Logistical problems hinder K-12 program, says Recto
MANILA, Philippines — The K-12 basic education program has been hindered not by legal challenges against it but by delays in the delivery of school facilities and hiring of teachers, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said Tuesday.
“[K-12’s problem] is not legal, but logistical,” Recto said, saying the lack of classrooms, school equipment and teachers challenge the effectiveness of the government’s educational program.
Citing government data, the senator said there were 81,630 classrooms still in various stages of construction as of July 2018. He also noted that only 114,019 teachers were hired from July 2016 to June 2018 of the 188,078 items created from April 2016 to August 2018.
“The delivery of facilities was behind the curve. Grabe ang backlog na ilang taon ang kakailanganin para ma-wipe-out ang mga ito,” Recto said.
He, however, commended the Leonor Brioners-led Department of Education for reducing the huge backlog they had inherited.
Recto made the statement following the Supreme Court decision that affirmed the constitutionality of the K-12 program. It was signed into law five years ago in hopes for the country’s educational system to be at par with international standards.
Gatchalian mulls inquiry into employability of K-12 grads
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, on the other hand, is eyeing the possibility of conducting a Senate probe into the employability of K-12 graduates.
“We need to hear straight from the top Philippine employers themselves kung bakit sila hesitant na mag-hire ng K-12 graduates,” the chair of the Senate sub-committee on education reform said.
A JobStreet Philippines report released last April showed that only 24 percent of Philippine employers are willing to hire fresh graduates of the K-12 program. These include players in the business process outsourcing industry, manufacturing, professional services, retail, and machinery and equipment.
Thirty-five percent of employers said they are not open to hiring K-12 graduates, citing reasons such as openings are for college graduates only, insufficient work experience, and K-12 graduates are not qualified to fill vacant positions.
The remaining 41 percent said they are indefinite when it comes to hiring graduates of the program.
Gatchalian also urged the DepEd to fasttrack its internal review of the K-12 program, saying the assessment is important to boost the employability of graduates. — Gaea Katreena Cabico
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