DepEd-7 prepares for K to 12

CEBU, Philippines - In preparation for the implementation of K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum, the Department  of  Education-7 has partnered with University of San Jose-Recoletos and Cebu Normal University in the mass training for grade 9 teachers. 

The week-long training seeks to ensure that grade 9 teachers are ready for the school year 2014 to 2015 that would commence on June 2. The training is to equip the teachers of the skills and knowledge in implementing the guideline curriculum and the new learning teaching strategies.

However, of the 6,351 teachers in Region 7 that are expected to attend the training, only 3,704 teachers were able to participate.

DepEd-7 Regional Director Dr. Carmelita Dulangon said that for now, she can’t give the exact numbers of the teachers that would complete the training, adding that some could not complete for some matters.

“Ang wala maka-attend sa training, mao na among pangitaan og pamaagi. How can they teach kun wala sila’y nahibaw-an about the guideline curriculum,” she said.

The office has yet to decide on the sanctions of the teachers who were not able to attend even a single day of training. 

“Ultimately it doesn’t mean nga ma-okay na sila because it is very dangerous kay they will go in their classrooms in June not knowing what to do and how to teach,” she said, adding that the office would look into the reasons of the teachers if those are valid or not.

She said with the implementation of K to 12 next month, she expects minimal problems that every school encounters but she assured that DepEd is willing to help the schools. She added that new teachers will be hired.

USJ-R Dean of College of Education Dr. Julieta Catipay said the 115 trainers have undergone the National Training for trainers to assure that trainers provide quality training to the grade 9 teachers.  “Dili pareha sauna nga memory ra ang gi-focus, karon ang mga studyante na will do the hands on and mo-produce og outputs,” she said, adding that students will be expected to be more creative with the K to 12 curriculum.

Dulangon expressed her gratitude to USJ-R and other service providers for accepting the challenge that DepEd entrusts to them.

USJ-R Vice President for Academics Fr. Emmanuel Bolilia said they accepted it to assist the government and public school in the improvement of the public school teachers. “We are also grateful to DepEd for their trust and confidence in partnering with us, it is with great pride that we accept this because our College of Education is the Center for excellence,”  he said.

The training is conducted simultaneously in Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental.  (FREEMAN)