MODULE 8: The Global Teachers:
Knowledgeable of K to 12 Program of Various Countries
EXPECTATIONS
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
1. Identify the Basic Education System in the Philippines and:
• Reasons for coming up with K to 12?
• What is K to 12 Education Program
2. Compare the different K to 12 Programs of various countries.
EXPLORATION
Global teachers should have wide perspectives of the various basic education landscape. They
must be open and responsive to new ad diverse educational reforms in order to have a clear
knowledge and understanding of international educational contexts.
Basic education is defined as the whole range of educational activities that are taking pace in
either informal or non-formal setting with the goal of meting the learners’ basic learning needs. It is a
fact that no country will achieve rapid economic growth without investing in education. Basic
education in developing countries is essential to build stable training partners with developed
countries especially that quality education is affordable to learners to become knowledgeable, skillful,
and competent ready for global [Link] coming years, the establishment of ASEAN Economic
Community composed of 10 member states will commence for the free flow of goods and services
including education services. This will change the educational landscape as a result of the changing
world, transformed by advances in technology, knowledge revolution and global perspective.
PRESENT BASIC EDUCATION SCENARIO IN THE PHILIPPINES
Several educational reforms have been initiated because of the Department of Education’s
commitment to enhance the quality of basic education. The mandate of ensuring that no learner shall
be left behind and that every Filipino child will have access to quality education gave way to the
enactment of Kindergarten Education Act of 2013. Having kindergarten as part of the basic education
curricula and having it mandatory, improves the student’s access to education. The Philippine
government believes that compulsory kindergarten better prepares learners who have active minds
to the next level of schooling.
Enhanced Basic Education is popularly known as k to 12 started as a flagship reform strategy
initiated also by the DepEd Secretary with the objective of producing more productive and responsible
citizens fully equipped with the essential competencies, skills for both lifelong learning and
employment.
There were various proposals, studies, and consultations made before coming up with an
enhanced model that is suitable to the Philippine context. The model is Kindergarten, 6 years of
elementary education, 4 years of junior high school, and 2 years of senior high school is a preparation
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either for college career or employment by consolidating the students’ acquired academic skills and
competence.
REASONS FOR COMING UP WITH K TO 12?
1. The additional two years hopes to address the deteriorating quality of Philippine education
system as revealed by the low achievement score of the Filipino students in the National Achievement
Test (NAT) – This was discussed in the prepared discussion paper on “Enhanced K to 12 Education
Program” by DepEd in the last quarter of 2010. The Philippines also had low performance in the Trends
in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) as revealed in the 2003 and 2008 TIMMS.
2. Unpreparedness for employment, entrepreneurship or higher education of the Filipino high
school graduates because of the congested ten-year curriculum. The years in school are not enough
for students to absorb the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue higher education. Moreover, those
who cannot go to college still lack the basic competencies and emotional maturity for employment.
The additional two years in the senior high school will then prepare students for either higher
education or the world of work.
3. Since the educational ladder of almost all countries is 12 years, the additional two years
make the Philippine education system comparable and recognized in meeting international standards.
The Philippines is the only remaining country with a 10-year basic education program. Graduates of
the 12 education cycle has potential to be globally competitive.
WHAT IS K TO 12 EDUCATION PROGRAM?
K to 12 is a term for the sum of primary and secondary education. It is used in countries like
United States, Canada, Turkey, Australia and now in the Philippines. The expression is a shortening of
Kindergarten (K) for 4-6 years old learners, through twelfth grade (12) for learners who are 17-19 years
old.
HOW DO K TO 12 PROGRAMS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES DIFFER?
A. PHILIPPINES
In the Philippines, K to 12 program covers the kindergarten plus the 12 years of basic education
(6 years of primary education), 4 years of Junior high school, and 2 years of Senior high school. The
additional 2 years in senior high school aims to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and
skills, to develop lifelong learning skills and to prepare graduates for tertiary education, for mid-level
skills development, for employment and entrepreneurship.
B. BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Brunei Darussalam starts with one year primary education and then 6 years of elementary
education. Students take and should pass the end-of-cycle public examination before they progress to
diversified secondary level. Secondary level has 2 categories – General Secondary Education Program
(2-3 years) and another 2-3 years of Upper secondary education where students are grouped
according to their academic abilities, talents and interests.
In the General Education Program of Brunei Darussalam, the students take four core subjects
in three complementary subjects and at least two elective subjects with Science as one required
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elective. In Brunei, students who excel academically can take secondary education in two years.
Differentiated and specialized education responding to the different capabilities and interests of the
learner are the required secondary curriculum. Pre-school in Brunei is a playschool which aims to
impart socio-emotional and personality development for young learners in an informal preschool
program.
C. CANADA
Canada follows the k to 12 educational curriculum with secondary schooling or high school
structure that varies within a province in terms of inclusion of middle school or junior high school.
Canada usually starts with Kindergarten. By law, Canadians must be in school starting ages 5 or 6 and
remain in school until ages between 16 and 18 depending on the province or territory. All provinces
and territory provide universal, free and until secondary schooling of 12 years with the exemption of
Quebec where it offers education until 11 years.
Elementary school includes Grades 1-6 in regions where there are 2 years of middle school or
junior high school, but those without middle or junior high school have elementary until Grade 8. In
Quebec, grade school is 6 years and their students proceed immediately to High school.
Secondary high school with middle school or junior high school begins in grade 7 to grade 12
and those without begin secondary high school in grade 9.
