DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said implementation of the K to 12 Program was “apparently ill-advised,” noting that funding for the program seem to be not forthcoming as planned or promised.
“It’s not really to stop it but for want of better time, more money, more teachers,” Duterte said after noting that each time the education department would say “it is prepared and that everything will be alright,” problems would appear during each opening of classes showing that the agency is not actually ready for it.
He said though that he was speaking on the level of the mayor.
Duterte said if the Department of Education is not ready, then “we can go back to the old…maybe it [K to 12] can be implemented next time.”
Meanwhile, Liberal Party Rep. Roman Romulo of Pasig City, who guested in Duterte’s television program, bared that a House committee is now drafting a bill to cushion the expected displacement of teachers owing to K to 12 implementation in the next two years.
Romulo said that the bill on Transitional Education Fund would give financial assistance to displaced teachers through a funded fellowship program which would allow them to finish their masteral or doctorate studies while being displaced.
He said that a fellowship program for the displaced teachers is being preferred than other packages as it allows them to receive stipend.
He also reminded school authorities that beginning this school year, the implementation of the iskolar ng bayan law started.
Under this law, all top 10 students from public high schools are automatic scholars in state universities and colleges in the region where they graduated.
The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education, four years of junior high school, and two years of senior high school).
It is aimed at providing sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills; develop lifelong learners; and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development employment and entrepreneurship.