We attended the PSUCCESS Conference at Philippine Normal University (the oldest teacher training university in the Philippines) where we listened to a talk on the new RA 10533 Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. This act adds two years of senior high school after high school. The K-12 reform system is targeted towards benefitting disadvantaged students who have historically not attended college. Below is an image that depicts the poverty problem in Philippines.
Senior high school curriculum still contains education on core subjects, but it also adds 4 different applied track subjects which are academic, sports, arts and design and technical/vocational/livelihood. The image below illustrates the K-12 curriculum in the Philippines.
Some examples of courses students can take in senior high school are: computer hardware servicing, computer programming, illustration/animation, call/contact center services, technical drafting and medical transcription. Senior high school better prepares students to enter the workforce upon graduation. Currently, there is not a senior high school in every community due to lack of funding. They have been implementing some senior high schools since 2012 and will continue to do create more senior high schools in the future.
Dr. Isagani R. Cruz is a professor in Manila, a consultant on the Commission on Higher Education, President of the Manila Times College, the former Philippine Undersecretary of Education and the current Governor of the Philippine National Book Development Board.
His presentation at the PSUCCESS conference tcan be found here:
http://kto12plusphilippines.com/
Dr. Isagani R. Cruz is a professor in Manila, a consultant on the Commission on Higher Education, President of the Manila Times College, the former Philippine Undersecretary of Education and the current Governor of the Philippine National Book Development Board.
His presentation at the PSUCCESS conference tcan be found here:
http://kto12plusphilippines.com/