The incoming President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., (PBBM) earlier gave an order to VP Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio (Sara) to review the K-12 program of the Department of Education – a program that earned the ire of parents due to unwanted additional expenses, and of students for unnecessarily delaying their entry to college. Some even opted to stop their studies after Grade 10 due to lack of funds making them less competitive in this fast-changing world.
Since I am a product of the old school curriculum, I have very little idea of what this K-12 animal is all about, so I did a little research “to educate myself”. According to Mr. Google, K-12 is “a term used in education and educational technology in the United States, Canada, and possibly other countries. It is a short form for the publicly-supported school grades prior to college.” This program allegedly “offers a decongested 12-year program that gives students sufficient time to master skills and absorb basic competencies.”
It’s been ten years since the K-12 system was implemented in this country but it seems to me that the very purpose for which it was created still remain to be seen due to various reasons – books replete with grammatical errors as exposed by Antonio Calipjo-Go; mediocre teaching skills of some teachers in public schools as articulated by retired UP Professor Dr. Clarita Carlos; erroneous run-of-the-mill modules; and many more. Dr. Carlos, in one of the fora sponsored by SMNI said that if the government wants a better education for our children, it must “invest on the teachers. She clarified that “investing” in the teachers doesn’t mean giving them air conditioned rooms, costly paraphernalia and high-end gadgets but a continued and refreshing education so they can cope up with the modern world. She even said in jest that a good teacher can effectively teach even under a tree.
Yes, I believe Dr. Carlos that a skillful and brilliant teacher can teach under the shade of a tree. In 1959, while our classroom was under repair, our late teachers Mrs. Belen Funtanilla and Mr. Cresenciano Guevarra conducted our classes under the giant Mabolo tree near the antiquated Gabaldon Building. I tell you it was fun and we did not miss a thing listed in their Lesson Plan.
Speaking of jokes, teachers are the best at hiding their errors according to the late SPC Law Dean Victorino Javier Sr. It was a joke he loved to share with his students. He said that doctors hide their errors “six feet below the ground”; lawyers hide their errors “behind bars”; but the teachers do not hide their errors, they just “pass it on to their students.” Funny as it may seem but it leaves something to a critical mind to ponder about. The joke tells us that teachers must have a thorough knowledge of the subject matter they are going to teach to their pupils. They must have the mastery of the language they are going to use otherwise they shall be passing all their errors that they will commit to their students.
We are lagging behind other countries in terms of education according to reports. I heard on the news that many 10-year-old kids can’t even read. I hope that the new DepEd Secretary in the person of our Vice President will do everything to correct and restore the effective old-school technique of teaching and if possible, she can ask Congress to pass a law abrogating K-12 program. She better strike the iron while it is hot.
Melinda Bagsic Evangelista
I was born to write and I believe that’s my calling. I love writing because it brings me to the realm exclusively of mine. It is also my opinion that “immortality” can be achieved not by searching for the Holy Grail and drinking from it but by living your life worth-writing or writing something worth-reading. Since I cannot promise you a life worth-writing, I keep myself busy writing something worth-reading. I am thankful to God for giving me the talent and skill to see life in different perspectives not seen by many and the courage to share it to my readers. This first ever Tutubi Digital News Magazine is a perfect avenue to bring you the many facets of life that you can ponder upon in this time of the pandemic. Enjoy reading all the articles.
