EDITORIAL - Narrowing the gap

This week the government formally launched the second phase of Kindergarten+12 - the program that aims to bring Philippine education at par with the rest of the world. The second phase introduces the curriculum for Grade 7, which will be mandatory starting school year 2012-2013. The move follows the introduction last year of free and universal kindergarten in public schools.

With the launching of the second phase, the government must pause to address the complaints of those tasked to directly implement K+12. Teachers’ groups have pointed out that the launch of universal kindergarten lacked funding, which meant a shortage of classrooms and inadequate compensation for kindergarten teachers.

Such problems bedeviled the public school system long before K+12 was launched. Back then, K+12 proponents had pointed out that all countries with the exception of the Philippines and Myanmar had 12 years of basic education aside from kindergarten. That difference has been blamed in part for the poor academic performance of Filipino students when compared with their counterparts in many other countries. Another consequence is that many companies overseas require Filipino professionals applying for jobs to first obtain additional schooling and pass licensure examinations in those countries.

Free kindergarten will help narrow the yawning gap between children educated in public schools and those whose parents can afford to send their kids to two or three years of preparatory school before first grade. These children in private schools typically also have access at home to all the modern learning devices, including computers, which are not available to the less privileged.

“Free” education is not entirely free; the costs of transportation, food, uniforms, school supplies and miscellaneous school fees still have to be shouldered by parents. Sending a child to kindergarten and two more years of basic education will entail additional expenditures. The government must make sure the additional years will be worth it and will achieve the objective of raising the quality of Philippine education, and will have the necessary funding support.