The document discusses the implementation of a new K-12 basic education program in the Philippines that extends the current 10-year curriculum to 12 years. It aims to improve the quality and competitiveness of Filipino graduates by adding two years of senior high school and aligning with international standards. The new program seeks to better prepare students for higher education, the job market, and make them more competitive globally. Its implementation will be phased in over several years beginning in 2016. The benefits of K-12 are expected to outweigh the costs by producing holistically developed graduates with 21st century skills.

1. Manila:A 13-year basiceducationcurriculumadoptedbythe governmentisexpectedtoboostFilipino's
competitiveness,aseniorlawmakersaid.
SenatorEdgardo Angara,chair of the Senate Committee onEducation,ArtsandCulture,saidthe
government's Kinder+12(K+12) programme isa "necessaryandlongoverdue stepnotonlytowards
economicdevelopment,butalsobetterlabourwelfare."
PresidentBenignoAquinoIIIlastApril 24,launchedthe K+12 basiceducationprogramme,whichextends
by twoyearsthe currentschool curriculum.AccordingtoAquino,the new programme will alsoremove
the Philippinesfromthe groupof onlythree countriesinthe worldstill implementinga10-year basic
educationcurriculum.
Improvingquality
Under the newK+12 programme, twoyearsof seniorhighschool are addedto the curriculumwhile
sKindergartenismandatoryforchildrenfive yearsof age.Grade 11 will be introducedby2016, while
Grade 12 will startby 2017.
Angara saidthe improvededucationprogrammewouldredound inimprovingthe qualityof graduates
and make themmore competitiveabroad.
"It isonlyby deepeningthe skillsbase of ourpeople canwe actuallybroadenthe jobopportunitiesopen
to themand create the enablingenvironmentwheretheycanliftthemselvesoutof hardship,"explained
the veteranlawmaker.
"The governmentmustmake thisgreatchallenge atoppriority,"saidAngaraa formereducation
minister.
2. UP Gearsup for the Impactof the K-12 CurriculumandASEAN EconomicCooperation2015
Postedon August5, 2013 by UP SystemInformationOffice inAnnouncements
Background/Rationale
As the 21st centuryeducationspreadsworldwide,the UPpreparesfor,andcushionsthe impactof the
K-12 and the 2015 ASEAN EconomicCommunity. Ithas unrolledaroadmapinresponse toitsrole as the
Philippines’onlynational university –a leaderandmodel ininstruction,researchandextensionwork.
The ASEAN Integration2020 aimsto unite the membercountriesof ASEAN intoone economicand
multi-cultural community cooperatingalsoonsecuritymatters.The ASEAN EconomicCooperation2015
(AEC),asan initial stepinthe integrationprocess,aimstodevelopthe 10-membercountriesof ASEAN
intoa single marketandproductionbase forthe free flow of goods,services investment,capital and

2. skilledlabor.While the goalsare economicinnature,humanresource andcapacityas well astheir
movementswithinthe regionwill be inevitablyimplicated. The Philippinesbeingasignatorytoand a
memberof the ASEAN,endeavorstoachieve the goalsof the ASEAN.
Having2015 as the target date for the ASEAN EconomicCommunity,the followingresultsare expected
fromthe educationsector:1) greaterstudentandstaff mobility2) greaterdemandforqualityprograms
3) more collaborative researchandcurricularactivities4) competitionforjobsandemployment5)
higheremployerstandards,and6) race for universityranking.
The educationreformthatresultedinthe K-12 basiceducationcurriculumstemsfromthe needto
addressthe onslaughtof globalizationandregional cooperationforthe graduatesof HEIs to be globally
competitive.Thisrequiresinternal changestoinclude ashiftfrom10 to 12 yearsof basiceducation. The
reformisstirredbythe sore state of highschool educationinthe country,whichhasdeterioratedinthe
qualityandcompetenciesof itsgraduatesandhas poorlypreparedHSgraduatesforcollege andforthe
labormarket.
The fact remainsthat the Philippinesisthe onlycountryinASEAN andone of the three remaining
countriesinthe worldwith10 years basiceducation(the othertwoare Djibouti andAngola).Byshifting
to 12 yearsof basiceducation,the Philippineswillnow be atpar withthe rest of the world. This reform
that will resultinamore solidbasicfoundationof HEIgraduates,will provideabiggerchance of
becomingregionallyandgloballycompetitive.
The K-12 Programhopesto 1) decongestthe basiceducationcurricula; 2) prepare the studentsfor
highereducationandforthe labormarket,and 3) be globallycompetitive/benchmarkwithglobal
standards.
To affirmUP’sleadershiprole ineducation,itwill embarkonamajor change inits teachingpedagogy,
qualityassurance assessments,andcurricularprograms,includingthe review of itsGEprogram. Given
that UP’s studentenrollmentwillbe adverselyaffectedin2016 and beyond,aripple effectwill be
expectedinitsfaculty’s academicload,administrativestaff functions,fiscal positions,supportservices
and admissionprocesses.

