Skip to main content

The senior high school implementation plan


By Marilou C. Alabanza
Contributor

THE Department of Education, Division of Ilocos Norte is in full support of meeting the demands in the offering of Grades 11 and 12 of the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum-the so called Senior High School (SHS). Nurturing the holistically developed Filipinos is one of the ultimate goals of SHS, thus, there is a sense of urgency to cater the needs of students moving to the curriculum.

Responding to the urgent and critical need to improve the quality of basic education in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) and all other stakeholder are now working hand-in-hand in the implementation of this major educational reform. The K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum is a part of the Philippine Education Plan of Action 2015 which is the expansion of basic education-that by 2015, the Philippines has lengthened its cycle of basic education schooling to 12 years.

In the full implementation of K to 12 Curriculum, many problems are expected to be encountered by school administrators and the local government as well. Such problems include the insufficiency of budget, classrooms, school supplies as well as teachers. Despite all these, there is really a need to implement. Societal change must start with the educational system. It is believed that with this educational reform, the economic status of the Filipinos will be alleviated by providing better job opportunities and various options for all graduates.

It is then a concerted effort to pave the way to the successful implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum. It is the dream and aspiration of everybody to have a curriculum which is responsive to the needs of all Filipinos and making them realize their own potential and contribute meaningfully in building the Filipino nation.

Significant changes in the education structure                                          
One of the major changes brought about by the K to 12 program is on the education structure. Previously, preschool was not compulsory. Pupils could enroll in Grade 1 with or without having been honed through preschool. Under K to 12 and with the Kindergarten Act, pre-school education for five year old children becomes mandatory before entering elementary school.

K to 12 requires six years of elementary education (Grade I to VI) after  one year Kindergarten, four years junior high school (Grade 7-10), and two years senior high school. The additional two years of SHS make graduates better prepared for whatever path they will choose aside from being of legal age (18 years old) to be lawfully employed.

Key changes in the secondary education
Secondary education is undergoing significant changes under the K to 12 Education Program. These changes are in structure, curriculum, and assessment.

Structure. With the K-12 Curriculum, secondary education consists of four years of junior high school (Grade 7-10) and two years of senior high school (Grade 11 to12).

Curriculum. In the SEC 2010, Science and Mathematics are taught using the discipline-based approach. All subjects are taught following the three stages of Understanding by Design (Buds) identifying desired results, determining acceptable evidence, and planning instruction.

On the other hand, the K to 12 Curriculum follows the spiral approach wherein learning is a process of building upon previously learned knowledge.

Through this, students are able to master the desired competencies by revisiting the subject several times and relating new knowledge or skills with the previous one.

Moreover, students’ progress in their learning as it entails going from simple to more complex knowledge or skills. In the K to 12 Education Program. The special progression approach will be used in teaching Science, Mathematics, Araling Panlipunan, MAPEH, and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao.

Assessment. The National Achievement Test (NAT) taken by second year students will be replaced by an examination at the end of Grade 12. It is envisioned that the examination at the end of Grade 12 is the exit examination of the secondary level and, at the same time, the entrance examination for college.

Rationale
There is a sense of urgency to cater to the needs of students moving to SHS. DepEd Division of Ilocos Norte is moving forward to a rapid implementation of this program. Academic year 2016-2017 will be the turning point in the educational system as it will be the nationwide implementation of Grade 11 of the SHS Program. This program is a two-year specialized upper secondary education where students can choose a course from any of the four tracks-academic, sports, arts and design, and technical-vocational.

In the implementation of the SHS Program there is a need to review the different existing vocational courses being offered in all the high schools in the division. It is also important to conduct surveys, interviews, meeting regarding the existing resources on facilities, teachers, staff, competencies, buildable spaces and potential school sites. The result of these activities will be used as benchmark for the kind of curricular offering in the different high schools. All the information gathered will be used to determine track offerings in each school and the capacity of each school to offer Senior High School. All of these activities are undertaken by our division to ensure a full and successful implementation of Senior High School.

It is expected that for the year 2016, DepEd-Division Ilocos Norte will join the entire nation in the implementation of the Senior High School Program. This necessitates the division to prepare a carefully sequenced implementation plan for all stakeholders to adapt and serves as a guide for all school administrators and other local government officials for its successful implementation. DepEd Ilocos Norte looks forward to a strong and solid partnership with all internal and external stakeholders to make SHS in full-swing at its best.


(Ms. Alabanza is a School Principal II at Catangraran Elem. School in Solsona, Ilocos Norte)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

PIDS expert says income tax cuts justified; warns gov’t of revenue loss

Proposals to amend the personal income tax schedule appear to be well-justified. However, these proposals should include measures that will allow government to recover the revenue loss from lower income taxes. Dr. Rosario Manasan, senior research fellow of state think-tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said at a seminar sponsored by the Philippine Senate, that government should look for new revenue measures to compensate for the projected revenue loss that will arise as a result of the implementation of any of the various proposals to restructure the personal income tax. Currently, there are several income tax reform proposals pending in both houses of Congress. All of them, according to Dr. Manasan, have the same objective of addressing the phenomenon of bracket creep, which results from “non-indexation to inflation of personal income tax brackets”. Simply put, bracket creep occurs when employees’ income increases over time as a result of inflation. Th

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City.  (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.