Not just public schools: Private schools group seek support on K to 12 program

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) reiterated their support for the government's K to 12 program, which was formulated and developed during the previous administration.

However, the group also appealed to the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to also support the private education sector and not public schools alone.

"The work of education is primarily the work of government. We in the private sector are doing a big deal of share for the government's job. We have to tell the government that we are doing part of the job that you are supposed to be doing. Financially, you have to keep your share in making sure that financially the private schools are kept very much striving," said Brother Narciso "Jun" Erguiza, Jr. of the De La Salle Araneta University, who is the current CEAP president.

CEAP members are gathered for the 75th national convention in Cebu City, which started yesterday and will end on Friday. Discussions will include significant issues such as educational reforms.

In a press conference yesterday, he said the major concern in the implementation of the K to 12 Program would be the possible financial loss of the private schools.

Private Catholic schools are non-profitable institutions that rely on the educational fees that students pay while public schools are supported by the government.

Erguiza admitted the implementing of the K to 12 is difficult as changes in the educational system are introduced. However, they have faced these challenges and have come up with possible remedies.

"We have geared up ourselves so that when it is fully implemented, we would be ready with our faculty, students, infrastructure and financial capability, curriculum. All these were worked out in the internal level in cooperation with DepEd and other agencies," he said.

He said there were ramifications when the K to 12 was implemented as it was a drastic move to improve the old educational curriculum, but despite these, they still support the program.

"CEAP was in the forefront in making sure that the K to 12 becomes a successful reform program… we make sure that it will come to a successful finish as implementation continues," he said.

CEAP vice president, Fr. Joel Tabora, said the association has been a firm supporter of the K to 12 program seeing the reform as essential and important.

But he stressed that public money coming from tax payers should also be used for the benefit of private Catholic schools since the products of the private schools will also contribute to the society in the future.

"The State should fulfill its mandate to provide a complete, adequate and integrated system of education on all levels for all in the Philippines by respecting the complementarities of the public and private schools and therefore, by using resources not only for the public sector but for the private sector as well," he said.

Lawyer Joseph Noel Estrada, who specializes on education laws, attested that CEAP has been involved in the development and implementation of the K to 12 program since it has been part of the national consultation, provision of technical expertise, formulation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the K to 12 Law.

He said one of the challenges of CEAP members is to get the legislature to listen to their concerns.

Estrada said the national convention would be a good avenue for them to "re-strategize" in asserting the complementary role of private education in the schooling system of the Philippines.

"We are also taking this opportunity to come together and speak with the members of CEAP and reposition ourselves and think of strategies on how we will play an important role in this new administration in pushing for the much-needed educational reforms," he said.

Estrada said the K to 12 Program may be "ambitious and drastic" but the private Catholic institutions are dealing with the challenges along the transitional phase given the promise of quality education. (FREEMAN)