Too early to judge effectiveness of K to 12 program – DepEd

Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla on Tuesday defended the K to 12 program, pointing out that it was still too early to judge the program's effectiveness as a cycle from kindergarten to grade 12 had yet to be completed.

"Right now we are saying its too early kasi, three batches pa lang yung ating napatapos. And to say that K-12 is complete, we need to wait for the kinder to grade 12 na complete po nakuha ng bata," Sevilla said on GMA News TV program Balitanghali.

Nevertheless, Sevilla revealed that a DepEd study was tracking the progress made by the program's graduates.

Based on initial findings, 60 percent of the graduates continued on to college. The study was now attempting to determine whether the remaining 39 percent found suitable employment after senior high graduation.

"Ang pinaka malaki na challenge po talaga is pagsamasamahin natin yung understanding, yung appreciation, at saka yung recognition na itong programang ito ay,  although bago, kinakailangan talaga, nararapat," Sevilla said.

Trained teachers

Sevilla acknowledged that the program still faced several difficulties, such as a lack of facilities, equipment, and teachers.

Of these, the lack of appropriately trained teachers was the most pressing problem.

"Dahil yun po current curriculum natin na K-12 ay bago then we have to match it with the new graduates po ng ating bachelor of teaching o yung education natin na dapat din po responsive to the new curriculum that we have," Sevilla said.

Another problem the program faced was the lack of "buildable" space in urban areas such as Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao.

Meanwhile, the DepEd would be launching a new program in 2020 to provide schools in far-flung areas of the country.

The "Last Mile School" would be for students living in mountainous areas and island provinces and, according to Sevilla, its creation would not need contractors or suppliers.

"Magkakaroon ng programa kung saan uunahin natin sila at hindi na kakailanganin ang, halimbawa, mga contractor at suppliers kasi ipapa-allow through the Budget Law na matulungan ng community or even the AFP na ipatayo yung schools na need," said Sevilla. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News