Post-secondary education includes career college or vocational school, community college or
university.
D. KOREA
The school system in Korea follows the 6-3-3-4 education ladder which is years of elementary,
3 years of middle school, and 3 years of high school and 4 years of either junior college, college or
university to complete higher education.
High schools are 2 categories – General High School and Vocational High School although there
are limited numbers of schools which offer both general and vocational training which is known as
“Comprehensive High School”. Korean Kindergarten provides nurturing learning environment through
various pleasant activities and diverse teaching pedagogy. The Kindergarten or Early Childhood
curriculum includes physical, social, expression language and inquiry life areas.
Elementary education in Korea is geared towards the acquisition of fundamentals necessary
for a productive civic life through 9 principal subjects: Moral education, Korean Language, Social
studies, Arithmetic, Natural Science, Physical Education, Music, Fine Arts, and Practical Arts.
The Middle School curricula are a combination of 11 basic or required subject, elective subjects,
and extra-curricular activities. Blending of education and readiness for occupation is reflected in the
technical and vocational courses which are elective subjects. Korean students may continue to high
school and admission to high school depends upon the result of high school entrance examination.
E. MALAYSIA
THE TEACHING PROFESSION
Malaysian education begins with Preschool where the medium of instruction is both Malaysian
and English. Preschools that use Tamil or Chinese as medium of instruction also conduct teaching-
learning process using Bahasa Malaysia and English. Malaysia offers a two-year optional preschool for
learners ages 4-5. Standard-based preschool curriculum for personality development of learners is
being followed in Malaysia.
Elementary education is 6 years with a requirement of passing the public examination as
determining factor of the student’s readiness to secondary or high school level.
Malaysia has two levels of category for Secondary or High school: Lower Secondary (level 2)
and upper secondary (level 3). Lower secondary program offers general and undifferentiated
curriculum for 2-3 years. In the upper secondary 2 years students take subjects according to their
appropriate streams (Arts, Science, Technical, and Religious).
F. SINGAPORE
Education in Singapore begins with kindergarten or preschool at the age of 4-6 years old. In
Kindergarten, although not compulsory, a 3-4-hour provision of language development literary skills,
basic number concepts, social skills, creative skills and appreciation of music and movement is being
provided to the young learners. Mother tongue is also part of the kinder curriculum. Mother tongue
language includes Chinese, Malay, Tamil, and Indian.
Preschool is followed by 6 years of primary education. English language, mathematics, mother
tongue language, are the significant subjects in the primary education curriculum. Primary school has
2 stages – Foundation and Orientation Stage. During Foundation Stage (Primary 1-4) students are
provided with strong foundation in English, mother Tongue, and Mathematics. Orientation stage
(Primary 5-6) is the stage where students are taught with Mathematics and Science appropriate to
their level. At the end of primary 6, all students are assessed on their academic abilities through the
Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). The result of the PSLE will place the students in secondary
school courses that suit their academic learning pace and aptitude.
At the secondary level, students may either go to Special (secondary 1-4years), Express
(Secondary 1-4years), Normal (Academic-Secondary 1-5years) courses depending on the measured
academic ability of the PSLE scores. These four streamed courses offer highly differentiated
curriculum. Special and Express are four year courses which lead to Singapore-Cambridge General
Certificate of (GCE “O”) Education (Ordinary Level) examination. Student in the Normal academic
course takes academically based subjects while those in the Normal (Technical)course receive
curriculum that is practice oriented. Students who pass the GCE “O” level examination at the end of 4
to 5 years of secondary education can qualify for Junior College (2years), a polytechnic (3or4 years)or
a Pre-University centre (3years). Only those who qualify after passing the GCE “A” level exam at the
end of junior college 2, pre-university 3 or Polytechnic year ¾ can enroll in local university or to the
National University of Singapore.
G. UNITED STATES
The age of entry to compulsory education the US varies according to the state, between 5-7
years old with 6 years old being the most common as an entry age for Kindergarten. Kindergarten
certificate is awarded to allow learners’ entry to Elementary School/Primary Education.
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The length of primary education varies from four to seven years depending on the States or
local practice. Likewise, certification or diploma may vary by states/districts for transitions to
secondary school based on its length, elementary education may be followed or not by a number of
years of middle school education which is generally three years (grades 4-6,5-7,6-8)
High school (grades 7-12 or grades 8-12) length program is six years depending upon the laws
and policies of states and local districts. There are mandatory subjects in almost all US high schools
which includes Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) Mathematics (Algebra, Geometry, trigonometry,
Calculus, Statistics ) English (Literature, humanities, Composition, Oral Language) Social Science
(History, Government, Economics)and Physical Education.
High school students usually during their Grade 11 take one or more standardized tests
depending on their education preferences and also as requirements for admission to most Colleges.
Most common standardized test taken by US student are Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and
American College Testing (ACT). High school diploma is awarded upon completion of grade 12 and he
diploma covers a variety of awards for different curricula and standards like general/basic track,
vocational and academic/college preparatory.
References:
The Teaching Profession; Lim, Caubic, Casihan (2014); pp. 70-79
Bilbao, Purita P, Corpus, Brenda B., Llagas, Avelina T., Salandanan, Gloria G. ( 2018) The Teaching
Profession. Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
Pawelin, Greg T. (2016) The Teaching Profession Passion and Mission. Rex Book Store
Lim, Lourdes S., Caubic, Rosalina A., Casihan, Luvimi L. (2014). The Teaching Profession. Adriana
Publishing Co., Inc.
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