DISADVANTAGES OF K-12 PROGRAM IN THE PHILIPPINES

What is K-12 Program? “DepEd’s much vaunted K-12 curriculum is seen as the country’s
response to the challenge of creating an educational system that adheres to international
standards and produces graduates who can compete in the global scene. With this program,
students will have to undergo 12 years of basic education instead of the usual 10, in addition to
the now mandatory kindergarten, with 6 years in elementary, 4 years in junior high school
(JHS), and 2 years in senior high school (SHS).”
The Enhanced Basic Education Program Act of 2013, or the K to 12 Act establishes a “universal
Kindergarten and introduces Grades 11 and 12 to high school education in public and private
schools.(Inquirer, May 16, 2013) The K to 12 program covers kindergarten and 12 years Basic
Education with six years of primary education, four years in Junior high school (Grade 7 to 10)
and two years in senior high school (Grade 11 and 12) to provide mastery of concepts and skills
and prepare students for tertiary education. National, Local and Professional Issues on K to 12.
- Additional years in High School. - Supplies of books, references and other materials. - Are
teachers are prepared for this curriculum? - Are schools fully equipped to cater to the demands
of the new curriculum? - Are teachers well trained to teach skills related subjects Like
TLE(Technology Livelihood Education)? What are its disadvantages? “The transition between
the old curriculums to the new one can be quite challenging for stakeholders, that is, the school
administrators, teachers, parents, and students. Such a drastic change in the system requires
long-term preparation and solid implementation. As of yet, it is fair to say that a large number of
teachers in the country have not been fully prepared for the program, which may have an impact
on the overall quality received by the students. The added two years in basic education will also
cause a low turnout of enrolees in colleges and universities for school year 2016-2017. Current
high schools that will open up the senior high school department might lack facilities and
teachers to cater to the students. This has led the Department of Education to allow the
employment of non-license holders in high school, provided that they obtain one within the next
five years.”
“The disadvantages of implementing the curriculum are real and urgent. Students need to adjust
to the new curriculum and have to condition themselves in spending a longer time in school.
SHS is relatively new so its efficiency is yet to be determined, and this is one risk which may
have dire consequences. However, the advantages of the program far outweigh its negatives.
In the long run, students are being honed to be on par with the rest of the world in terms of
academic excellence. By aligning our system with global benchmarks, students are given the
opportunity to be recognized as professionals abroad, thereby lessening the unnecessary
expenses of having to obtain other degrees in the countries where they wish to work.”
Where are we now? Students have insufficient mastery of basic competencies due to congested
curriculum.
Twelve year curriculum is being delivered in 10 years only. The inadequacy of instructional time
is reflected in ten student’s insufficient mastery of basic competencies. As a proof the NAT (
National Achievement Test ) for grade 6 in SY 2009-2010 passing rate is only 69.21%. Although
this is already a 24% improvement over the SY 2005-2006 passing rate, further reforms are
needed to achieve substantial improvement. The NAT for high school is 46.38% in SY 2009-
2010, a slight decrease from 7.40% in SY 2008-2009.
International test results like TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study)
rank the Philippines 34th out of 38 countries in HS II Math and 43rd out of 46 countries in HS II
Science; for grade 4, the Philippines ranked 23rd out of 25 participating countries in both Math
and Science. In 2008, even with only the science high schools participating in the Advanced
Mathematics category, the Philippines was ranked lowest. — oOo— The author is from
Meycauayan National High School

https://www.pressreader.com/
High school dilemma: Choosing the right strand

Choosing a career is difficult in itself, but senior high school prepares you to make crucial
decisions that will impact your future

Just recently, my cousin told me about the difficulty in deciding what would be her senior high
school strand.

As a Grade 11 student enrolled in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), I

felt lucky to have found the strand that I’m really comfortable with. Looking back, I also had
difficulty in choosing a strand last year in junior high.

My school offered only the academic track, and I had four strands to choose from. It was a
struggle—one day it was STEM, another day it was ABM (Accountancy, Business and
Management), and then some days it was HUMSS (Humanities and Social Sciences), or even
GAS (General Academic Strand).

If my school offered nonacademic tracks like Arts and Design or Sports, I might have considered
them, as well as two of my great passions—archery and theater.

To help out junior high school students with the same dilemma, I thought of listing down the
factors to consider in choosing their own strand.

What are your interests?

The first question is: “What are your interests?”

In my case, I was into a bunch of things and all my diagnostic and personality tests indicated that I
was suited for not just one, but a number of strands.

The reality is you will only be sure of your interests once you experience bits and pieces of each
strand. In the meantime, you can consider previous subjects closest to your strand.

If you like solving math and science problems, go for STEM. If writing and debating interest you,
consider HUMSS. If you appreciate bookkeeping and entrepreneurship, you may like ABM.

Your own skills and talents

Sometimes, things won’t work, despite your interest in a particular field. Thus, it’s important to
consider your own skills and talents, and if you’re willing to put in time and effort to overcome the
difficulties you will encounter in your chosen strand.

For instance, if you want to be a lawyer though you’re not adept at speaking or writing, who is to
say you can’t take HUMSS? Or if want to be an engineer even if you’re not good in numbers, who
is to say you can’t take STEM?

