02-07-2025
Palace clarifies: Marcos not against K-12 program
Malacañang on Wednesday clarified that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is not against the K-12 program.
To recall, Marcos previously said that he is frustrated with the implementation of the Senior High School Curriculum, noting that the system has " "no advantage."
''Gusto po nating liwanagin ito. Hindi po niya sinasabi na tutol siya sa K-12. Ang sinabi lang po niya ay hindi naging epektibo agad dahil hindi nai-prepare ang mga ahensiya para dito,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing.
(We want to clarify this. He's not saying he's against K-12. He's just saying it wasn't effective right away because the agencies weren't prepared for it.)
Castro said that under Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the system is being improved.
''At ngayon po sa pamamagitan din po ni Secretary Angara, ini-improve po ito pero ayon po sa ating Pangulo, hangga't nandiyan po ang batas para sa K-12 ito po ay susuportahan at palalawigin at pag-iibayuhin nang maayos para sa ating mga estudyante,'' she said.
(And now, through Secretary Angara, it is being improved, but according to our President, as long as the law for K-12 exists, it will be supported, expanded, and improved properly for our students.)
In August 2024, Marcos directed the rationalization of the SHS curriculum as he wanted to ensure that SHS graduates could acquire high-quality jobs.
Angara had acknowledged the lapses in the implementation of the SHS was one of the authors of Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, which institutionalized the government's K to 12 program.
The law restructured the basic education in the country by requiring Filipino students to undergo one year in kindergarten, six years in primary school, four years in junior high school, and two years in senior high school. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