3. The concerns thathave emergedare as follows:
a) What will be ourdecisionforcoursesthatduplicate those thatwill be taughtinK11 & 12?
b) Is our presentGE frameworkstill relevant?
c) Will the requiredunitstofinishCollege be reduced? Will more advancedcoursesbe taughtto
majors? What consequenceswill the changesinthe undergraduateprogrambringtothe graduate
program?
d) ShouldUP change its academiccalendartoalignwiththe schedule of internationalacademic
partners?
e) What will be the effectof the changesonthe admissionrequirementsandexaminationof UP?
What has the UP SystemDone So Far?
A UP K-12 Roadmap hasbeendrawn. The Roadmaphas setthe followingshort-term(ST) andmedium-
term(MT) goals:
1. Increase the awarenessof the impactof K-12 andASEAN EconomicCommunity2015 to programsin
the UP academiccommunity(ST);
2. Reviewthe GE program(ST);
3. ReviewandstreamlineCUofferings(ST);
4. Realignmentof the academiccalendartosynchronize withinternational calendar(ST);
5. Qualityassurance (QA) assessmentof curricularprograms(ST/MT);
6. Revisionof individualcurricularprogramsbyunit(ST/MT);
7. AddressFacultyandStaff workload(MT),and
8. ReviewUPadmissionsystem(MT).
Simultaneouswiththe implementationof the K-12Programin all elementaryandhighschoolsinthe
countryin 2012, UP throughitsOVPAA,

4. 1) had itsfirstsalvoof a seriesof consultationswiththe officialsof DepEd,CHEDandmembersof the
technical workinggroup;
2) conductedroundtable discussionswiththe Vice ChancellorsforAcademicAffairs,Vice Chancellorsfor
Research,andthe GE Council membersof the variousCUsand the autonomousCollegetoclarifythe
impactof the K-12 Program and 2015 AEC as well asbrainstormonfuture actionsof Collegesand
Universities;
3) at the start of 2013, the OVPAA conductedthe consultative workshopsamongthe concernedofficials
of the CUs; the workshopswill be completedinAugust;those thathave completedthe consultative
workshopsare nowreviewingtheircurricularprogramswiththe expectedrevisionscompletedby2015;
4) the GE program isbeingreviewedandresultsof the reviewandrevisionswill be presentedtothe
variousCUs for commentsandsuggestions,culminatinginasystem-wideworkshopbeforethe endof
the year,2013.
What ShouldUP ConstituentsDo?
Needlesstosay,discussionsandconsultationsonthe impactof these changesshouldtrickledownto
the variouscolleges,institutes andschools,whichare expectedtocrafttheirownspecificplansand
prepare theirprogramsto addressthe impactof K-12 andthe ASEAN EconomicCooperation2015.
The OVPAA hasstartedthe ball rollingforthe CUs to undertake the followingactivities:
1. Conductorientationanddiscussiononthe K-12 andASEAN EconomicCommunity2015;
2. Reviewandstreamlineundergraduate offeringsandthe GE program fromJuly2013 onwards;
3. Participate inthe discussiononthe revisionof UP’sacademiccalendartomatchwithinternational
calendarbefore 2015;
4. Contribute ideasforthe assessmentof UPCATand STFAPsystems;
5. Formulate plansforfacultyhiringanddevelopmentincludingprovidingopportunitiesforcompleting
graduate degrees,conductingresearch,publishingandreviewingsyllabi duringthe K-12transition
period;
6. Formulate plansforextensionactivities,suchasmentoringpublicschool teachers

5. 7. Reviewandformulate plansforthe institutionof honorsprograms andstrengthenthe MS/MA
Programs.
UP still hasuntil the endof 2015 to implementitsK-12Roadmapandthe 2015 AEC.The Constituent
Units,theirCollegesandotherconcernedsectorsare enjoinedtoactivelyparticipate inthe processof
implementingthe K-12Roadmapand AEC Plans.

