Senior High School program: Its

importance
and impact to the Philippine
economy

By El Mainit dela Cruz

Principal 8, Lugait Senior High University

THE implementation of the K12 curriculum is the latest attempt of

the government to reform the Philippine educational system. And
considering the theory that in every change, there is always a
resistance, the implementation K12 curriculum last year was met
with some oppositions and negative reactions. These adverse
reactions came from different sectors of society, including even
from the academe.

The enabling law of the K12 curriculum is Republic Act

10533, which is commonly known as Enhanced Basic Education
Act of 2013. And because of this law, the government through
the Department of Education has to implement the program.

What makes the law controversial and seems to be

unwelcome particularly to the parents is that it provides for two
additional years in the secondary education, which is known as
senior high school. Parents argued that they would be spending
more money for the education of their children.

But what the parents failed to appreciate in the K12

curriculum is that senior high school students would be taught
about knowledge and technologies in that after completing the
additional two years in the senior high school, they would now be
equipped with skills and knowledge that is responsive to the
needs of the job market and industries. By acquiring these skills
and knowledge, senior high school completers will become
globally competitive.

Let us be aware that being globally competitive does not

mean we will export our senior high school completers abroad.
Instead, it means that young Filipinos have the skills that can set
the difference, enable sustained investments and help an
emerging country like the Philippines become more competitive.

The No. 1 factor to become a financial center is to have a

large pool of skilled people. If you havent got skilled people, the
jobs wont come, and while you can compete in terms of the cost
[of labor] alone for a period, unless you can add value to the
skills, those jobs will eventually move along like a commodity,
said Simon Culhane, chief executive of the London-based
Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI).

Senior high school completers will eventually fill in the needs

of the job market for skilled workers. And when they land in jobs,
then it can really have a great impact to our economy.

So instead of criticizing the K12 curriculum, it is my hope

that Filipinos will rally behind this new program of the Philippine
educational system.