1. Russ Lomibao,MAEd
MANILA, Philippines – Last May 15 2013, President Benigno Aquino III signed the
Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 into law.
As classes start on June 3 for public schools and June 10 for private, here are 10
things you need to know about the K to 12 program.

2. Fact:
The
Philippines
is the last
country in
Asia, and
one of only 3
countries
(Angola and
Djibouti)
worldwide,
with a 10-
year pre-
university
cycle.

3. The implementation of the Universal
Kindergarten began in SY 2011–2012.
The enhanced
curriculum for Grade
1 and Grade 7 (1st
Year Junior High
School) was rolled out
in SY 2012–2013, and
will be progressively
introduced in the other
grade levels in
succeeding school
years.
Grade 11 will be
introduced in SY
2016–2017 and Grade
12 in SY 2017–2018.
The 1st batch of high
school students to go
through K to 12 will
graduate in March
2018.

4. Kindergarten to Grade 12 is offered for free in public schools. There are additional
indirect costs, but government agencies are collaborating to provide programs that will
enable everyone access to quality education, especially those with lesser means. DepEd
is also developing other cost-sharing arrangements (ex. Expansion of Education Service
Contracting).

5. K to 12 graduates will be ready to be employed in various industries.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro earlier said that "the K to 12 program would
like to ensure that even if they don't choose to go to college, they finish
studying what is basic."

6. As per Republic Act no. 10157 or the Kindergarten Education Act,
Kindergarten has become part of the education system and a pre-requisite for
admission to Grade 1. Public schools will continue to admit children who have
not taken Kindergarten into Grade 1 until SY 2013-2014.

7. After finishing a Technical Vocational-Livelihood in Grade 12, a student may obtain a
National Certificate Level II (NC II), provided he/she passes the competency-based
assessment of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
NC I and NC II improves employability of graduates in fields like Agriculture,
Electronics, and Trade.
Senior high school students can choose from 3 tracks: Academic, Sports and Arts, and
Technical-Vocational-Livelihood. After Grade 10, a student can obtain Certificates of
Competency (COC) or a National Certificate Level I (NC I).

8. In Kinder, mother tongue, or the common language in the
area or lingua franca, shall be used as the medium of
instruction.
In Grades 1-
3, the mother
tongue will be
used in
teaching all
subjects,
except in
teaching
Filipino and
English
subjects.
Starting
Grade 4,
Filipino and
English will
become the
languages for
instruction.

9. Starting SY 2016-2017, DepEd shall engage in partnerships with colleges,
universities, and Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVI) to use their existing
facilities and teaching staff to ensure that reduction in enrolment in these
colleges and universities will be offset during the transition period.

10. Private schools are to adhere to the minimum standards of the K to 12
curriculum. They should also follow the K to 12 progression, even if they
choose not to offer grades 11-12 (e.g. private junior high schools can remain
as such but their students will have to transfer for senior high school).

11. Resources from Rappler
Prepared by Ms.
Russ
A Joint Oversight Committee from the Senate and the House of
Representatives shall be formed to oversee, monitor, and evaluate
implementation.