EDITORIAL - Review K to 12

President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. has ordered the Department of Education to review the K to 12 program to determine if it is really having an impact on our student’s level of comprehension.

"We need to do a lot to recover our grading. Mataas tayo noon, eh. Kailangan nating balikan 'yan ... There was also the question on when to start to teach in English, when we move from lingua franca to English; 'yung K to 12, kung kailangan pa talaga 'yung K to 12 and many of the other issues," President Marcos was quoted as saying in an online news report.

Yes, K to 12 is worth looking at again, especially those two extra years for high school. Do they really make a difference? Because it seems we just jumped into K to 12 like we would dive into water without testing the depth first.

To say K to 12 was rushed would be an understatement. Teachers, parents, and students were not ready for it when it was rammed down their throats. There were not enough classrooms to house two entire batches of students that had to hang back from college because of the additional years. Many parents were also not ready for those two additional years of spending for tuition, allowances, uniforms, fare, and other expenses.

Students who underwent those two extra years, speaking to personnel of this newspaper, said they are not sure what they learned made them better students, let alone more competitive worldwide. Even those teaching those extra two years were not sure of their own curriculum. One principal said it best; “it was hit or miss.”

Findings will either recommend making some improvements to K to 12 or the more radical one of scrapping it entirely and reverting back to the four levels of high school.

Though the latter is the most unlikely to happen, if it does there will have to be another set of complex changes and adjustments as two more years will have to be shaved off our educational system.

The Department of Education, headed by President Marcos’ ally Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio, will certainly have its hands full carrying out this review. The department must not forget what it at stake; the quality of our students.