K-12 and hope on the first day of school

As students troop back to school Monday, 53 high achieving college graduates prepare for their first day teaching in public schools. They are fellows of Teach for the Philippines, a partner of Teach for All, a global network that recruits and trains talented college graduates to teach in public schools for two years. In the Philippines, 58% of Filipino students do not graduate from high school, according to the 2008-2009 Philippine Human Development Report. TFP is hoping to address the shortage of teachers by getting future leaders to devote two years of their lives for a child’s future. TFP has also partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd), which identified the schools and areas with the greatest need. This school year also marks the implementation of the K-12 program after President Benigno Aquino signed it into law on May 15.
The implementation of the Universal Kindergarten began in SY 2011–2012. The enhanced curriculum for Grade 1 and Grade 7 was rolled out in SY 2012–2013, and will be progressively introduced in the other grade levels in succeeding school years. The first batch of high school students to go through K to 12 will graduate in March 2018. The program adds 2 years to basic education with the aim of increasing students’ skills and competitiveness.

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