K to 12

The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High School [SHS]) to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.

The K to 12 Program covers 13 years of basic education with the following key stages:

• Kindergarten to Grade 3
• Grades 4 to 6
• Grades 7 to 10 (Junior High School)
• Grades 11 and 12 (Senior High School)

Why are we now implementing 12 years of basic education?

• The Philippines is the last country in Asia and one of only three countries worldwide with a 10-year pre-university cycle (Angola and Djibouti are the other two).
• A 12-year program is found to be the best period for learning under basic education. It is also the recognized standard for students and professionals globally.

What has been done to get ready for K to 12?
Are we really ready for K to 12?

SY 2011-2012: Universal Kindergarten implementation begins
SY 2012-2013: Enhanced curriculum for Grades 1-7 implemented
2013: K to 12 enacted into Law
2014: Curriculum for Grades 11-12 finished

This 2015, we are getting ready for the implementation of Senior High School (SHS) in SY 2016-2017. We are on the fifth year of the implementation of the K to 12 Program. Our last mile is the Senior High School. All 221 divisions of the Department of Education (DepEd) have finished planning and have figures on enrolment a year in advance. These plans were reviewed by a separate team and finalized upon consultation with other stakeholders.

• Classrooms: DepEd has built 66,813 classrooms from 2010 to 2013. There are 33,608 classrooms completed and undergoing construction in 2014. As of DepEd is planning to establish 5,899 Senior High Schools nationwide. As of April 30, 2015, DepEd has issued provisional permits to 1,866 private schools set to offer Senior High School in 2016.

• Teachers: From 2010-2014, DepEd has filled 128,105 new teacher items. DepEd is targeting two kinds of teachers: those who will teach the core subjects, and those who will teach the specialized subjects per track. DepEd will hire 37,000 teachers for Senior High School for 2016 alone.

• Textbooks: Learning materials are being produced for elementary to junior high while textbooks for Senior High School (which has specialized subjects) are being bid out.

• Curriculum: The K to 12 curriculum is standards- and competence-based. It is inclusive and built around the needs of the learners and the community. The curriculum is done and is available on the DepEd website. It is the first time in history that the entire curriculum is digitized and made accessible to the public.

Private SHS: There are 2,199 private schools cleared to offer Senior High School and over 200 more being processed.

How will K to 12 affect the college curriculum?

• The College General Education curriculum will have fewer units. Subjects that have been taken up in Basic Education will be removed from the College General Education curriculum.
• Details of the new GE Curriculum may be found in CHED Memorandum Order No. 20, series of 2013.

I’ve been hearing that a lot of people have not been consulted regarding K to 12. Is this true?

DepEd has always been transparent in the planning and implementation of K to 12. There have been regular consultations with various sectors since 2010, before the law was passed, during the crafting of the IRR, and during implementations. DepEd representatives have also attended various fora and conferences, including legislative inquiries, regarding K to12. We are open to criticisms and suggestions regarding this.

How can I help improve basic education?

Private partners can donate through the Adopt-A-School program. A 150% tax incentive will be provided for every contribution. Help spread awareness and information on the K to 12 Program.

How will the current curriculum be affected by K to 12? What subjects will be added and removed?

The current curriculum has been enhanced for K to 12 and now gives more focus to allow mastery of learning. For the new Senior High School grades (Grades 11 and 12), core subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Language will be strengthened. Specializations or tracks in students’ areas of interest will also be offered. Changes to specific subjects are detailed in the K to 12 Curriculum Guides, viewable and downloadable at curriculum.

How will schools implementing special curricular programs such as science high schools, high schools for the arts, and technical vocational schools be affected by K to 12?

Schools with special curricular programs will implement enriched curriculums specific to their program (e.g. science, arts) following the K to 12 standards.

How will multi-grade teaching be affected by K to 12?

Multi-grade teaching will continue and will use the K to 12 Curriculum.

How will specific learning groups such as indigenous people, Muslim learners, and people with special needs be affected by K to 12?

The K to 12 Curriculum was designed to address diverse learner needs, and may be adapted to fit specific learner groups.

Which Mother Tongue will be used as the language of instruction in multi-cultural areas?

The principle of MTB-MLE is to use the language that learners are most comfortable and familiar with; therefore, the common language in the area or lingua franca shall be used as the language of instruction.
There are currently 19 mother tongue languages:

• Akianon
• Bahasa Sug
• Biko
• Cebuano
• Chabacano
• Hiligaynon
• Iloko
• Ivatan
• Kapampangan
• Kinaray-a
• Maguindanaoan
• Meranao
• Pangasinense
• Sambal
• Surigaonon
• Tagalog
• Yakan
• Ybanag

Under K to 12, will Kindergarten be a pre-requisite for entering Grade 1?

