Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. ~ Nelson Mandela
Several years ago when I attempted to apply for a job overseas, I was stunned over their qualification:
Must have 12 years of education
Seriously, do I have to take another two years so I could qualify to the said job position? When I heard that DepEd want to implement twelve years of education in our country, it gives me hope and also for those who want to have a quality education for their kids.
We adapted the educational system patterned from Spain and the United States. In 1946, right after the liberation of our country during World War II, the system changed radically.
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| Image source: Vera Files/Google |
Below is the timeline on the journey of K + 12 Basic Education program that DepEd and legislators initiated for a better future. And it’s now known as Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 :
- Oct. 5, 2010: K+12 proposal started during the World Teachers’ Day when Education Secretary Armin Luistro unveiled DepEd’s “Enhanced Kindergarten-Grade 12 (K+12)” program.
- Dec. 30, 2010: DepEd started universal kindergarten program in 2011
- Jan. 1, 2011 Pre-enrollment starts as DepEd encourages parents to pre-register their children in the public kindergarten program this January to avoid the enrollment rush in May and June.
- May 7, 2011: Over one million preschool children signed up during the early-registration campaign conducted in January by the department, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.
- Nov. 21, 2011: DepEd readies plan for K+12 program.
- Dec. 16, 2011: DepEd eyed law on K+12 program
- Jan. 11, 2012: DepEd introduced enjoyable, less burdensome curriculum under K to 12 such as lessons using the language spoken at home, less contact time, and interactive.
- Jan, 30, 2012: Science teaching enhanced in K to 12 curriculum
- February 13, 2012: DepEd prepares teachers for K to 12 In preparation for the adoption of the new curriculum under the K to 12 program,as DepEd conducted Test of English Proficiency for Teachers (TEPT) and Process Skills Test (PST) in Science and Math to all Grades 1 and 2 public school teachers nationwide.
- March 8, 2012: K to 12 program starts taking off for school year 2013-2014.
- March 27, 2012: Kindergarten program received $1.5M grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR).
- March 31, 2012 DepEd began unclogging the enhanced 12-year curriculum implemented starting with incoming Grade 1 students of SY 2012-2013 and incoming freshmen of SY 2012-2013 will be the first beneficiaries.
- April 24, 2012: K to 12 program officially launched.
- June 4, 2012: Start of K-12 basic education program amidst criticisms from different sectors.
- October 1, 2012: The Committee on Basic Education and Culture approved the substitute bill on the K to 12 Basic Education Program. Through voting, 25 members voted for while two voted against the bill.
- November 19, 2012: The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2012, or House Bill 6643, was approved on third reading.
- January 30, 2013: The Senate and the Congress have ratified the Bicameral Conference Committee report on the K to 12 Basic Education Reform program, needing just President Aquino’s signature to make it a law of the land.
- May 15, 2013: The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 or the K to 12 Basic Education Program was signed into law by His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Kudos to the people behind this initiative! And I hope that people will understand why we need this kind of educational system.