6. Kto12 Basic EducationProgram
The developmentof Kto12Program has beenmade possible bythe collaborative effortsof membersof
the SteeringCommittee whichiscomposedof DepED,CHED,TESDA and otherstakeholders. These
include othergovernmentagencies,private sector,civilsocietyorganizations,associationsof publicand
private schools,Senate,House of Representatives,PTAs,teachersorganizations,studentorganizations
and otherindividualswhoare committed toimprovingthe qualityof Philippine education.
Enhancingthe qualityof basiceducationinthe Philippinesisurgentandcritical.
Educationoutcomesintermsof participation,completionandachievementratesattesttothisurgent
need.
The poor qualityof basiceducationisreflectedinthe low achievementscoresof Filipinostudentsinthe
National AchievementTestandinternational testslike TIMSS.
One reasonbehindthisisthatstudentsdonot getadequate instructionaltime ortime ontask.Thisis
partlydue to the congestedcurriculum.The current10-yearbasiceducationcurriculumisdesignedto
be taught in12 years.
Thishas beenaffirmedinthe studyconductedbySEAMEO-Innotechwhere itnotedthatPhilippinebasic
educationiscongestedcomparedtothe curriculumof Brunei Darussalam, MalaysiaandSingapore.
Specifically,itstatedthatelementaryeducationiscongestedespeciallyinMathematics,Languagesand
Sciences.
Our highschool graduatesare not adequatelypreparedforthe worldof work.Most of the basic
educationgraduatesare tooyoungto legallyenterthe laborforce (below 18).Thisimpliesthatthose
whowill notgo to college wouldeitherbe unemployedorbe vulnerabletoexploitative laborpractices.
Those whomay be interestedtosetupbusinessescannotlegallyenterintocontracts.
Our highschool graduatesare not adequatelypreparedtopursue highereducation.Theystill have to
undergoremedial andhighschool level classesincollegesanduniversities.
The 10-year basic educationcycle hindersthe recognitionof Filipinoprofessionalsabroad.The
WashingtonAccordprescribes12-yearsof basiceducationasan entryto recognitionof engineering
professionals.The BolognaProcessalsorequires12yearsof educationforuniversityadmissionand
practice of professioninEuropeancountries.

7. The Philippinesisthe onlycountryinAsiaandamongthe three remainingcountriesinthe worldthat
has a 10-year basiceducationcycle (Table 1).
Table 1. Comparative Dataon Duration of Basicand Pre-UniversityEducationinAsia
Thus,the Departmentof Educationincollaborationwithvariousgovernmentandnon-government
stakeholdershasdevelopedthe Kto12 Programwhichaimsto improve basiceducationinthe
Philippines.
The Kto12 basiceducationprogramseekstoenhance the qualityof basiceducation
Kto12 meansKindergartenandthe 12 yearsof elementaryandsecondaryeducation.Kindergarten
referstothe 5-yearoldcohort whoundergoesastandardizedKindercurriculum.Elementaryeducation
referstoprimaryschoolingthatinvolves6yearsof education(Grades1-6) while secondaryeducation
referstofour yearsof juniorhighschool (Grades7-10 or HS Year 1-4) and twoyearsof seniorhigh
school (Grades11-12 or HS Year 5-6).
Qualitybasiceducationisaright of everyFilipino,therefore thisisprovidedbygovernmentforfree in
publicschools.Those whogothroughthe 12-year program will getanelementarydiploma(6years),a
juniorhighschool diploma(4years),anda seniorhighschool diploma(2years).A full 12 yearsof basic
educationwill eventuallybe requiredforentryintotertiarylevel education(enteringfreshmenbySY
2018-2019 or sevenyearsfromnow).
The implementationof the Kto12 programwill be phased(Figure 1). Universal kindergartenwas
offeredstartingSY2011-2012. By SY 2012-2013, the new curriculumwill be offeredtoincomingGrade 1
as well asto incomingjuniorhighschool students(Grade 7or HS Year 1). The targetof DepED isto put
inplace the necessaryinfrastructureandotherarrangementsneededtoprovideSeniorHighSchool
(SHS) educationbySY 2016-2017.
Figure 1. Schematicimplementationplanof Kto12
The societal andindividual benefitsof Kto12program outweighsitscosts
To IndividualsandFamilies

