THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers said that majority of the senatorial candidates who attended its “Ang Senador at Ang Edukasyon 2022” forum expressed the need to review the K-12 curriculum and execute reforms to improve the quality of education.

The eight were Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Leila de Lima, represented by Atty. Abel Malangque, Rep. Loren Legarda, Atty. Neri Colmenares, Elmer ‘Bong’ Labog, Atty. Jose ‘Sonny’ Matula and former Ifugao representative Teodoro ‘Teddy’ Baguilat.

ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said that with the K-12 system nearing its 10 years of implementation, “it is important for the next leaders of the country to have a clear assessment of the K-12 program.”

“We have to answer the urgent questions on why education quality is in constant decline, why did K-12 fail to deliver on its promise of producing employable youth after finishing grade 12? More importantly, answer the question: Did the K-12 system serve to uplift the dire conditions of our people and the country?” asked Basilio.

Labor leader Elmer Labog called for a “progressive overhaul of the education system,” saying the curriculum is “too foreign-oriented and does not address the actual needs of the country for national development”.

Colmenares, who voted against the implementation of K-12, backed proposals to review the program, asserting that the number of years in school is not the main issue, but the content of the curriculum and the support that the government is giving to ensure education quality.

Baguilat batted for the passing of an IP Education Law that will recognize indigenous education and schools, and integrate indigenous knowledge to the curriculum. He said that schools in IP areas should be given the leeway to teach the history of their indigenous communities.

Gatchalian, meanwhile, warned of the declining education quality.

“Dapat nating tutukan ang kalidad ng edukasyon, kung hindi ay malaking kapinsalaan ito sa bansa sa hinaharap,” he said.

Legarda said that she wants to give K-12 a chance and that the education sector is in the best position to conduct an assessment of the program. She expressed the need to intensify education on climate and environment, as well as to strengthen the teaching of science and technology, engineering and mathematics.

Matula said that education should “not be a mere banking system, but should teach our students to imagine.” He advocated for the strengthening of the Alternative Learning System through incentives system, and scholarships for math and science education to upgrade the competencies of teachers on these subjects.