DepEd, CHED, TESDA start drafting K to 12 program IRR

MANILA, Philippines -The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) started yesterday drafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the K to 12 program.

 The K to 12 program, or the Enhanced Basic Education Act, which was signed into law by President Aquino last month, aims to improve the quality of education to keep up with international standards.

 Education Undersecretary Alberto Muyot, drafting committee chair, said they intend to finish the final IRR before September 6 this year.

Under the K to 12 program, students will have to go through kindergarten, six years of elementary, four years of junior high school (Grades 7-10) and two years of senior high school (Grades 11-12).

“According to the law we have 90 days (from June 8) to finish this,” Muyot said.

He said the various subcommittees need to consult other stakeholders as well.

The committee will also be conducting public consultations.

The sub-committees will focus on specific aspects of the law such as curriculum, teacher training, and career guidance, among others, Muyot said.

“We will go around Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the National Capital Region sometime August and we will try to incorporate inputs from everyone involved,” he said.

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

“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.