8. An enhancedcurriculumwill decongestacademicworkload,givingstudentsmore time tomaster
competenciesandforco-curricularactivitiesandcommunityinvolvement,thus,allowingforamore
holisticdevelopment.
Graduateswill possesscompetenciesandskillsrelevanttothe jobmarket.Theywill attainCertificateof
Proficiency, Certificate of CompetencyorNational Certificationintheirareasof specialization.
Graduateswill be betterpreparedforhighereducation.
Kto12 educationisaffordable.The costtohouseholdsof the additional twoyearsinhighschool will be
lowercomparedtoa two yearcollege education
The potential annual earningsof aKto12 graduate will be highercomparedtothe earningsof a 10-year
highschool graduate.
Graduateswill nowbe recognizedabroad.
For the Societyandthe Economy
Kto12 will contribute toeconomicgrowth.Severalstudieshave shownthatimprovementsinthe quality
of educationwillincrease GDPgrowthbyas muchas 2%.
Kto12 will facilitate mutualrecognitionof Filipinograduatesandprofessionalsinothercountries.
A bettereducatedsocietyprovidesasoundfoundationforlong-termsocio-economicdevelopment.
The Kto12 Curriculumwill produce holisticallydevelopedlearnerswith21stcenturyskills
The Kto12 curriculumisdesignedtodevelopalearnerwhopossessahealthymindandbody;hasa solid
moral and spiritual grounding;hasessentialknowledge andskillsforlifelonglearningandself-
actualization;engagesincritical thinkingandcreative problemsolving;contributestothe development
of a progressive,just,andhumane society;isproudtobe a Filipino;andappreciatesthe beautyaround
him/herandcaresfor the environmentforasustainable future.
The Kto12 curriculumwill be seamlessandcontinuous,decongestedandenriched,research-basedand
learnercentered.Itwill alsoputanemphasisonthe role of cocurricularactivitiesandcommunity
involvementinmaximizinglearning.
Kindergartenwill be integratedintothe basiceducationsystem, whichisaboldsteptowardmakingall
Grade 1 studentsa reader.
Seniorhighschool will be inalignmentwiththe 21stcenturyskillsandcollege readinessstandardsof
CHED. The curriculumwill focusonthe core subjects,namely, Math,Science andEnglishwithelectives
that are sensitive andresponsivetothe learners'interestandlocal industryneeds.

9. Graduateswill be accreditedintheirareasof specializationswhichinclude Academics,Technical-
Vocational,andSportsandArts.
Educationagencieswill ensure asmoothtransitiontothe Kto12 program
DepED,CHED, and TESDA are craftinga strategyto ensure the smoothtransitionfromthe existing10
yeareducationcycle tothe Kto12 basiceducationcycle.Thiswill coveraspectssuchasphysical
infrastructure,manpower,organizational,andstructural changes.
Publicprivate partnershipswithhighereducationinstitutions(HEIs) andprivate schoolsare being
exploredtomanage the SY2016-2018 periodwhereinthere will be low enrollmentforHEIs.
Modelingforseniorhighschool will alsobe implementedinselectedschoolstosimulatethe transition
processand provide concrete dataforthe transitionplan.
The modelingactivitywill alsogenerate insightsonthe potential neededchangesinthe organizational
structure of DepEDas well otheraffectedagencieslike CHEDandTESDA
Comparative Dataon Durationof Basic and Pre-UniversityEducationinAsia

10. Schematicimplementationplanof Kto12
ss

11. GUIDING PRINCIPLES
39 The enhancementof the curriculumisthe central focusof the Enhanced
K+12 Basic EducationProgram.The curriculumenhancementwill be designed
inline withthe desiredcompetenciesandskillsof aK+12 graduate.The
Departmentof Educationwill constitutea bodyto review the currentbasic
educationcurriculumanddetail the implementationplan.
40 The developmentof tracksbasedondifferentcompetenciesand/orstudent
interestwill be anintegral componentof the program.Basiceducation
program shoulddeveloptracksbasedoncompetenciestomeetthe country’s
variedhumancapital requirements,andtoprepare studentsforproductive