Yes. Republic Act No. 10157, or the Kindergarten Education Act, institutionalizes Kindergarten as part of the basic education system and is a pre-requisite for admission to Grade 1.

With K to 12, will there be an overlap between the Day Care program of Local Government Units (LGUs) and DepEd Kindergarten?

No. Day Care Centers of LGUs take care of children aged 4 or below, while the DepEd Kindergarten program is intended for children who are at least 5 years old by October 31st of the present school year.

With K to 12, should schools prepare permanent records for Kindergarten students?

Yes. While the assessment on readiness skills of students in Kindergarten is not academically driven, a good measure of the child’s ability to cope with formal schooling is needed for future learning interventions.

Who is in charge of Kindergarten teacher compensation?

DepEd is the main agency that employs and pays Kindergarten teachers in public schools. However, there are LGUs that help in the Kindergarten program and provide honoraria for additional Kindergarten teachers in public schools.

What is Senior High School?

Senior High School (SHS) covers the last two years of the K to 12 program and includes Grades 11 and 12. In SHS, students will go through a core curriculum and subjects under a track of their choice.

Will SHS mean two more years of High School?

Yes. These two additional years will equip learners with skills that will better prepare them for the future, whether it be:

• Employment
• Entrepreneurship
• Skills Development (Further Tech-Voc training)
• Higher Education (College)

Will the additional two years of High School mean additional expenses?

Not necessarily.

• Senior High School “completes” basic education by making sure that the high school graduate is equipped for work, entrepreneurship, or higher education. This is a step up from the 10-year cycle where high school graduates still need further education (and expenses) to be ready for the world.
• SHS will be offered free in public schools and there will be a voucher program in place for public junior high school completers as well as ESC beneficiaries of private high schools should they choose to take SHS in private institutions.

This means that the burden of expenses for the additional two years need not be completely shouldered by parents.
What will I learn in SHS that the current high school curriculum doesn’t include?

Senior High School covers eight (8) learning areas as part of its core curriculum, and adds specific tracks (similar to college courses) based on four (4) disciplines:

• Academic (which includes Business, Science & Engineering, Humanities & Social Science, and a General Academic strand)
• Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (with highly specialized subjects with TESDA qualifications)
• Sports
• Arts & Design

SHS Students may pick a track based on how he or she will want to proceed after high school graduation. You can learn more about the tracks and strands (as well as their curriculum) in the K to 12 Curriculum Guides.

Will SHS ensure employment for me?

SHS cannot guarantee employment; but it creates the following opportunities:

• Standard requirements will be applied to make sure graduates know enough to be hirable.

• You will now be able to apply for TESDA Certificates of Competency (COCs) and National Certificates (NCs) to provide you with better work opportunities.

• Partnerships with different companies will be offered for technical and vocational courses.

• You can now get work experience while studying; and companies can even hire you after you graduate.

Entrepreneurship courses will now be included. Instead of being employed, you can choose to start your own business after graduating, or choose to further your education by going to college.

How will SHS affect my college education?

SHS, as part of the K to 12 Basic Curriculum, was developed in line with the curriculum of the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) – the governing body for college and university education in the Philippines.
This ensures that by the time you graduate from Senior High School, you will have the standard knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to go to college.

How will students choose their Senior High School specializations?

Students will undergo assessments to determine their strengths and interests. These will include an aptitude test, a career assessment exam, and an occupational interest inventory for high schools. Career advocacy activities will also be conducted to help guide students in choosing their specialization or track.

How will student specializations/tracks be distributed across Senior High Schools?

Specializations or tracks to be offered will be distributed according to the resources available in the area, the needs and interests of most students, and the opportunities and demands of the community.

Where will Senior High School be implemented? Will my school offer SHS?

Existing public and private schools, including colleges, universities and technical institutions may offer Senior High School.
There may also be stand-alone Senior High Schools established by DepEd or private organizations.

Will SHS modelling schools that implemented the SHS program in SY 2012-13 be allowed to implement the SHS Program?

SHS modelling schools listed in DepEd Order No. 71, s. 2012 may implement the SHS program, but they must go through the process of applying a provisional SHS permit, and must meet the standards and requirements for the SHS Program.

Is SHS really necessary? Must I go to SHS?

Yes, according to the law. Beginning SY 2016-2017, you must go through Grades 11 and 12 to graduate from High School.

If I choose not to go to SHS, what happens to me?

You will be a Grade 10 completer, but not a high school graduate. Elementary graduates are those who finish Grade 6; high school graduates must have finished Grade 12.

Where can I find out more about SHS?