In any case, it’s best to choose the strand most suited to your natural abilities.

Balance

Another thing to consider is the time at your disposal and the activities on your plate that you have
to balance with schoolwork.

One of the reasons I almost did not do STEM was that students in the higher batch were saying
STEM was difficult and took up a lot of their time. Since I had archery, drama and out-of-school
clubs, I had second thoughts about STEM.

So, unless you’re willing to sacrifice your free time, you may want to consider choosing a less
demanding strand, or an entirely different track if your school offers the nonacademic variety.

When the going gets tough

Likewise, consider the other students you’ll be with in your chosen strand. It does not mean,
however, that if all your friends go to ABM, you want to be there, too.
But then again, you and your classmates in the strand should get along well. Ideally you should be
able to confide in them and ask help when the going gets tough and the lessons become stressful.

In short, you must find a group of classmates who share the same interests and with whom you
will interact on a daily basis as you solve math problems, write papers, create a business
practicum, discuss history and literature materials.

And what if your best friend goes to another strand? Well, remember that you can still stay the
best of friends no matter the circumstances.

Dream job

For some, choosing the right strand is not just about making new friends and discovering new
things related to a subject (like learning to make ice cream in chemistry). More important, it is
about envisioning your dream job and career path.

Choosing a career is difficult in itself, but senior high school prepares you to make crucial
decisions that will impact your future. In my case, since I have yet to decide which career suits me
best, I felt that STEM would be most helpful.

Inner child

In the end, choosing the right strand may simply be about rediscovering one’s inner child. The
problem with adolescence is that we sometimes overthink and forget the sense of wonder and
inquisitiveness of a child.

I chose STEM not because I’m a math or science geek, but because, at a young age, I loved
asking questions that were very much STEM in nature.

I like watching Discovery Channel and National Geographic. I love making mechanical
contraptions out of paper, strings and whatever else was at home, inventing parachutes and other
stuff to play with.

And I guess that, somehow, the child in me still knew what was best.

https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/276459/high-school-dilemma-choosing-right-strand/
Senior High School Guide: Choosing the Right Track and Strand

The K-12 is a relatively new program here in the Philippines if you compare it with our
neighboring countries. For students to move into college or the university level, they must
undergo junior (Grades 7-10) and senior (Grades 11-12) high school level in order to be given a
diploma. A certification is given during junior level but finishing senior high level certifies and
validates that a student is qualified for college.

Going into senior high school, students must choose a strand and track they would like to take
for the next two years in their senior high school life. There are different strands and tracks
students can choose from which can also help them choose a course they might want to take in
college. Given that this is a big decision, a lot of thinking must be done when deciding. Here is a
basic guide that can help you choose the right academic track and strand

Which Track is Best for You?

Now that you’ve been given a broad overview of the tracks offered in senior high school, it is
time to get into the process of decision making. What track would you want to take? To help you
in this, ask yourself the important questions. You may ask yourself the following questions:

“What are the subjects do I excel at and enjoy?”

Look back at the past few years you’ve had in junior high school and try to determine which
subjects were you good at and liked. By doing so, you are able to have a clearer image of what
field you’d want to work in and possibly, what specific profession or job you see yourself taking.
For example, if numbers and computing is a forte of yours, then you might want to consider
taking STEM.

“How do I spend my free time?”

Your most liked subjects are not your only determinants. Think about what is it that you do when
you have some free time on your hands. Your interests and hobbies can also help in deciding
what track and strand would suit you best. You can be into sports, arts, music, inventing, and
many more. These things you do during your free time might actually be what you might want to
do professionally in the future. As bizarre as this sound, by connecting your interests and
hobbies to your decision, you’ll have an easier time choosing. And you are sure to find a track
where your interests fit in.

“What do I want to be when I grow up?”

The most commonly asked question to any child, teenager and adolescent. Not all adolescents
have a direct and specified answer to this question which is okay; some people just need more
time to discover their passion and their vision in life. But if you do have an answer to it, may it be
a specific position/job or at least a field you want to work in, take that in consideration when
choosing your track and strand. Ultimately, the desired outcome is that your strand will be the
bridge to your college course and eventually your profession.

“Have I done my research?”

Knowing yourself is good and all that but if you aren’t knowledgeable of what each track and
strand entails and offers, then there is a chance you might miss out on the best track and strand
for you. Read about what the course outline or content of the strand and track you’ve
shortlisted. Do your research so that you have a well backed-up-with-information decision.

“Have I tried asking for help?”

It’s always nice to seek out advice or opinions from different people, not just your parents and
friends. Asking for opinions can help you determine the track that suits you. Ask those who
already graduated from senior high school, they can provide you with very useful insights that
will be of major aid to you. This would help you broaden your perspective on each choice but
slowly zooming in with the top choices you have and easily listing down your likes and dislikes,
and the pros and cons of each strand and track.

Now you are equipped with the information you would need in making an important decision.
The next step is to decide and prepare yourself as you move forward to another stage in your
life.

https://topnotcher.ph/k-12-tracks-and-strands/
 Mismatch of
Choosing Track or
Course
In Senior High
In MPCA
Marikina Branch

Name: Christian Paul T. Nuarin

Grade and Section: 11-M3 ICT

Subject Code: RSRCH