Among the Asian countries, Philippines is the only country where education from primary to secondary comprises only ten years. That is the reason why the education department developed and implemented the K-12 program. In this program, a child needs to undergo kindergarten first before he can be admitted to grade one. In the secondary level, grades 11 and 12 were added.
Subjects were added to be taught in school. In the elementary, Mother Tongue Based (MTB), Araling Panlipunan (AP), Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (ESP), and Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH) are introduced in grade one. These subjects are being taught in our own dialect, CEBUANO.
"Oh my God! What?" This was how a colleague in a K-12 training lamented. And I reacted: "Why should it be taught in our dialect? We even encourage our pupils to speak English in order to be globally competitive."
It is indeed a big paradigm shift for teachers. However, one of the goals of the department of education in this program is to preserve our native language where our roots come from. For instance, the Cebuano word "lunhaw" has been eradicated in my mind since I usually used the word green in teaching colors to my pupils. In this techie generation where young learners aged 4 to 6 years old play most of the time their laptops, tablets, iPad, cellphones, etc. knows the Cebuano word "hugpulong"? "Kawhaan ug duha"? But there are being taught nowadays in grade one.
Local cultures are being taught also in AP. For instance in Cebu, the delicacies, the beautiful spots, the Cebuano heroes like Lapu-Lapu are introduced in grades one to three pupils to know who we are Cebuanos and what our ancestors were doing long time ago. In so doing, young learners will be excited and eager to see more of Cebu instead of looking for other places, considering that patriotism is inculcated in so young at age.
K-12 is not only aimed to level up with other Asian countries but one way of preserving our Filipino culture. Loving and embracing the roots of our existence help us become successful and productive Filipino citizens and assets of our beloved country, the Philippines.
Alecia D. Pasco
Guadalupe Elemtary School
V. Rama Ave. Cebu City