THE GOVERNMENT can either fully fund the implementation of the K to 12 program or suspend it, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said.

He issued the statement as he enumerated the missing features of the program for lack of funds.

“The immediate solution is simple: either i-suspend ang K to 12 for five to 10 years until we have enough resources, or fund the K to 12 now as it was envisioned,” Cayetano said.

He recalled that when the K to 12 Law was being discussed, what was envisioned was employable graduates even if they don’t proceed to college.

“They [DepEd] promised na bubuhusan ng pera, na after senior high, employable na; ladderized, babawasan ng one year ang college, and better quality of education,” he said.

Cayetano, who was one of two senators who opposed the program when it was being discussed, said the K to 12 program has so far failed to address problems concerning the quality of education.

“Ang ipinangako sa atin, ‘pag pumunta ka sa school at sports track ‘yan, may oval, gym, equipment, coaches, swimming pool. ‘Pag pumunta ka sa techvoc, may garahe, testing equipment, motor, at akmang professors,” he said.

He also noted that the time spent in school has been reduced from eight hours to six hours.

“Hindi ‘yan ang usapan namin noon bago naipasa ang K to 12,” the senator pointed out.

Cayetano stressed that K to 12 should zero in on improving the quality of education and not just add two years of schooling.

The senator clarified that he is for K to 12 but said after 10 years of unfulfilled promises, the government should either fully fund it or suspend it for a few years in favor of improving the previous education program of 10 years.