Negros Occidental schools ‘ready’ for K to 12

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Schools in Negros Occidental are ready for the implementation of K to 12 program, officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) division office in the province stressed.

Anthony Liobet, officer-in-charge of DepEd Negros Occidental, said that 77 public and 24 private schools in the province will open senior high school by next school year, with 46,680 students expected to register by academic year 2016-2017.

In line with this, Liobet said an additional 1,166 classrooms will be constructed and 1,750 teachers will be hired. Both construction and hiring will be done in phases.

DepEd has allocated at least P300 million ($6.7 million) for the construction of 148 classrooms in the province. The Department of Public Works and Highways is expected to start the construction by July 2015. 

With the signing of the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, two years have been added to the basic education system of the Philippines. The first batch of students under the program will enter senior high school’s Grade 11 in 2016, and Grade 12 in 2017.

Based on DepEd estimates, about 1.2 million to 1.6 million students nationwide will enroll in senior high school in 2016. (INFOGRAPHIC: 10 things about K to 12)

Michell Acoyong, chief of school governance and operations division, said that Negros Occidental has been preparing for senior high school since 2012 and it has already charted the strategic direction for all its implementers.

For instance, DepEd, in partnership with the provincial government and the University of Saint La Salle, implemented a scholarship grant called “Project Free” for teachers that will pursue graduate studies that will prepare them for the demands of senior high school.

Project Free is expected to graduate a total of 1,296 teachers. 

Track offerings

Acoyong explained that in senior high school, students will go through a core curriculum of 8 learning areas and additional subjects similar to college courses, depending on the tracks chosen by the students. 

Senior high school students can choose from 4 tracks: academic, technical-vocational-livelihood, sports, and arts and design. (READ: What senior high school tracks fit your locality?)

Acoyong stressed that each track will have specific requirements regarding teacher qualifications, as well as standards for facilities and equipment.

While each track will have an associated career path for each graduate, all tracks ensure that graduates of the senior high school will be equipped with the essential competencies that will make them ready for work, higher education, or entrepreneurship. 

Acoyong said the poor quality of basic education in the country can be seen in the inadequate preparation of high school graduates for the world of work, entrepreneurship, or higher education.

The poor quality of basic education, he added, is partly due to the congested curriculum of the previous 10-year pre-university cycle. – Rappler.com

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