PH education system unprepared for K-12 program: Romulo | Morning Matters

Summary

Representative Roman Romulo, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, discusses the proposed changes to the Philippine education system, particularly focusing on the K-12 program. He supports Senator Jinggoy Estrada's proposal to scrap the additional two years, citing failures in its implementation and its failure to deliver on promises of job readiness. Romulo proposes a revised Education Pathways Bill, which eliminates educational tracks and focuses on preparing students for college or work. He highlights the need for a more practical and flexible education system that aligns with the realities of Filipino families and the job market.

Takeaways

• 😀 The House of Representatives has passed a proposed revision to the K to 12 program, which is now called the Education Pathways Bill.
• 😀 Senator Jinggoy Estrada proposed scrapping the additional two years of the K to 12 system, as it has not delivered on its promises over the years.
• 😀 The original promise of K to 12 was that 40% of students would be ready for academic tracks, 40% for technical-vocational, and 10% for sports and arts, but the distribution has shifted significantly, with less than 1% going to sports and arts.
• 😀 The K to 12 program's promise to produce job-ready graduates has not been fully realized, with many students still opting for higher education instead of entering the workforce.
• 😀 The National Certificate II (NC2) given to tech-voc graduates under the K to 12 program is seen as insufficient for truly preparing students for quality jobs, as it still requires further guidance.
• 😀 The proposed revision removes the academic tracks and strands, focusing on a more straightforward K to 12 system without restricting students to specific pathways after grade 10.
• 😀 The curriculum under the current K to 12 system is overloaded with 31 mandatory subjects, which may be reduced in the new proposal to improve focus and efficiency.
• 😀 The proposal also includes an option for students to take an honors exam after grade 10, allowing those who pass to skip grades 11 and 12 and move directly into college.
• 😀 Free college education has led to the closure of some private colleges, and many beneficiaries of the free tuition program have still not finished their degrees due to the full costs of college life beyond tuition fees.
• 😀 The implementation of K to 12 was rushed, and there was a lack of preparation for resources, including classrooms and teachers, which led to problems like ghost senior high school vouchers and inadequate school facilities.

Q & A

What is Representative Roman Romulo's stance on Senator Jinggoy Estrada's proposal to scrap the K to 12 additional two years?

Representative Roman Romulo supports Senator Jinggoy Estrada's proposal to scrap the additional two years of K to 12, as he believes it hasn't delivered on its promises. He points out that despite the extra years, many K to 12 graduates are not job-ready, with many opting to proceed to college instead of entering the workforce.

What changes has the House of Representatives made to the K to 12 program, according to Romulo?

The House of Representatives has passed the Education Pathways Bill, which aims to revise the K to 12 program. The proposal eliminates the current tracks and strands after grade 10, offering a more straightforward educational path to college without the need for specialized strands like academic, tech-voc, arts, and sports.

How does Representative Romulo view the quality of education provided by the K to 12 program's tech-voc track?

Romulo criticizes the tech-voc track, stating that it has failed to meet its promise of preparing students for quality jobs. He highlights that despite the two additional years, students in tech-voc often end up in jobs they could have obtained without completing the full K to 12 program.

What does Romulo suggest as a solution to improve the educational system after grade 10?

Romulo proposes the implementation of an honors exam after grade 10, allowing high-performing students to bypass grades 11 and 12 and proceed directly to college. This would provide an exit pathway for students who are already academically capable and want to start working earlier.

What is Romulo's opinion on the current state of the K to 12 curriculum?

Romulo believes that the K to 12 curriculum is congested, with too many mandatory subjects. He suggests simplifying the curriculum by focusing on the General Education (GE) subjects typically taken in the first year of college, and offering more flexibility for students.

What are Romulo's thoughts on the decongestion of the curriculum being piloted in schools?

Romulo expresses skepticism about the current curriculum decongestion efforts, pointing out that only a limited pilot program has been implemented so far. He believes that the full implementation of the curriculum needs further attention before making substantial changes.

How does Romulo view the issue of functional literacy in the Philippine education system?

Romulo highlights the low levels of functional literacy among Filipino students, citing statistics that show millions of people struggle with reading comprehension. He stresses that addressing functional literacy is essential before advancing to higher-order skills like critical thinking.

What challenges does Romulo identify with the K to 12 program's implementation?

Romulo identifies several challenges with the K to 12 program, including a lack of preparedness in terms of classrooms and teachers, especially for grades 11 and 12. He also mentions issues such as the shortage of classrooms and poorly planned voucher systems for senior high schools.

What is Romulo's perspective on free college education in the Philippines?

Romulo is critical of the free college education system, stating that while it benefits some, it has led to the closure of many private colleges and universities. He believes that the system should focus on supporting students from lower-income families and that free tuition does not address all the costs associated with college education.

What proposal did Romulo put forward regarding the role of General Education (GE) subjects in senior high school?

Romulo suggests a modification to the GE subjects in senior high school, proposing that certain subjects be moved to grades 11 and 12, reducing the number of mandatory subjects. This would allow students to focus on more specialized education without being overloaded with unnecessary requirements.