K+12: A Challenge

teaching is the most touching experience...hope to see you all fulfilled!

           Education is not supposed to be a luxury. Neither, it is an ornament nor just a symbol of one’s status in life; education, rather, is a necessary facet for development. In the realm of Philippine Educational System, there is a challenge now among the teachers, learners and even different institutions to meet to the demands of the fast changing world. This involves the implementation of the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program.  Basically, it includes the Universal Kindergarten, 6 years of elementary, 4 years of junior high school with an additional 2 years for senior high school.

            With the vision and fundamental goals and objectives of the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program, it signifies the change in curriculum. Since this program aims to decongest and enhance the basic education curriculum, it shows that we can expect better and quality education for all if properly implemented. Additionally, this gives the students more time to master competencies and skills as well as the time for more learning experiences and opportunities beyond the classroom, thus allowing them for more holistic development. The program tries to offer minus 2 instead of plus 2 years for those families who cannot afford a college education but still wish to have their children find a good paying job. In today’s competition in the world of work, you need to win the race with your college diploma, if none, you will be just the least priority. Most parents spend for at least 4 years of college to have a child who has the most possibility of employment. In this model of educational system, parents will not pay for 2 years of basic education that will give them an employable child. In effect, the program is saving parents 2 years of college expenses. The plan is not “Plus 2 years before graduation” but “Minus 2 years before work. These two years in the program will be utilized in the preparation of the individual tasks to be mastered upon for future advantage in the world of work.

            Consequently, a person who will undergo in this program will end up being more emotionally mature and thus, ready to face the world of work competently. This is also due to the enhanced curriculum that provides relevant context for the individual to learn and be attuned with the changing needs of times. Thus, basic education will ensure sufficient mastery of core subjects to its graduates such that graduates may plan or opt to pursue higher education if they choose to. 

            Moreover, the graduates can now compete in the world market because of the standardized and enhanced curriculum. The recognition of such can boost their sense of self as being recognized professionals in other countries. Hence, we can say that basic education is not just preparation for college life but preparation for working life, for job employment, for future career. In addition to that, a better educated society provides and brings a sound foundation for long-term socio-economic development and will experience accelerated growth in the long run.

            This program is proposed to start in the school year 2012-2013 for grade 1 and first year high school students. The full implementation of the program will be on the school year 2018-2019.

            With these promising visions and goals of the new program, does it really provide the solutions for the many problems that we need to address in the present? What kind of work will possibly be waiting for the K+12 graduates?  Could the government cater enough jobs for them? We know the very fact that a great number of college graduates even are still unemployed. How much more for the high school graduates? We might be overwhelmed with its idealism; however, we might forget what would be the other implications of this program aside from the impact to Higher Educational Institutions.

            To contextualize this issue, the seminary formation remains silent on this matter. However, the possible effect of this new program is never a vintage issue to hide on. Church leaders also take into consideration the threat it brings to our seminary formation and even to the church as a whole. Looking at the status quo, it caters us myriad of differences, social upheavals, changing norms and spiritual trends that are prevalent in our society. These may threaten our church and even our faith. The competition for survival is already at hand. Unfortunately, we are somehow entering into an era of no religion wherein material possession is given much emphasis for survival. These concerns lessen the number of the faithful to live the life of religious or for the priesthood. The church is craving for more priests. That is why, the seminary formators exert their best effort to invite young men to discern for their vocation by submitting their life to the formation. Now, here comes another challenge, the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program. What would be its implication to the seminary formation? By the year 2016 and 2017, there will be no high school graduates, because at that time, the two years extension (senior high school) will be implemented. More or less, the decrease in population of the seminarians to undergo formation is expected and there will be no incoming freshmen. This would be a hard time to the formators and vocation promoters to sustain and nourish the seed of religious vocation for the next generation. Aside from that, six years of honing skills and competencies of the students in high school will be enough for good paying job. So, students may refuse to seize further study or even to go through in the formation for they are already secured of their employment. Furthermore, K+12 graduates may prefer employment rather than discernment for it may be that formation will be less attractive. If they will already enjoy their freedom and independence in the world of work, there will be refusal for discernment wherein structured life in the formation is somehow a wage to take. Moreover, the prevalence of materialistic outlook in life will dominate and prevail in the minds of K+12 graduates for they have given high regard on skills for job opportunities and competencies needed in the competition in the world of work. With this instance, the spiritual growth of the graduates might be disregarded and put aside under materialism. Indeed, the impending effects of the K+12 program on the seminarians’ formation, our future priests, on our church and collectively our faith is quite enormous that it needs to be considered before a decision will be imposed.

            As Christians, this might be a cause for alarm. This will serve as a substantial premonition for us to prepare for more challenges that we are going to encounter in our journey as a church, as people of God. This is a challenge to all of us now to stand firm in our faith despite the leaps and bounds and storms that will stumble us in our way towards Him. The virtue of hope and faith will be our helmet and shield to fight in this battle against materialism.

            Nevertheless, despite these negative implications to the seminary formation, it is also good to reflect, what kind of seminarians the seminary will be having by the year 2018? With the competencies they have learned, it connotes mastery of basic education and expertise of some vocational skills. It would be an advantage to the seminarians to have such and to the seminary as well not only to the formation but even to their future ministry. Most probably, with this predicament of the new educational system, as of now the seminary has no option but to follow the directives of the authority. Further, the seminary is also preparing for this call of change. This would be a challenge now to the formators and vocation promoters to have rigid promotion to attract more young men to enter seminary. Consequently, it is indispensable to the formators to adapt the new strategies and approaches to be used in the seminary paradigm in response to or aligned to the needs of the K+12 graduates. In constant prayer and vehement spirit, let us ask God to strengthen our faith in facing another chapter of adventure of the seminary that she continues to be in itinerant as we go hand in hand in living His Word.