K-12 and Senior High School: Equipping better the Davao Youth

It is back-to-school season again. Perhaps many young people are very excited to come to school after the long summer vacation with their new stuff for school and too see their new teachers, classrooms, and classmates. But aside from this, there are so much to look forward for this school year 2016-2017, because this year the first batch of students from all over the Philippines will be enrolled at the Senior High School which is stated in the Philippine Constitution or the Republic Act 10533 or also known as the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”. Under this law, all academic institutions in the Philippines are required to have at least one (1) year of kindergarten education, six (6) years of elementary education, and six (6) years of secondary education, in that sequence. Secondary education includes four (4) years of junior high school and two (2) years of senior high school education.

Since its implementation of Junior High School in 2012, many are reluctant to this new paradigm in the educational system of the country, perhaps due to lack of information drive among the parents and guardians. Not only the parents encountered difficulties and misinterpreted the new curriculum but also the academic institutions themselves. With everyone new and even surprised with its implementation had a hard time instigating the curriculum, but in the long run were able to implement it properly.

Despite of the high literacy rating of our country compared to other Asian countries, the government, with the help of in-depth researches and benchmarking, has seen the dire need of our country to adopt a new educational system that will not only increase the literacy rate of our country but also fortify its quality in order to produce globally-competitive graduates.

The first batch of students of Junior High School who succeeded the paradigm shift is yet to take again another unfamiliar road of their academic journey and that is facing the Senior High School.

In an interview with DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM, Mr. Joselito Atillo, the spokesperson of Department of Education of Region XI, mentioned that the Senior High School is a very crucial phase in the lives of the students since it will serve as the determining factor for them to decide where will they go after SHS either they continue higher education to earn a degree for those who will be taking the academic tracks and or work for those who will complete tech-voc track.

In terms monetary constraints of the parents who will be sending their students to SHS, the voucher system of the DepEd would be of great help. Each student is entitled financial assistance of Php20, 000 for Highly Urbanized Cities. In the voucher system, Junior High School completers are entitled to a 100% if they choose to enroll in SHS in public schools, 80% (Php16, 000) to those who prefer private institutions, and 50% (Php10, 000) for State Colleges and Universities. However, the recipient of the voucher from DepEd may be disqualified in the following cases:

1. If the student drops his class in the middle of the school year;
2. the student fail to enroll on the following school year after Grade 11 (except to those who have valid reason such as health issues);
3. the student fails his grades and retained on the same grade level; and
4. the student transfers to another SHS provider within the school year.

An exemption from the disqualification is that when the student shifts to another track provided that he/she finishes the semester first and must be in the same school.

In Davao Region, Mr Atillo said that the most of the schools are ready to cater the students who will enter the SHS. DepEd ROXI opened 2,094 items for teachers who will be teaching SHS and budgeted the construction of 1,489 classrooms. However, due to unprecedented events, some schools have not yet finished the constructions of some classrooms and they will instead use available non-academic buildings in schools, elementary public schools, gymnasiums, and Barangay learning centers just to cater the SHS students.

With these points from the spokesperson of the DepEd Region XI, the assurance of the implementation of the SHS in Davao Region is expected to be smooth and will help the incoming SHS students perform better in the path that they have chosen. (Jecy Opada)