Mandaue K-12 implementation Extra rooms, teachers needed

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Education in Mandaue City needs an additional 185 classrooms and 225 teachers when it implements the senior high school in 2016 as part of the K-12 curriculum of the government.

Assistant city schools division head Dr.Estela Susvilla said during a press conference that as early as next year, there is already a need to address the lack of classrooms and teachers in the city once the senior high school will be implemented in 2016.

She said there are 5,869 incoming senior high school students in 2016.

Susvilla said the eight schools in the city that need additional classrooms and teachers are Canduman National High School wherein 29 teachers are badly needed; Jagobiao National High School, 44 teachers; Labogon National High School, 25 teachers; Mandaue City Science High School, five teachers; Mandaue City Comprehensive High School, 14 teachers; School for the Arts, two teachers; Subangdaku Technical Vocational High School, 23 teachers; and Tingub High School,   23 teachers.

With the implementation of the senior high school in 2016, Susvilla hopes that the local government can at least help them with the construction of at least half of the 185 classrooms.

She also added that next year, DepEd Mandaue will also start hiring additional teachers.

According to the Official Gazette, the K-12 program covers 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) to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.

Senior high school is two years of specialized upper secondary education; students may choose a specialization based on aptitude, interests, and school capacity.

The choice of career track will define the content of the subjects a student will take in Grades 11 and 12. SHS subjects fall under either the core curriculum or specific tracks.

There are seven learning areas under the core curriculum. These are Languages, Literature, Communication, Mathematics, Philosophy, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. Current content from some General Education subjects are embedded in the SHS curriculum.

Each student in SHS can choose among three tracks: Academic; Technical-Vocational-Livelihood; and Sports and Arts. The Academic track includes three strands: Business, Accountancy, Management; Humanities, Education, Social Sciences; and Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics.

Students undergo immersion, which may include earn-while-you-learn opportunities, to provide them relevant exposure and actual experience in their chosen track. (FREEMAN)