A Kilometer Journey to Success: The Challenges in the Implementation of Senior High School in Hinterland

Hi Guys, I would like to share to you this post. Actually I'm really hesitant to post this article in my blog because, I might get criticized of my grammar and information stated in this article. But I'm proud because it is my first time to have my article published in a local "publishing house". Hahaha It's located in Iligan City and I'm glad that my article is featured in the Philippine Post Digest (Magazine- October Issue). The together with the other DepEd teachers in Iligan City, we've come up a great and informative Magazine about education. Here's my article.

A Kilometer Journey to Success:  The Challenges in the Implementation of Senior High School in Hinterland

How will you define “success”? Success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. Many people aim for financial success, to have a happy family and have the right career. While for students, they define success by having their hard-earned-diploma and graduate in their chosen course. But, are all students given an equal chance to choose their right track and career? Now that there's an implementation of the K to12 program, is it possible to attain?

What is Kto12? How it affect students nowadays? The Kto12 Basic Education program is a flagship program of DepEd which introduces the additional two (2) years of Senior High School (SHS)-Grades 11 and 12. Through Kto12, learners will be equipped to be holistically developed Filipinos with 21st century skills. The additional two years of Senior High School (SHS) aims to provide enough time for mastery of skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship. However, if the student cannot finish the twelve (12) years of basic education (in case they will not continue the Senior High), they will be called “Grade 10 Completers”. They cannot be called “High School Graduate” and they are not entitled to have a diploma. Kto12 program is already a law and is already implemented. Grade 10 students are in their final year in Junior High School as they are set to enter Senior High School in 2016.

Teachers in the hinterland, as they conducted career guidance activities, there are some issues and concerns that arise about the Kto12 implementation. The purpose of the activity is to assist students in choosing their desired course or track. I would like to emphasize the word “choose”. This means they are given the chance to choose the path or desired career that matches their abilities. However, this activity seems to be useless, if the following issues and concern will not be address and resolve. The common issues are:

1. Long distance of home to school- this is one of the big factor that affects students’ decision making. Examples of this are the students in Lanipao High School- Annex in Iligan City. Students walk a kilometer daily. It took them hours of walking, climbing a cliff and crossing rivers just to reach the school. Barangay Lanipao has only one high school and it only offers one track (Technical Vocational Course- Dressmaking and Tailoring). If Senior High will be implemented, it will took them another (additional) kilometer to walk if they wish to enroll in other school who offers other track (i.e. Academic, Sports and Arts). Choosing would be harder for them.

2. Financial Stability of Parents- Yes, the government (DepEd) will shoulder the tuition fee of the students in Senior High School. They’re giving vouchers for students who wish to enroll in private school. But it’s not enough. In the hinterland, majority of parents are farmers and their incomes are not stable. Mostly the average monthly income is around 2,000- 3,000 Php. Not good enough to pay additional expenses like miscellaneous fee, board and lodging (in case they choose their desired track).

3. “Passive Mentality”- It is a challenge for teachers to break that “passive mentality”. Mostly, students are not receptive. They don’t value education that much. About 90% of student population in Lanipao High School Annex did not proceed to college. Most likely, they end up getting married at the early age. Their reason? Financial problem. The implementation of Senior High will be a great challenge to train students to be receptive and encourage them to persevere.

4. More Workforce Needed (School, Students, Teacher and Stakeholders) –
 Teacher factor, schools in the hinterland have only few teachers. Teachers who are handling seven (7) load or subjects that can cause infectivity and burn outs. Teachers have to shoulder the shortcomings of the government- teaching materials and finding available resources. There’s a need of more teachers in hinterlands, especially in the implementation of Senior High. Teachers need more support from the government.

Success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. Now, is it possible to reach that success we aimed for? Our main purpose in Kto12 program is to empower students, to train them, equip them with different skills. The main purpose of Senior High School program is to produce quality graduates that are prepared for tertiary, entrepreneurship, employment, to be productive… a graduate that could compete globally. We should not ignore the serious challenges Kto12 program. At the same time, we should take hold on its very real potential to improve the lives of everyone. Despite all the issues and concerns it is still the duty for teacher, students, stakeholders and the government to work hand-in-hand to make this mission possible. Don’t complain. Address the issues so that it can be resolve. There are many problems to be fixed in Kto12 education program and we should pursue these solutions with zeal. To do so means dealing with the many challenges of Kto12 rather than simply putting them on hold.

------end----- A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning. ~Brad Henry

I hope you learned something from this post. Keep going everyone.