K to 12 anti-people says teachers’ group

By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent          

Despite getting support from Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on the Department of Education K to12 program, the regional organization of Alliance of Concerned Teachers – 10 (ACT-10) claimed that the program is still anti-people and a waste of time and money.

ACT-10 regional spokesperson Ofelia Tabacon said their groups remains negative and opposed the implementation of the K to 12 program in coming school year 2016 – 2017 beginning June this year.

Tabacon said two weeks before the opening of classes they urging the government to suspend the K to 12 program, citing lack of preparation, especially in terms of facilities, equipment, and the hiring, training and salaries of teachers.

The K to 12 Program adds two more years to basic education in the Philippines. Under the program, schooling now includes kindergarten and 12 years of basic education – six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School and two years of Senior High School.

Tabacon said they are saddened upon learning that incoming President Rodrigo Duterte now supports the K to 12 program.

June 13 marks the country’s full shift to the K to 12 program as the first batch of Grade 11 students enter Senior High School.

“During his campaign, Duterte claimed that the Philippines is not equip to start the program. Karon nalahi ang iyang stand pero kami nagpabilin sa among stand. Kulang paman gani ang mga classrooms karon sa mga public schools,” she said.

She added that right now, training for the K-12 program teachers is just started, saying, “Implementation na ayha pa ang mga training sa mga teachers. This is a compliance”.

She claimed that even DepEd officials confirmed that 40% of the Senior High School cannot be accommodated by the public schools and instead be transferred to some private schools throughout the country.

“Ang logic ba. Dako kini og kawad-on sa government fund because of the voucher system. Mo-fund ang gobyerno sa pagpa-eskwela sa mga bata sa private schools like subsidy amounting to P20 thousand every students,” she pointed out.

Tabacon said in Cagayan de Oro alone, the parents would look for another 5 to 10 thousand per students to augment the current school and tuition fees imposed by the private schools.

“Kung sa public pa ni. Dako na kini og ikatabang sa pag-build og classrooms. Additional burden kini sa atong mga ginikanan,” she said.

However, DepEd-10 regional director Dr Allan Farnazo said Northern Mindanao is now K to 12 ready.