K-12 opponents want DepEd shut down

MANILA, Philippines - Protesters opposing the K-12 program yesterday called for the shutting down of the Department of Education.

Marching to the DepEd in Pasig, the protesters symbolically chained and locked its gates for the DepEd’s alleged failure to heed demands calling for the halting of the K-12 program.

“If DepEd cannot stop K-12 after repeatedly being told to do so, then this agency should just shut down,” Stop K-12 Alliance convenor Charisse Bañez said.

“We don’t need an education department that guarantees the profit of private schools and capitalist educators at the expense of our right to free public education.” 

Bañez said the start of the enrolment for senior high school was marked with chaos, and that 700,000 to a million students might drop out because of the program.

“The school year for high school ended last month but junior high school completers could not afford to enjoy their summer vacation because they are still uncertain on how they can continue their high school education,” she said.

“Right now, about a million students still do not know where to go. There is a scarcity of free public schools offering senior high education because K-12 is designed to be dominated by private schools. In the National Capital Region alone, more than 78 percent of senior high school is private. Matriculation costs of these schools range from P25,000 to more than P100,000 per year.” 

DepEd said public senior high schools are capable of accommodating all public school students who completed Grade 10 last month.

The voucher system, which will give subsidy to students in private schools, will give incoming Grade 11 students more options on which track to pursue, it added.

However, Bañez said that the program is not designed for the improvement of quality education, but to guarantee the profit of private schools.