MANILA, Philippines - Education officials have signed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 or the K to 12 Law, which aims to improve basic education in the Philippines. Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Patricia Licuanan and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director general Joel Villanueva signed the IRR at the Don Alejandro Roces National High School in Quezon City, one of the 30 schools piloting the K to 12 program. K to 12 means Kindergarten and the 12 years of elementary and secondary education. The additional two years in high school will serve as specialization period for high school students whether in vocational skills, music, the arts or sports. The law also gives high school graduates the option to pursue jobs with a basic education diploma or proceed to college. Under the IRR, the DepEd increases its subsidies to students who want to enroll in private institutions offering senior high school. The financial assistance under the “Expanded Government Assistance for Students and Teachers in Private Education Act or E-GASTPE†will be offered through a voucher system or education service contracting, it said. Luistro said DepEd is set to come up with the new curricula from kindergarten to senior high school before the end of the year. According to DepEd, the Philippines is the only country in Asia and among the three remaining countries in the world that has 10-year basic education cycle. The other countries are Angola and Djibouti. Villanueva, meanwhile, said TESDA will ensure that only qualified trainors will teach special subjects in the secondary education.