SC ruling will lay to rest objections vs. K to 12 program —Briones

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the government's controversial Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K to 12) program.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said they are hoping that the SC decision will silence the critics of the program.

"Kami ay tuwang-tuwa sa desisyon dahil it will lay to rest 'yung mga objections ng iilang sektor na unconstitutional ang K to 12 program," she said.

In a ruling, the SC junked the consolidated petitions that challenged the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 and Republic Act No. 10157 or the Kindergarten Education Act.

RA 10533 — signed into law in 2013 by then-President Benigno Aquino III —
added two more years to the 10-year basic education, with kindergarten, which was institutionalized as part of the basic education system under the RA 10157.

Briones said the implementation of the program has been successful so far.

"Successful naman ang start ng ating programa kasi last March and April nakapag-graduate tayo ng ating first batch ng senior high school graduates at this coming school year patuloy pa ang pag-eenrol sa senior high school program," she said.

Like in 2016, some 1.5 million students enrolled for senior high school for the current school year, Briones said in stressing the success of the program.

Briones also said the government is addressing the shortage in classrooms caused by the program by building more and more classrooms.

"2016 nagbi-build na tayo ng school buildings. Hanggang ngayon nagbi-build pa rin tayo," she said.

She added that the DepEd's budget was increased by 35 percent to accommodate the senior high school program, and that the department is investing P8.5 billion for laptops and computers in schools.

"Sabihin natin mahirap ang challenge pero kelangan harapin," Briones said.  —KBK, GMA News