Incoming high school freshmen to become Grade 7 next year

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) will implement the K+12 basic education program in academic year 2012-2013, starting with the conversion of first year high school to Grade 7. 

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said a curriculum had been created for Grade 7.

The K+12 basic education plan consists of kindergarten, six years of elementary education, four years of junior high school (Grade 7 to 10), and two years of senior high school.

“In 2012, we will begin using the new curriculum for Grade 1 and Grade 7 (first year of junior high school),” Luistro said in a forum at the Heritage Hotel the other day.

“The curriculum is almost complete for these two levels and we will soon begin preparing our teachers.”

He said that after the initial implementation, the department will continue to work on the “building blocks” of the program which are: Curriculum Transition Management, Financial Resources, Legal Framework.

“We will also continue our consultations so everyone can understand the need for reform,” he said.

DepEd will also address the deficiencies in the public kindergarten schools established this school year.

The K+12 program is a revision of the 10-year basic education system implemented in the country that consists of six years of elementary education and four years of high school. The new program was designed to meet the fast-changing demands of society by providing students with adequate skill needed for college education and employment.

It is expected to fill in the deficiencies and strengthen students’ competencies in core subjects such as English, Math and Science.

The Philippines is only one of two countries in the world — the other is Myanmar — that still implements a 10-year basic education system.

Because of this, foreign employers question the competency of Filipino professionals especially engineers, accountants and nurses.