K-12 Curriculum Overview

• The K to 12 curriculum has seven disciplines: Languages, Literature, Communication, Mathematics, Philosophy, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences
• These disciplines have three tracks: Academics, Arts and Sports, and Technical-Vocational
• The academic track has three strands: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), BAM (Business, Accountancy, Management), and HESS (Humanities, Education, Social Sciences)

K to 12 Program Implementation

• The K to 12 program is implemented and managed by the Department of Education (DepEd) and was formally designated in 2013
• DepEd has exclusive control over public schools and regulations for private schools
• From 1945 to 2011, the basic education system was 10 years, with 6 years in elementary and 4 years in high school
• The implementation of the K-12 program, along with the Kindergarten Education Act of 2012 and the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, extended basic education to 13 years
• The K to 12 Program includes one year of kindergarten, six years of elementary school, four years of junior high school, and two years of senior high school, catering to students aged 5 to 17
• Grade 12 was fully implemented by 2017

Rationale for K to 12

• The DepEd implemented the changes to the education program in the Philippines after thorough study
• One benefit of K to 12 is that it allows students to hone their skills in various fields of specialization, such as Animation
• Kindergarten and the 12 years of Basic Education aim to provide students with enough time to learn and improve the concepts and skills needed for Tertiary Education or college, as well as for employment and business
• The Philippines was the last country in Asia to implement a 10-year basic education program
• The 13-year program is considered to be the most effective length of time to enhance children's learning, similar to programs in developed countries worldwide
• The K to 12 program is divided into Kindergarten, Primary Education, Junior High School, and Senior High School
• The K to 12 Program strengthens and values ​​Early Childhood Education in Kindergarten
• The first six years of a child are the critical years for brain development
• Meaningful life lessons, such as Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation, and Information & Communication Technology (ICT), are integrated into the curriculum

Seamless Learning or Spiral Progression

• Seamless Learning or Spiral Progression involves repeating the study of concepts and lessons from the simplest to the most complex, in each grade level
• This approach is adapted to the age of the students, making each lesson more understandable and memorable

Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education

• Lessons are taught using the students' native language via Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education in the first 3 grades, before teaching a second language like English
• Twelve mother tongue languages ​​were used in teaching from 2012-2013: Bicolano, Cebuano, Chavacano, Hiligaynon, Ilokano, Kapampangan, Maguindanaoan, Maranao, Pangasinense, Tagalog, Tausug, and Waray
• Aklanon, Ibanag, Ivatan, Kinaray-a, Sambal, Surigaonon, and Yakan were added the following year

Senior High School Learning

• There are seven Learning Areas and three specializations to choose from for senior high school students during the two years of specialized upper secondary education
• The Core Curriculum Learning Areas are languages, literature, communication, mathematics, philosophy, natural sciences, and social sciences
• Information, media and technology skills, learning and innovation skills, communication skills, and life and career skills are taught to prepare students for adulthood
• Junior High School is the new name for the former four years of high school
• Senior High School is the 11th and 12th year, preparing students for work
• Senior High School is a specialized upper secondary education based on a student's skills and interests
• Students can apply for TESDA Certificates of Competency (COCs) and National Certificates (NCs) to work according to their skills.
• Technical, vocational, and entrepreneurship courses are available
• Graduates can continue their studies in college with sufficient knowledge and skills to work in a vocational job, start a business, or continue studying in college with the help of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

Specialization Tracks

• Specialization, or "specific tracks" include:
• Academic: Accountancy, Business & Management (ABM), Humanities & Social Sciences (HUMSS) Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), General Academic Strand (GAS)
• Technical-Vocational-Livelihood includes technical and vocational learning, Home Economics, Industrial Arts, Agricultural and Fishery Arts, Information, and Communications Technology
• Arts and Design

Goals

• Goals can be short term or long term
• An example of a short-term goal is the desire to finish the current school year, while a long-term goal is to finish studying up to college

Expected Skills for Workers

• Basic Skills include academic skills such as reading, writing, and arithmetic
• Technical Skills include computer skills as a baseline requirement in many jobs
• Workers use constantly changing technology for communication, information retrieval and use, and in industry or production
• Organizational Skills include the changes in the structure and management of organizations, as well as changes in the relationship between workers and customers
• Company Specific Skills include companies or industries forced to make their own innovations, improve and update products and services, and focus on continuous improvement of the production process due to rising and changing technology, changing markets, and increasing competition

Career Paths

• A career path refers to the training, education, positions, or jobs, and preparations people go through to achieve their desired lifestyle or career goal
• There are four types of career paths:

Steady State Career Path

• A career path requiring lifelong dedication to one job and continuous growth of knowledge and skills in that career
• Medicine, dental, engineering, and law are often identified as "steady state" career paths

Linear Career Path

• Linear career paths signify continuous advancement or rise, with a continuous increase in position, power, and responsibility in the work of other workers in the company, and income
• Managers and politicians commonly follow a linear career path

Transitory Career Path

• Transitory career paths show frequent changes and those following this path seek varied experiences and do not commit to just one job
• People in transitory career paths also do not aspire to advance in position or earn more

Spiral Career path

• Spiral career paths mean regular changes, usually within five or seven years
• The direction often starts horizontally or laterally or downwards
• A business executive who decided to teach, a lawyer who became a doctor of medicine, or a dentist who re-trained to become a nurse are said to have followed a spiral career path