12. endeavour.The SHScurriculumwill offerareasof specializationorelectives.
41 As part of the biggerbasiceducationreform,the enhancementof the basic
educationcurriculumisbeingundertakenhandinhandwiththe vigorous
effortstoensure adequacyof inputs.Expandingthe educationprogram
(additional yearsof schooling) will be pursuedmindful of the needtoaddressthe
inputshortages – teachers,classrooms,desks,waterandsanitation,andquality
textbooks.DepEdalreadyincludedaprovisionforsubstantialphysical
requirementsfor2011 budget,andislookingtointroduce insubsequentyearsa
budgetthatwill constitute asignificantincrease notjustinnominal termsbutalso
inreal terms.
42 Change istwo-fold:curriculumenhancementandtransitionmanagement.
The intentionof K+12 is notmerelytoadd twoyearsof schoolingbutmore
importantly,toenhance the basiceducationcurriculum.DepEdispreparinga
carefullysequencedimplementationplantoensure smoothtransitionwiththe
leastdisruption.
43 An openandconsultative processwill be adoptedinthe promotionof the
EnhancedK+12 Basic EducationProgram. Inaccordance withthe “Tao ang
Boss” principle,anopenandconsultative processwill be adoptedtoensure the
successful developmentandimplementationof the K+12 program.DiscussionPaper
As of 05 October2010
11
ACTION STEPS
44 Creationof a Task Force.To jumpstartthe program, a Task Force will be
formedtorefine anddetail the K+12 implementationmodel.The TaskForce will
be chairedby DepEd.

13. 45 StakeholderConsultations.RegionalConsultationsleadingtoaNational
SummitonEnhancedBasic Educationwill be conductedtosolicitinputsand
feedbackonthe proposedmodel.Consultationswillcoverall stakeholders
(PTAs,publicandprivate elementaryandhighschools,legislators,government
agencies,businesssector,educationexperts,teacherassociations,studentsand
educationassociations) andall regions.The nationwide consultationwillstartin
October2010 and the EducationSummitwill be heldinthe firstquarterof 2011.
46 Financial Study.Inparallel,astudywill be undertakentodetermine the financial
implications(government,impliedcoststohouseholdsandprivate education) and
the optionsforfinancingof the K+12 BasicEducationmodel thatwill be adopted.3
The financial studywill alsolookintothe GASTPEprovisionto accommodate
seniorhighschool studentsinprivate HEIsduringthe transitionyearsandto
reviewgovernmentsupporttoeducationbeyondGASTPE.
47 CurriculumReview andEnhancement.Thiswill startwiththe development,
validation,andnationwideimplementationof the EnhancedBasicEducation
CurriculumforGrade I andHS I bySY 2011-2012. SeniorHighSchool
curriculumshall be developedandvalidated,alongwiththe developmentof
appropriate learningresources.
48 TeacherTraining.The trainingof Grade I and HS I teachersusingthe Enhanced
Basic EducationCurriculumwill startinSY2011-2012. The trainingof Grade 2 to
12 teacherswill be implementedinsubsequentyears.
49 Legislation.DepEdwill workforthe passage of all necessaryandrelated
legislationsonthe K+12 Basic Educationprogram.
50 K+12 Information,EducationandCommunication.Allstakeholdersshall be

14. consulted.A massive publicinformationcampaignbasedonthe 12-yeardesign
model andimplementationschemewillbe implemented.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 The 2010 educationbudgetis11.35% of national budgetandonly2.21% of GDP (benchmarkis6% of
GDP).
Recommendations
take advantage of
excessfacultyexpertise whowillbe displaceddue torealignmentand/orphasingoutof some courses
and (b) respondtothe career pathwaysof SHS graduates.
mandate of concernedSUC that are responsivetothe requirementof Kto12 andsensitive tothe
ustrysectortodetermineanddevelop
market-responsive curricularprograms.
15. Recommendations retooling/capabilityenhancementprogramto
supportnewcurricularprogramsand to enable excessfacultyorthose withcompetencygap tohandle K
to 12 courses.
Researchand
rams (if qualified)
16. Recommendations
to
loss,SUCs mayconsiderthe following:
materialsdevelopment,continuingeducation,andlife-
miscellaneousfees.
17. Recommendations dotheragencies/sourcestosupport:
boratory

15. If sustained,the recentheadwayinpursuing
educational reform,the momentumfor
economicgrowth,improvedstandinginglobal
competitivenessandsubstantialincreasein
governmentsupporttoeducationbode well for
qualityPhilippine educationtohappen.
To manage the initial nationwide implementationof SeniorHighSchool andmitigate the possible multi-
yearlowenrolmentforcolleges,universities,andTechnical-VocationalInstitutions(TVIs)startingSY
2016-2017, DepEdshall offera financingscheme withthemtoutilizeexistingfacilitiesalongwith
teachingandnon-teachingstaff.Thisensuresthatduringthe transitionperiod,the reductionin
enrollmentinthese colleges,universities,andTVIsmaybe offset.