students for employment
and further study, both at home and abroad. For instance, its goal is to make the
Filipinos competent enough, worldwide. Moreover, to gradually eliminate poverty is one
of the major goals of this reform. Thus, let us not be dumb and support the K-12
program because it is the solution to end our mourning.
SUMMARY:
Current Trends in Education: Meeting the Challenges in 21st Century

The computer and the internet's evolution these past few years have been
staggeringly fast. A computer that used to fill an entire building in 1965 has about the
same computing power as a modern-day cellphone. Most of the popular forms of media
like TV, radio, and print are slowly being nudged from their pedestal by the internet.
Everything seems to have changed drastically these couple of years, and this includes
the K-12 education system.

The following are some of the more popular trends in K-12 education today: 1)
The Use of the Internet and Social Media as a Teaching Tool. All students these
days know how to use a computer and the internet, and most of them are using social
media networks to share their thoughts and to support each other. Educators these
days know how to harness the power of the internet and social media to get in touch
with their students, and hear their thoughts; 2) How the Condition of Educational
Facilities Affect Performance. Basically the better the building's condition, the better
the students and their teachers perform. There was a survey done with different schools
in the US as subjects, they sought to find out just how much of an impact a school
building's condition and facilities affect the students and teachers. Some results point
out that better facility led to less truancy, smoking, and substance abuse in the students.
It was also determined that with better school buildings test scores rose up significantly.
And even the behavior of the teachers and how well they instruct their students seem to
increase along with improvements in the school; 3) Students Teaching Teachers.
Students perform better when they have the opportunity to tell their teachers what
things in the classroom needs improvement. Contrary to the old belief that students are
too young to know what they need, K-12 education systems now give the students the
opportunity to give pointers to their teachers on how they can better deliver their lessons
so that the students can understand; 4) Paying Close Attention to Each Students'
Needs. Educators are not looking at their class as a collective; they see them as
different individuals with different needs, which is why some students lag behind the
others when it comes to the lectures. Educators can help these students keep up by
giving them personalized attention.
 These are just some of the recent trends in the K-12 education system. These
are promising signs that show the educational system in the country is improving and no
longer stagnant.

REFLECTION:

As the 21st century arrived, challenges also arose. Challenges are very rampant
especially in education. The 21st century is now modernized and the technology has
something great to do with this. Since 21st century learners are digital natives, they can
easily catch up the knowledge through the help of technology. They can also access
vast information about something, anytime and anywhere. For instance, the current
education curriculum in the Philippines, which is the K-12 Curriculum, is a good thing in
meeting the challenges in 21st Century. It is a good thing in the sense that, the K-12
Curriculum utilizes the use of technology in teaching the students, molding them, and
developing their skills and talents in order for them to become equipped and ready to
face the future.

The reform in the Philippine education system is facing a lot of challenges since
the Philippines is not yet prepared for it. Some of the challenges are lack books, lack of
rooms, and lack of teachers. The integration of technology in education plays an
important role in filling the inadequacy of the government to provide resources and
facilities. The teachers nowadays sometime find it hard to look for the resources of the
topic that they are going to teach, due to the lack of books. However, with the aid of
technology, teachers can access references from the internet. They can also use social
media in asking their friends, colleagues, co-teachers, etc. if they have a copy of books
that they need. On the other hand, since rooms are lacking, students have the choice
whether to go to school or not. Through technology, students can still enrol even without
going to school. What makes technology amazing when it comes to education is that,
students can have their daily education even they are at home. They will just have a
video call with the teacher. Teachers can also send soft copy of modules that they are
going to answer.
SUMMARY:
Issues and Concerns of Philippine Education Through the Years