MANILA: The Philippines is overhauling its basic education system as it aims to improve the quality of Filipino high school graduates.

Under the government's new K plus 12 basic education program, Filipino students will have to undergo mandatory kindergarten, six years of elementary education, four years of junior high school called Grades 7 to 10, and two years of senior high school to be called Grades 11 to 12.

The education department believes adding two years to the present 10-year basic education cycle is an essential reform to put the country's public education system comparable and competitive with other countries.

Armin Luistro, Secretary of the Department of Education, said: "It's because the whole world has moved into a 12 year basic education system and we're the only one of three in the world and the only one in Asia that has retained the ten years (curriculum). I think we should have done this yesterday in terms of being at par with the rest of the world."

But critics said the additional two years will only be an added burden to poor students who can hardly graduate from high school.

Raymond Palatino, who is a representative from Youth Partylist, said: "Out of 100 students who enter Grade 1, only 66 will finish Grade 6 and only 42 will finish high school. Students are dropping out mainly because of economic reasons. Many are forced to work or help their family. If many of our students are unable to reach high school, wouldn't it add to the dropout rates in the Philippines if two more years are to be added? Wouldn't it worsen inequality in Philippine society?"


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