Catholic educators: K to 12 curriculum could lead to layoffs

With the expected drop in enrollment starting in 2017 due to the government’s K-to-12 basic education curriculum, Catholic school leaders are concerned over the possibility of manpower displacement, even as they are searching for ways to cope with the effects of the new program.

“[Layoffs] are possible kasi mawawalan ng First and Second Year [levels],” Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) president Fr. Gregorio Bañaga said in a telephone interview with GMA News Online on Sunday. Bañaga is also president of Adamson University.

Earlier, Department of Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro, FSC, said colleges and universities can implement a senior high school program that will serve as the Grade 11 and Grade 12 or the two additional years of the students.

However, Bañaga said while CEAP is considering adopting the senior high program it will not be able to absorb all the affected professors.

“‘Yung mga professor kasi, mayroon silang specialized [field], at ‘yung sa [senior high school] program kasi, puro general subjects lang,” he said.

“Halimbawa na lang ‘yung mga mechanical engineers,” he said… “unless magturo sila ng Math.”

Asked how long the effects of the transition to the new curriculum will be felt, he said, “around 10 years.”

Bañaga said they are looking at other possibilities to retain professors in the universities and colleges.

“We can retrain professors to get TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) certification so they can teach grade 11-12,” he said. “We can also employ them to do research for the university.”

In an article posted Saturday on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines website, Bañaga said CEAP members may come up with a list of proposals to cope with the drop in the number of students, which by his estimate could go as high as 50 percent.

Bañaga said private school administrators are strategizing together on how to address the financial challenges that their schools will face given the expected decrease in enrollment starting 2017.

Under the government’s K-to-12 system, students can forgo going to college after undergoing two more years in senior high school.

Technical and vocational skills will be taught to students to help them land a job or engage in entrepreneurial endeavors after graduating from high school.

As a college degree will remain an option for selected students, freshman enrollment may generally decrease, with the drop more felt by private schools than state universities.

Still supporting K to 12

The CBCP article, however, said the CEAP’s 1,345 member schools nationwide are still supporting the shift from the previous 10-year basic education program to the new 12-year curriculum.

CEAP members in Luzon held a conference on K to 12 transition last January 21 and 22, while the Visayas leg of the conference was held Feb. 11 to 12 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel in Iloilo City.

The Mindanao leg was scheduled February 21 to 22 at the Ateneo de Davao University (Jacinto Campus).

CEAP said the conferences were organized to address critical issues of the coming K to 12 transition, including the labor and legal implications, and the senior high school (SHS) curriculum. — with Amanda Fernandez /LBG, GMA News