DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Incoming Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has decided to support the K to 12 program currently being implemented by the Aquino administration, he told media Monday night, May 23.
Initially, he had been skeptical about it given criticisms from some sectors. Recently, he had asked for time to think about whether or not he would adopt the educational program.
“I said I was against it early on when it was being implemented. But some of the bright guys in DepEd (Department of Education) came to see me here in Davao and explained to me how we are lagging behind our neighbors,” Duterte said in a press briefing.
The K to 12 program stems from the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III.
It aims to provide Filipino students with a 12-year education cycle after kindergarten. The Philippines is the last country in Asia, and one of only 3 countries (Angola and Djibouti) worldwide, with a 10-year pre-university cycle.
K to 12 is supposed to be free for public school students although there are other indirect costs. Some sectors are complaining of its impact on poor families and employment of teachers.
Duterte said that K to 12 is needed in order to help Filipino students be at par with students of other nationalities.
“Karamihan dito, mga Chinese bright sa Math, ang mga Pilipino bright sa bolahan (Mostly, Chinese are bright in Math. Filipinos are bright in nonsense),” Duterte half jested.
The Supreme Court had earlier denied the petition of several groups asking to temporarily stop the government's K to 12 program. – Rappler.com