K-12 substitute measure pass muster in House

The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2012 of the K-to-12 bill, which would add two more years to basic education cycle has hurdled the House Basic Education panel on Wednesday.

Via an overwhelming vote of 25 to two, the House Committee on Basic Education voted for the approval of the still unnumbered Substitute Bill to the K to12 measure that adds two more years to the 10-year basic education by dividing secondary education to two phases, namely: junior high school (four years) and senior high school (two years).

“To attain an internationally competitive basic education system, the state should give every student an opportunity to receive quality education based on an enhanced and relevant curriculum that is internationally recognized and comparable,” the Substitute Bill on the measure pointed.

“This would change public perception that secondary education is just a preparation for college but rather should allow one to take advantage of the opportunities for gainful career or employment/self employment in a rapidly changing and increasing global environment,” it added.

Sections 8, 9 and 10 of the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2012 provides for the mechanisms of hiring teachers for the ambitious program.

Section 8, proposed by the Department of Science and Technology and Rep. Angelo Palmones of Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan (Agham) party-list allows the state to hire graduates of Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Music and other degree courses with shortages in Qualified License Examination for Teachers (LET) applicants to teach in their specialized subjects in the elementary and secondary education provided that they pass the LET within five years after their date of hiring.

The Section 9 proposed by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), on the other hand, provides that the Department of Education (DepEd) and private institutions may hire graduates of technical-vocational courses to teach in their specialized subjects in the secondary education, provided that these graduates possess the necessary certification issued by Tesda and that they undergo appropriate in-service trainings to be administered by the DepEd.

Last but not the least, Section 10 of the measure, which was proposed by the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea) states that the faculty of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will be allowed to teach general education subjects in the secondary education, provided that the faculty must be a holder of relevant Masters Degree and they pass the licensure exam for teachers within five years after their date of hiring.

The Section 14 of the measure, also proposed by the Cocopea, provides that the faculty members of HEIs are allowed to teach students of secondary education under Section 10 hereof will be given priority in hiring for the duration of the transition period. For this purpose, the transition period will be reckoned from the date of the effectivity of this Act until the end of the School Year 2017 to 2018.

Reps. Rosenda Ann Ocampo of Manila, Jane Castro of Capiz province, Jorge Banal of Quezon City, Ma. Victoria Alvarado of Bulacan, Maximo Dalog of Mountain Province, Freddie Tinga of Taguig City, Benjamin Asilo of Manila, Winston Castelo of Quezon City, Rogelio Espina of Biliran town, Ma. Carmen Zamora of Compostela Valley, Pangalian Balindong of Lanao del Sur province, Fernando Gonzales of Albay province, Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar province, Eulogio Magsaysay of Alliance of Volunteer Educators party-list, Jaye Lacson-Noel of Malabon City, Pryde Henry Teves of Negros Oriental province, Romeo Jalosjos Jr. of Zamboanga, Sibugay province, Nicanor Briones of Agap Party-list, Monique Lagdameo of Makati City, Rodel Batocabe of Ako Bicol Party-list, Mariano Piamonte of A-Teacher, Florencio Noel of An Waray Party-list and Magi Gunigundo of Valenzuela City.

Only Party-list Reps. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela and Raymond Palatino of Kabataan. Ilagan cited that the implementation of the K-to-12 program needs P334 billion, a far cry from the P292 billion allocated under the proposed P2.006 trillion budget for 2013.

While admitting that there are budget constraints in implementing the measure, the authors of the measure, which include Reps. Palmones of Agham Party-list and Mel Senen Sarmiento of Western Samar, argued that the reforms that the K-to-12 measure want to institute cannot be held by funding concerns.

“We should not be constrained by budget limitations in starting the K-to-12 program. Funding will always be confronted with shortages, but we can use the PDAF of lawmakers to augment the shortage of K to 12 fund,” Palmones said, referring to the House members Priority Development Assistance Fund.

“We still have 2014, 2015, prior to 2016 to 2017. We have enough time to prepare,” Sarmiento added in a separate text message.

Evardone, for his part, cited that Ilagan’s concern is for the Executive, not the legislative body, to address.

“While I respect her concerns, I think that we cannot address that in Congress since we are the policy making body of the government. The issues she raised can be addressed by the executive. This bill will push the executive to allocate more funds and invest heavily in education to meet the objectives of K to 12 program,” Evardone, who voted for the approval of the measure in the Committee, said. –Llanesca T. Panti Reporter, Manila Times