Republic of the Philippines

University of Rizal System

Pililla, Rizal

GRADUATE SCHOOL
Name: Reniel Domingo
Professor Liezel Francisco
Reading material #2
When is the best time for kids to attend kindergarten?

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Stereotyping occurs when age for kindergarten matters. Recently, my cousin and I had

this conversation on our way home that she went to the Division office to file and submit

my niece’s credentials that her daughter is qualified to take kindergarten because she

thinks and upon recommendation of experts that the kid is ready for schooling.

Accordingly, the DepEd decline the application accordingly because the kid is below age.

As per DO No. 47 (Enrollment Procedures), the “age qualification for kindergarten

learners in public schools should be five (5) years old by June 1 of every school year”

while those who are eligible for Grade 1 are “children who are six years old and above.

There are no fixed rules for when a child needs to go to a kindergarten, but the majority

will when the child turns 5 years old. The child will usually attend kindergarten for two

years, before proceeding to primary school at age 7.

By this Department Order, the DepEd follows strictly this rule and clients have nothing to

do with this. Issues are rampant and extensive that parents of kindergarten learners filed

petitions to the Deped for the inclusion of learners below age to accept and consider. But

in any case including my cousin’s case the DepEd declined their application.

I remember decades ago, kindergarten doesn’t really matter. I have five siblings, 2 are

professionals and the other are undergraduate, but considering this, my mother decided

to skip that kindergarten stage for she thinks that it has no relevance and bearing, so all

of us went to Grade 1.

Based on empiricism and as the saying goes “age doesn’t really matter” it is just a number

of knowing your years of existence. it doesn’t have bearing at all in the future.

Considering the time of the full implementation of K-12 in the Philippine educational

setting says that

The first years of life are important because what happens in early childhood can matter

in a lifetime.”(Harvard, 2009)The Department of Education (DepEd) having been a strong

advocate of early childhood education has implemented various programs for

preschoolers for decades now. The Department further strengthens this through the

inclusion of kindergarten in the K to 12 basic education curriculum in the country. DepEd

believes Kindergarten is a transition stage between informal literacy and formal literacy

(grade 1-12). This is the period of greatest growth and development, when the brain

develops most rapidly, almost at its fullest. It is a period when walking, talking, self-

esteem, vision of the world and moral foundations are established. Children at this stage

should be immersed with activities, games, and plays to naturally acquire the

skills/competencies appropriate for their holistic development as emergent literates and

be ready for formal school.

According to National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

kindergarten is a critical year where children’s experiences nurture positive approaches

to learning and prepare children for the more rigorous academic expectations of the

primary grades (NAEYC, 2009).

Republic ACT 10157 also known as the Kindergarten Education Act which was signed

into law by President Benigno Aquino III on Jan. 20 makes kindergarten “the first stage

of compulsory and mandatory formal education.” For public schools, the kindergarten

education program will be free of tuition and other school fees. With the Kindergarten

Education Act, the kindergarten education program will be comprised of one year of

preschool education for children aged five and above. The act also pushes for the

conceptualization and development of a regular training program for kindergarten

teachers to ensure that teaching styles, methodologies and approaches are always in line

with modern trends in and issues on education.

Research has come to the inclusion and implementation of Kindergarten as mandatory

before primary school. I believe in our case as long as the parents determine that their

son/daughter is ready for schooling and the kids agreed to send to school, I think that is

the perfect time.