CRISIS – a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger – is a word that the media love to use.
In the case of education, however, the situation is one in which “crisis” is appropriate. There are those who see that the 1982 Education Act was well thought out and was a good reflection of what we wished our children to experience. Furthermore, it was stable.
Problems arose early in the Aquino administration (2010). It was asserted that we had a basic education system which was not globally competitive. This was untrue. It was further asserted that there was a universal consensus towards “K-12” – a 13-year education program. Also untrue. Many countries, for example, the United Kingdom (UK) have a system in which there is a standard school leaving age. In the UK, it was 16. School attendance was compulsory up to that age and voluntary thereafter. The Brits and their European neighbors have not heard of K-12.
Anyhow, the Philippines suffered from an excessive propaganda thrust that we should have a K-12 system. A supine Senate (except for Trillianes) voted for this. President Aquino signed the K-12 Act into law in January 2013.
The Act was never really accepted by the populace who recognized that the first two years of Tertiary education corresponded to K-12’s grades 11 and 12. Logically, therefore, the K-12 (Republic Act 10533) was superfluous.
President BBM, immediately after taking office, asked his Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to examine K-12. Now we have the possibility of a revised K-10 “Matatag” (Stable) curriculum. In principle, this could be a good development.
Does this mean that K-12 is being abandoned? If so, does this mean that RA 10533 would have to be rescinded?
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Last week, more than 22 million elementary and high school students “trooped” (another favorite newspaper word) to school. This figure is based on the Department of Education (DepEd)’s enrollment figures.
This is a problem since 28 million enrolled last year (SY 2022-2023). Population statistics indicate that the enrollment for SY 2023-2024 should also be about 28 million.
So where is the missing six million? This is a serious drop-out rate since some of these will be elementary students for whom, according to the Constitution, school attendance is compulsory.
An education crisis is truly upon us./PN
