AMICUS CURAE – by Accra Law

Republic Act No. 10533 - Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which can be
used to change the world.” Last June 3, 2013, over 23 million elementary and high school
students in more than 45,000 public schools nationwide started, or continued, their
journey to change the world. Markedly, however, most of them began the school year not
only with new uniforms and new classmates, but with an entirely new curriculum.

Republic Act No. 10533, otherwise known as the “Enhanced Basic Education Act
of 2013”, was signed into law by President Aquino on May 15, 2013. With the passage of
RA 10533, the K to 12 basic education program was formalized. From the former 10-year
basic education curriculum, the K to 12 program mandates 1 year of kindergarten and 12
years of basic education, comprising of 6 years of primary education, 4 years of junior
high and 2 years of senior high school.

The shift from 10 to 12 years of basic education is more than just a numbers game.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd), the rationale for RA 10533 is to
address the poor quality of basic education provided by the current curriculum as reflected
in the low achievement scores of Filipino students and the Philippines’ unemployment
rate. International test results, like the 2003 Trends in International Mathematics and
Science Study (TIMSS), rank the Philippines not only below the international average, but
also as the last in Asia.

The salient features of RA 10533 seek to: (a) strengthen early childhood education;
(b) build proficiency through language; and (c) provide specialized upper secondary
education.

Universal Kindergarten. In consonance with Republic Act No. 10157, or the

“Kindergarten Education Act”, RA 10533 institutionalizes Kindergarten education -- 1 year
of preparatory education for children at least 5 years old, as part of the basic education
system and as a prerequisite for admission to Grade 1. Public schools will continue to
admit children who have not taken Kindergarten into Grade 1 only until this school year.
Mother-Tongue Based Multilingual Education. As it is believed that language plays a
strategic role in shaping the formative years of learners, basic education shall now be
delivered in languages understood by the learners – or the learners’ “Mother Tongue”.
Twelve Mother Tongue languages have been introduced for SY 2012-2013: Bahasa Sug,
Bikol, Cebuano, Chabacano, Hilagaynon, Ilokano, Kapampangan, Maguindanaoan,
Maranao, Pangasinense, Tagalog and Waray. Thus, for kindergarten and Grades 1 to 3,
the learners’ Mother Tongue shall be used for instruction, teaching materials, and
assessment. DepEd Order No. 31, series of 2012, clarified that from Grades 1 to 3,
Filipino and English will be taken only as a subject, together with the learners’ Mother
Tongue. Thereafter, the DepEd will formulate a mother language transition program from
Grades 4 to 6, so that Filipino and English shall gradually be introduced as languages of
instruction, until such time when these 2 languages can become the primary languages
of instruction at the secondary level.
Senior High School. Two years of specialized upper secondary education shall be added
to the high school program. Students will be assessed to determine their interests and
strengths and help them decide on their specialization. The choice of specialization will
define the content of the subjects a student will take in Grades 11 and 12. They may
choose from either Core Curriculum or Specific Tracks subjects. The Core Curriculum is
composed of 7 learning areas: Languages, Literature, Communication, Mathematics,
Philosophy, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences; while the three (3) Tracks
subjects are Academic; Technical-Vocational-Livelihood; and Sports and Arts. The
Academic track includes 3 strands: Business, Accountancy and Management;
Humanities, Education and Social Sciences; and Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics. Students can obtain Certificates of Competency or National Certificate
Level I and II, after finishing Grade 10 and 12, respectively. This new certification system
aims to improve the chances for employment of graduates and will allow them to have
middle-level skills or become entrepreneurs after graduating from high school.

Despite its laudable objectives, various stakeholders have expressed concern that
the implementation of RA 10533 will only add to the already heavy burden of students,
teachers and parents, rather than address the basic shortcomings in our educational
system. Moreover, it was noted that the DepEd already lacks resources to address
the current shortages in public schools, and the emphasis on the K to 12 program will
only aggravate these serious shortages.

We can only hope for the success of the K to 12 program so that our children can
be better equipped to cope with the challenges of life and change the world for the better.