Gov't begins drafting K-12 IRR

MANILA, Philippines - Government agencies on Wednesday began drafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Enhanced Basic Education Act creating the K-12 program signed by President Benigno Aquino III last May, the Department of Education said.

The program, which adds two more years of senior high school among other enhancements, aims to improve the quality of education to keep up with international standards.

"According to the law, we have 90 days (from June 8) to finish this,"  DepEd Undersecretary Alberto Muyot, drafting committee head, said.

Muyot said that part of the process subcommittees' consultations with various stakeholders.

The committee will also be conducting public consultations in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila sometime August, Muyot said.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro reiterated that the K-12 proponents’ "desire to always seek consensus and not to dismiss even our harshest critics."

The committee, which includes the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority as co-chairs, was split into various sub-committees to focus on specific aspects of the law such as curriculum, teacher training, and career guidance, among others.

"It is auspicious that we are officially starting on the IRR on Jose Rizal’s birthday. He is the epitome of someone who is fully Filipino yet a true citizen of the world," Luistro said.

The committee intends to finish the final IRR before September 6.