Kadamay opposes K12

August 18, 2010 | Davao City--The Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY), a militant urban poor organization, joined a growing clamor by parents nationwide in expressing its strong opposition against the proposed implementation of K12 basic education system by the Aquino administration.   

According to Franchie Buhayan,Spokesperson of KADAMAY,‘’Lisod na kaayo ang pagpaeskwela sa mga bata sa kasamtangan, dugangan pa gyud og duha ka tuig ang pag-antos sa mga ginikanan. Magpasamot lang kini sa kalisod ug magpadaghan sa ihap sa mga dili makahuman sa elementarya ug hayskul.”

Buhayan slammed the Aquino government for pointing to K12 as panacea to the problems in the education sector instead of increasing subsidy to public schools, hiring more public school teachers and increasing their basic wages, expanding coverage of scholarships, and most importantly, certifying as urgent, a legislated wage increase of P125 that would benefit millions of workers, urban poor and their children.

In a study cited by KADAMAY,  out of 100 students who enroll in Grade 1, only 65 students will finish elementary, and of these 65 students only 42 will finish High school.  In 2009, the Department of Education declared that there were 5.6 million children who were out of school.

Buhayan said,“adding two more school years in basic education will not solve the perennial problems of our educational system.   The shortages in classrooms and teachers are common problems that remain unresolved. The present ratio of classrooms and students reached to 1:85 while our country needs 40,000 teachers.”

Buhayan said,“samtang kolonyalisado ug komersyalisado ang sistema sa edukasyon sa nasud, dili mulambo ang kalidad sa edukasyon sa atong mga estudyante. Dako ang problema sa sistema sa edukasyon sa Pilipinas, apil niini ,ang mahal kaayo nga mga bayronon sa eskwelahan ug ang mga subjects sa eskwelahan nga dili praktikal aron mapalambo ang kinabuhi sa mga tao ug ang nasud.”

Buhayan also said,“the Aquino administration is diverting crucial issues concerning the education sector.  What is needed more of them is a resolute stand that would eradicate tuition fee increases and other laws that hamper the rights of our youths to education.”