You can find out more at the K to 12 page. You can also ask your school administration (public or private) to contact the DepEd division office to help organize an orientation seminar.

What is the SHS Voucher Program?

The Voucher Program is intended for Grade 10 (Junior High School) completers who wish to pursue Senior High School (SHS) education in non-DepEd Schools such as Private High Schools, Colleges, and Universities; Local Universities and Colleges (LUC); State Universities and Colleges (SUCs); and Technical and Vocational Schools, starting SY 2016-2017.
Through the Voucher Program, students and their families are able to exercise greater choice in deciding the Senior High School program that is most relevant to their needs and career goals.
The voucher enables students to claim a “discount” or a deduction from the cost of tuition and other fees charged by a non-DepEd SHS where he or she will enroll. The voucher subsidy is not given to students directly in the form of cash but will be disbursed by DepEd to the non-DepEd SHS where he or she enrolls.

Who are the recipients of the SHS Voucher Program?

Public Grade 10 completers and Grade 10 completers who are Education Service Contracting (ESC) grantees in private JHS are automatically qualified voucher recipients and need not apply for an SHS Voucher. Automatically qualified voucher recipients:

1. Public JHS students – will receive 100% of the voucher amount
2. ESC JHS students – will receive 80% of the voucher amount

Note: These students have been pre-identified through the Learner Information System (LIS), which is linked to the SHS Voucher Management System. Therefore, these students need not present a voucher certificate when they enroll in a non-DepEd SHS. Instead, their names will be automatically recognized by the SHS Voucher Management System as voucher recipients. The SHS Voucher Management System is an online system accessed only by DepEd and non-DepEd SHS to facilitate enrollment, billing and submission of reports pertaining to the Voucher Program. May apply, however, applications are subject to review and approval:

1. Grade 10 completers who are not ESC grantees from private JHS
2. *Proceed to ovap.deped.gov.ph for online application. The deadline for online application and submission of documents is on 15 February 2016.

**If qualified, students will receive 80% of the voucher amount.
***Students will be notified of their eligibility prior to completing Grade 10. They need to present their Qualified Voucher Recipient (QVR) certificate when they enroll in the non-DepEd SHS of their choice.

Note: Regardless of whether he or she is a public or private Grade 10 completer, a qualified voucher recipient that enrolls in an LUC/SUC for SHS will receive 50% of the voucher amount.

How much is the value of the voucher?

The actual amount of the vouchers will depend on the location of the SHS where the student will enroll.
Voucher recipients from public/DepEd JHS who will enroll in a non-DepEd SHS located in the National Capital Region (NCR) will receive a full voucher amount of PhP 22,500. Voucher recipients from private JHS will receive 80% or PhP 18,000 while those enrolling in SUCs/LUCs, regardless if they completed JHS in a public or private school, will receive 50% or PhP 11,250.
Voucher recipients from public/DepEd JHS who will enroll in a non-DepEd SHS located in Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs) that are not in NCR will receive a full voucher amount of PhP 20,000. These cities include Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu City, Davao City, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo City, Lapu-lapu, Lucena, Mandaue, Olongapo, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, and Zamboanga City. The list of HUCs is based on the 2010 list published by the Philippine Statistics Authority, which is the latest available data on such. Voucher recipients from private JHS will receive 80% or PhP 16,000 while those enrolling in SUCs/LUCs, regardless if they completed JHS in a public or private school, will receive 50% or PhP 10,000.
Voucher recipients from public/DepEd JHSwho will enroll in a non-DepEd SHS located incities and municipalities outside NCR and that are not HUCs will receive a full voucher amount of PhP 17,500. Voucher recipients from private JHS will receive 80% or PhP 14,000 while those enrolling in SUCs/LUCs, regardless if they completed JHS in a public or private school, will receive 50% or PhP 8,750.

Note: Cash is NOT given to the student directly instead the subsidy is remitted to the Senior High School where he/she will enroll.

How can I apply for the voucher program?

Reminder: Only Grade 10 completers from private JHS who are non-ESC grantees need to apply in order to avail the SHS Voucher Program. Note that application does not translate to automatic approval. Applications will be subject to a review and approval process. The steps are:

• • Fill out and download the forms and confirmation slip from Online Voucher Application Portal (OVAP): http://ovap.deped.gov.ph.
  • Submit the filled out form, confirmation slip, and supporting documents to PEAC National Secretariat before February. 12, 2016 for online application.
  • Applicants will be notified of the results. The list of Qualified Voucher Recipients (QVR) will be posted on OVAP.
  • For eligible students, download and print your QVR certificates from the OVAP to be presented upon your enrollment.
  • Results will be released on March 2016.

Click here for more information about the voucher program.