Initially, he had been
skeptical about it given criticisms from some sectors. Recently, he had asked
for time to think about whether or not he would adopt the educational program.
“I said I was against it
early on when it was being implemented. But some of the bright guys in DepEd
(Department of Education) came to see me here in Davao and explained to me how
we are lagging behind our neighbors,” Duterte said in a press briefing.
The K to 12 program
stems from the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 signed into law by
President Benigno Aquino III.
It aims to provide
Filipino students with a 12-year education cycle after kindergarten. 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.
K to 12 is supposed to
be free for public school students although there are other indirect costs.
Some sectors are complaining of its impact on poor families and employment of
teachers.
Duterte said that K to
12 is needed in order to help Filipino students be at par with students of
other nationalities.
“Karamihan dito, mga Chinese bright sa Math, ang mga Pilipino
bright sa bolahan(Mostly, Chinese are bright in Math. Filipinos are bright in
nonsense),” Duterte half jested.
The Supreme Court had
earlier denied the petition of several groups asking to temporarily
stop the government's K to 12 program. – Rappler.com
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