Cayetano reignites debate over K to 12 program: Fund it Radically or abolish it entirely
August 4, 2025
Cayetano reignites debate over K to 12 program: Fund it Radically or abolish it entirely
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has reignited the debate over the K to 12 program, urging the Senate to decide once and for all: either radically fund it with hundreds of billions or abolish it entirely.
During a recent plenary session, Cayetano argued that a decade of poor K to 12 implementation has only worsened the education crisis, leaving students with overcrowded classrooms and insufficient resources.
"The promise in K to 12, even in first year high school, junior high school, there's already a track... Another promise is that for the General Education (GE) subjects, we'll transfer that to high school so that the colleges are promised to be cut to three years," the senator said on July 30, 2025.
"That is why I think the task of the 20th Congress is really the radical change that is needed in the education sector. Let's make the hard decisions and put our money where our mouth is," he added.
Since the introduction of K to 12 a decade ago, Cayetano has warned that the program would fail without addressing teacher shortages, lack of facilities, and funding gaps.
"The question is: would we rather have just grades 1-6 and years 1-4 for high school with all facilities complete or two more years with inadequate facilities? Adding two more years would further add to this burden and could trigger an increase in the number of dropouts," he said in 2012 during the law's deliberation with the late-senator Senator Edgardo Angara.
His prediction would be proven correct, with learning outcomes still lagging behind regional peers despite the extended curriculum.
This is why Cayetano is proposing a P200 billion to P500 billion annual investment--a fraction of the Department of Public Works and Highways' P1 trillion budget--to finally deliver not just on K to 12's promises but also resolve the systemic problems in basic education.
"The Department of Public Works and Highway's budget is P1 trillion. Do you want to end the lack of classrooms in a year? If per classroom costs P1 million, that accounts to only P165 billion -- almost half or two-thirds of the DPWH budget," Cayetano said.
Online reactions: Parents weigh in
The livestreamed session sparked discussion among netizens, particularly parents whom voiced frustration over the program's burdens.
"I agree with you Senator Cayetano. Sana po masolusyunan na ang grade 11 and 12 matanggal na. Dagdag gastos lang ito sa part ng mga magulang po," one commented.
Another said, "Ang kulang sa atin ay ang facilities for specialized sa skills na i-develop nila. Dapat suportahan po ang school diyan."
Some also wanted to return to the old curriculum.
"Taasan ang sahod ng public teacher at additional classroom nila. Dapat 40 students lang per room," while another said, "Tanggalin niyo na Ang K12 at ibalik sa dating pamamaraan."
These sentiments echo the concerns Cayetano raised: without substantial support, the K to 12 program remains a hollow reform that burdens students instead of empowering them.
"The solution is there but we have to be radical," the senator urged his colleagues.
Cayetano muling binuhay ang usapin ng K to 12: Pondohan nang malakihan o tuluyan nang ibasura
Muling binuhay ni Senador Alan Peter Cayetano ang debate tungkol sa K to 12 program sa pamamagitan ng panawagan sa Senado na magdesisyon na kung popondohan ba ito nang malakihan o tuluyan nang ibasura.
Sa isang plenary session, iginiit ni Cayetano na ang isang dekadang implementasyon ng K to 12 ay lalo lamang nagpalala sa krisis sa edukasyon. Aniya, imbes na paluwagin nito ang mga klase ay nagkukumpulan ang mga mag-aaral sa mga silid-aralan na kulang pa sa kagamitan.
"The promise in K to 12, even in first year high school, junior high school, there's already a track... Another promise is that for the General Education (GE) subjects, we'll transfer that to high school so that the colleges are promised to be cut to three years," wika ng senador nitong July 30, 2025.
"That is why I think the task of the 20th Congress is really the radical change that is needed in the education sector. Let's make the hard decisions and put our money where our mouth is," dagdag niya.
Mula nang ipinanukala ang K to 12 noong 2013, nagbabala na si Cayetano na hindi magiging matagumpay ang programa kung hindi tutugunan ang kakulangan ng mga guro, pasilidad, at pondo.
"The question is: would we rather have just grades 1-6 and years 1-4 for high school with all facilities complete or two more years with inadequate facilities? Adding two more years would further add to this burden and could trigger an increase in the number of dropouts," sabi niya noong 2012 nang pinag- dedebatehan ang programa kasama ang yumaong senador na si Senador Edgardo Angara.
Ngayong nananatiling nahuhuli ang bansa kumpara sa karatig-bansa, napatunayan nga ni Cayetano na hindi magkakaroon ng malakasang epekto ang pinalawig na curriculum.
Kaya iminungkahi ni Cayetano ang taunang pamumuhunan na P200 billion hanggang P500 billion -- na aniya'y maliit kumpara sa P1 trilyong budget ng Department of Public Works and Highways -- upang matupad hindi lamang ang mga pangako ng K to 12 kundi malutas din ang mga sistemikong problema sa basic education.
"The Department of Public Works and Highway's budget is P1 trillion. Do you want to end the lack of classrooms in a year? If per classroom costs P1 million, that accounts to only P165 billion -- almost half or two-thirds of the DPWH budget," wika ni Cayetano.
Mga reaksyon ng mga magulang
Pinag-usapan sa comment section ng naka-livestream na session ang isyu, kung saan nagpahayag ang ilang mga magulang ng kanilang hinaing sa bigong K to 12 na programa.
"I agree with you Senator Cayetano. Sana po masolusyunan na ang grade 11 and 12 matanggal na. Dagdag gastos lang ito sa part ng mga magulang po," komento ng isa.
Sabi ng isang netizen, "Ang kulang sa atin ay ang facilities for specialized sa skills na i-develop nila. Dapat suportahan po ang school diyan."
May ilan din na nais ibalik ang lumang curriculum.
"Taasan ang sahod ng public teacher at additional classroom nila. Dapat 40 students lang per room."
Dagdag pa ng isa, "Tanggalin niyo na ang K to 12 at ibalik sa dating pamamaraan."
Sumasalamin ang mga komentong ito sa mga isyung binanggit ni Cayetano: nananatiling hindi matagumpay ang K to 12 at nagbibigay lang ito ng pasanin sa mga mag-aaral imbes na palakasin sila.
"The solution is there but we have to be radical," udyok ng senador sa kanyang mga kabaro.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
