Paradigm shift: The K-12 policy will have wide-ranging effects

Among the policies pursued by the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, the introduction of the K-12 programme is perhaps the most ambitious and controversial. It aims to provide universal kindergarten education to some 2.4m five-year-olds, while also adding two extra years of schooling at the high school level, bringing the Philippines in line with international standards. Detractors argue that, since resources are already spread so thin, quality, not quantity, should be the focus.

STARTING EARLY: The K-12 programme aims to address several negative outcomes of the current system. A late starting age means some children only begin learning English at age six, which hampers their learning of core subjects taught in English, such as maths and science. Tertiary providers claim they currently spend two of higher education’s four years teaching skills the secondary system should provide. Should this responsibility be removed, more time could be spent on specialisations, which would increase the skills of graduates. Filipinos typically graduate at the age of 19 or 20, among the youngest in the world.

The priority for the Department of Education is kindergarten provision. The target is to reach universal coverage of 2.4m five-year-olds by 2012. In 2011 public enrolment increased to 1.57m, a 33% increase on 2010, with a further 400,000 children to be targeted through an eight-week summer curriculum in 2012. Combined with current levels of attendance at private schools (around 500,000), this should meet the target.

A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES: While there is almost universal support for the programme’s aims, critics point to existing resource and quality issues and argue these should be prioritised over extending coverage. Certainly, implementation will not be easy. Facilities are simply not available, with many kindergarten classes conducted on playgrounds or in makeshift accommodation. Most teachers – around 25,868 – are volunteers compared to just 2807 trained staff. The issue is largely one of funding. Kindergarten teachers earn a salary of P17,099 ($388) per month, while volunteers receive a stipend of P3000 ($68). Many volunteers, often outof-work nurses, teach both morning and afternoon classes to double their earnings.

While the programme’s kindergarten component is under way, the government has made less progress with moves to add years 11 and 12 to high school provision. No clear plan has been developed, nor have any costs been calculated, although a deadline for implementation (2016) has been set. The consequences of this change are wide-ranging, requiring huge additional resources, and it is not clear where the money will be found. Supporting children for two additional years will also put greater financial pressure on families.

PRIVATE IMPACT: Private universities are also in danger of being affected. While the public sector handles 87% of elementary and high school students, private universities provide about 80% of tertiary education. If secondary schooling is extended, these institutions will have no fresh intake for two years, leading to a serious reduction in revenue. Private schools offering both secondary and higher education will be less affected, but parents will have to pay fees for another two years.

A transition period is likely, with private universities receiving income by hiring out facilities to the government, which will help alleviate time and cost pressures. Vincent K Fabella, the president of Jose Rizal University in Mandaluyong City, thinks the change will have broader implications and present new opportunities for higher education providers. “An extra two years puts additional financial pressure on families and means a higher graduation age,” he said. “We think students may think about shorter two-year courses, with more interest in vocational qualifications, encouraging universities to work harder to provide relevant courses.”

As ambitious as it is controversial, the government’s K-12 programme is in the process of reshaping education in the Philippines. With a forward-thinking and adaptable approach, private institutions are ideally placed to support the endeavour and benefit from the new opportunities presented by extended schooling.