Groups rally SC session, pressK-12 stop order

BAGUIO CITY -- Students and teachers group headed by Anakbayan, Kabataan Partylist and ACT Teachers Partylist rallied in front of the Supreme Court building here Friday to condemn its failure to grant a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Aquino administration-backed K to 12 program.

Bringing with them ladles and empty cooking pots, the groups started making noise outside the SC premises, where justices of the high court are currently conducting an en banc session.

“With this noise barrage, we want to bring to the attention of those justices inside this office that people, especially students, teachers and parents, are disgusted with their decision allowing the implementation of K to 12, said Luke Bagangan, Anakbayan Cordillera secretary general.

It can be remembered that the SC earlier denied several petitions, including those filed by the said groups, asking to temporarily stop the government's K to 12 program.

“We are opposed to their ruling because this gravely violates the constitution that they are mandated to uphold. The constitution clearly states that education is a right but people will surely fail to enjoy this right once K to 12 is fully implemented,” said Bagangan.

Quoting from Article XIV Sec. 1 of the Philippine Constitution, “The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.”

Bagangan claimed that K to 12 will just increase dropouts in Baguio City due to the costly additional years of basic education that the government are not willing to subsidize.

The youth leader also stressed that due to the lack of preparations and education funding, many students will not be accommodated by public schools for senior high school.

“Compared to almost 40 profit-oriented private high schools, only 8 public schools will be offering senior high school in Baguio. Once students are rejected by their public schools, they have no choice but to drop out of school or be burdened by the rising cost of education in private high schools,” said Bagangan.

Bagangan said even Baguio City National High School (BCNHS), the biggest Public High School in the City, will not be able to accommodate all their grade 10 students for their senior high school.

“The principal of BCNHS already admitted that two out of five students of grade 10 will not be accommodated by the school’s senior high school program. If this is already the premier public high school in the city what more can we expect from smaller public high schools,” the youth leader concluded.