Congress to adjust, simplify K-12 curriculum, says Romulo

The ongoing review of the K-12 curriculum aims to simplify the system to cater to students' skills and competencies and make K-12 graduates employable, Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo said Wednesday.

“Magu-umpisa po tayo sa curriculum adjustment, kasi 'yun naman talaga 'yung hinahanap eh, 'yung competencies doon, 'yung skills, 'yung talento, 'yung pag-equip po natin. Capacity-building sa ating mga estudyante at 'yun po 'yung ia-adjust para simplified siya at tumutugon sa pangangailangan na makapagtrabaho yung mga gustong magtrabaho na mga kabataang Pilipino pagkatapos ng K-12,” Romulo, who chairs the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

Asked about complaints that the additional two years of the K-12 program were a financial burden on families, he said, “Siguro kung successful, kung na-fulfill 'yung pangako ng K-12 na employable na siya dahil may skills, may competencies pagka-graduate ng K-12, siguro hindi talaga natin maririnig 'yung mga reklamo ng mga magulang.”

“Ngayon po, totoo naman po na sinasabi sa ating industriya hindi nila nae-employ [ang mga estudyante] pagkatapos ng K-12. So dapat po talaga ayusin natin, mag-adjust na po tayo. ‘Pag nagawa natin ‘yan, tingin ko 'yung mga nasasabi na additional burden po ang two years, ay kahit papaano unti-unting mawawala 'yan,” he added.

Romulo also said that the administration will also rebuild EDCOM II, or the Second Congressional Commission on Education Act, to review the country's entire educational system from kindergarten to college.

Romulo added that the House on Tuesday passed the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act on final reading.

“Kahapon po napasa natin on third reading sa Kongreso 'yung Mental Wellness Bill, para matulungan naman po ‘yung mental and emotional health ng ating learners, teaching and non-teaching personnel. Kasi hindi naman teachers ang gumagawa nuon, dapat ang teachers naka-focus sa pagtuturo,” he said.

He noted that the health allied experts, such as psychometricians, must be expanded to schools, especially now that violent incidents have been happening within school premises.

"Humingi tayo ng tulong hindi lang sa mga registered guidance counselors pero pati na rin sa mga psychometrician, graduate ng allied courses, i-capacitate natin para per school naman magkaroon, at  per division meron na tayo," he said. — BM, GMA Integrated News