Angara vows to improve K-12 program implementation

MANILA, Philippines — Following frustrations raised by President Marcos, Education Secretary Sonny Angara yesterday pledged to enhance the implementation of the K-12 program.

“The President and I discussed (the K-12 program). He said since it is a law, as provided for under Republic Act 1533, its implementation should be improved,” Angara said during a chance interview at Doongan Integrated School in Butuan City.

The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 introduced two additional years of senior high school, allowing students to specialize in tracks such as technical-vocational-livelihood (TVL), sports and arts and design.

However, Marcos felt that “in the past, there was no value added in the (additional) two years.”

According to Angara, the President wants senior high school graduates to be truly employable and properly trained.

To resolve this, plans to provide free certification to TVL students, which was previously unavailable, were announced.

Angara further explained that the Department of Education (DepEd) is being directed to conduct proper assessments of senior high school students to prove to employers that they possess the necessary qualifications for employment.

Despite these plans, the United Nations Children’s Fund opposes changes to the K-12 program.

Instead, UNICEF Education chief Fushimi Akihiro supports the implementation of the strengthened senior high school curriculum, following the pilot rollout in more than 800 schools when classes opened on June 16.

In addition to K-12 implementation issues, Angara also responded to the 160,000-classroom shortage flagged by the President in a recent podcast.

“The DepEd through the Department of Public Works and Highways is doing something about this but we are not able to keep up with the damages,” he said, citing the most recent fire in Quezon City that gutted eight classrooms.

To address this growing concern, Angara proposed tapping into public-private partnerships to support school infrastructure development.