In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that the Cabinet cluster on education is currently addressing concerns before the K to 12 program is implemented in the academic year 2016-2017.
He urged all stakeholders to have a dialogue with the Cabinet cluster on education to discuss their concerns.
The Cabinet cluster on education is composed of the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (Ched) and Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
Trillanes has led the launching of a broad coalition that seeks to convince government to suspend the K to 12 basic education program for the alleged inadequate preparation of the government.
The members of the coalition include the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, faculty, non-teaching staff, parents, labor union and faculty associations.
Critics of the program have said that many college teachers and non-teaching personnel will be affected by the K to 12 program once implemented.
“The estimated numbers have since gone down to around 8,000 during the first year of implementation on June 2016. DepEd will be hiring around 30,000 and we will be prepared to prioritize those who choose to apply to our senior high school program,” said Coloma.
He added that many private higher education institutions are already preparing and have requested DepEd for a permit to open a secondary high school that could further bring down the number of affected faculty.
“There is also a proposal from CHED for a stabilization fund which could be tapped by private higher education institutions during the transition,” Coloma added.
Under the K to 12 program, graduating fourth year students will undergo an additional two more years in the “senior high school” instead of proceeding to college.
“Kaya para mapunan ‘yung gap na ‘yon, ang nakikitang alternatibo ay ang pagtatatag ng isang senior high school at doon pwedeng magturo ang mga dating nagtuturo sa first two years ng college habang ipinapatupad ang transition na ito,” said Coloma. (SDR/Sunnex)
