Business groups back K to 12 curriculum

Seven local and foreign business groups have thrown their support behind the government’s K to 12 enhanced basic education program despite calls for its suspension.

“K to 12 will foster the development of competent graduates who will join the workforce and contribute to national competitiveness. With this in mind, we the members of the Philippine business community reiterate our support for the continued and proper implementation of the K to 12 reform,” the groups said in a joint statement issued Friday.

The statement of support for the Enhanced Basic Education Act (Republic Act No. 10533, or the K to 12 Law) was signed by the Management Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Employers Confederation of the Philippines and Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines.

To effectively implement the K to 12 curriculum, the business groups also called on the government agencies involved, namely the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Labor and Employment to address the challenges of the systematic reform.

These challenges include: the potential displacement of tertiary faculty and staff during the 2016-2021 transition period; the possible closure of higher education institutions (HEIs), particularly small colleges, due to significant revenue losses; and the perception that the government is not fully prepared to meet the logistical requirements of the law such as faculty and staff, facilities and equipment, and learning materials.

According to the business community, the CHEd and Tesda must clearly outline the criteria for unemployment ad diminution benefits of the affected education personnel and to devise packages to support the development of post-secondary institutions during the transition period.