Mentors need to look for remedies for K+12

Aldwin Quitasol

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio teachers have to use the old text books depending on the competencies they are looking for their students to cope up with as some of the needed new and updated text books for grades 7 and 9 are not yet available.

Department of Education (DepEd) Baguio Schools Division Superintendent Francis Bringas said that there is still no information from the central office of DepEd on the exact date of the delivery of the new text books. He said DepEd Baguio is still hoping that before the second quarter of this school year 2014-2015, said books for the K to 12 program will be available and distributed after all.

On the suggestion that the implementation of the K+12 that be suspended or postponed because of problems surrounding it, Bringas said that it is already signed into law. He said that maybe what should be done for now is to amend some of its provisions for some adjustments. On May 15, 2014, President Benigno Aquino signed Republic Act 10533 institutionalizing the DepEd program which had already been introduce by the government's education agency to the schools all over the Philippines in 2013.

This system according to DepEd covers Kindergarten, six years of primary education or from Grade 1 to 6,  four years of junior High School or from Grade 7 to 10 and two years of senior High School. The department stated that this will “provide sufficient time for mastery and concepts and skills develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.

In an earlier interview with the media, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Metro-Baguio Committee on Public Affairs and Campaign Officer Tomas Millanes said that the government through Dep Ed implemented programs like K+12 without necessary preparations. He said that problems such as the scarcity of text books, chairs and other needed teaching materials and facilities are not really being addressed. He stressed the lack of classrooms for conducive learning for Grades 1 to 6 pupils and First to Fourth year High School Students. “Where then will the Grades 9 to 12 of K+12 will held their classrooms?” he asked.

Millanes said that what the pupils actually need is the more basic such as a school conducive for learning to attain good quality of education. He said that in Baguio City alone, classrooms are still overcrowded. He said that the ideal is one room for 35 students but in reality, there are cases where co students are jam packed in one classrooms.

“Adda dagiti sumagmamano nga eskuwelaan nga agkurang ti classrooms ket awan pay met sumangpet a projects tayo for classroom buildings,” (There are some schools that are lacking of classrooms and we have still no projects for classroom buildings) disclosed Bringas. He said that there are however some projects for the purpose funded by the City Government of Baguio.#AldwinQuitasol