Persuasive Essay

K-12…. Is it a help or a waste?

by: Mary Jane G. Funa

One of the hot issues being discussed today with regards to education is the implementation of the K-12 program. The government primarily implements it in pre-school but not totally effected in high school. This program is used in United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. K-12 means a shortening of Kindergarten (K) for 4-6 years old through 12 grades for 16-19 years old. To explain further, those who go through the 12 years cycle will get an elementary diploma (6 years), a junior high school diploma (4 years) and a senior high school diploma (2 years). When the government disseminated the plan, many of us reacted and bring out their opinions opposing to this especially the parents who will be the first one that will be affected. Will k-12 was really a help for us to have a better society? Or it is just a waste of time and money for the students?

One of the writers wrote his opinion about k-12. According to him, when he was in high school some of the subjects that he was taken was not being used in reality. For example, the G-clef and staff in Music, he never applies it in his work but he had a hard time studying about it just to pass in high school. One of his subjects in College (Rizal) has never been beneficial in his everyday living. So he suggested scrapping this program and improving what is existing in our system. He added that in this way, the government can help the parents to save money. He is one of the examples of people opposing the plan of the government in education. “Hay naku! Dagdag gastos na naman. Pinatatagal lang nila ang pag-aaral ng mga bata. Sa halip na makapagtrabaho na sila at makatulong sa kanilang pamilya ay ilalaan pa nila sa pag-aaral.”  This is one reason of the parent why she is opposing of it. It is just an additional year for the students. And it is just an additional expense in their part. I understand the side of the parent. For them, additional year will be an additional expense for them because they will provide allowances, projects, and other needs of the school. This will be a burden to them.

Based on the survey of Official Poverty Statistics Report, there are 4.7 M families are to be considered as poor. Poor families refer to those who cannot provide their basic necessities like food, shelter and especially education. In addition to this report, out of 10 students who enrolled in elementary, 7 of them will graduate in grade 6 and only 4 will finish in high school. Then only 2 will graduate in college. What will happen to the rest who do not even graduated in high school or even college? The tendency is they will look for a job to help their families. The problem is, they are not qualifying for the employment having the better earnings because they are not graduate or shall we say fully equipped. So, most of them will accept the low-income job such as vendor, nanny, porter, construction worker and so on just to help their families.

As we looked it up on a broader aspect, the government is providing us a permanent solution. I say that it is a permanent solution because we will benefit of it especially the poor. Those poor families who cannot send their children in a 4-year course have the chance to create their own business or even employed in a much better job. In what way? As we understand deeply the K-12, the 2 additional years will be allotting for enhancing the skills and competencies relevant to the job market such as cooking, electronics, fisheries, agriculture, business and entrepreneurship. The students will choose the subject that they would like to do. It depends on their passion. In these additional years, it is not more on theory but more on application and preparation for the reality. After the 2-year of senior high school, it is now the decision of the students if they will pursue it into a 4-year course or not. If the students do not have the capacity to do it, still they can have a better work. They already have the choice. They have this courage that they can do it because they are equipped with it. The 2 year of senior high school mold them. In this way, the government is not only uplifting the income of Filipino but also our dignity to other nations.

K-12 is not an additional year but minus 2 years for those families who cannot afford a college education but still wishes to have their children find a good paying job. They will not pay for 2 years of basic education that will give them an employable child. In effect we are saving parents 2 years of expenses. This is not plus 2 years after graduation but minus 2 years before work. Aside from this, this program will enhance the students’ attitude that can be competitive globally.

This program is new to our system. There is nothing wrong in trying. Maybe we need to try to accept changes. These changes can bring us some improvements. Improvements for all not for some. After all, what our government is trying to find is the solution to the problem that will not just enhance our education system but to alleviate the economic stability.