Abstract:
Since the time of his candidacy President Benigno Aquino III has kept basic education reform at the core of his campaign. His 10-point agenda for education in the Philippines include: The Universal Pre-school; The Madrasah Education; Technical-Vocational Education in Senior High School; Every child a reader by Grade 1; Proficiency in Math and Science; Assistance to Private Schools; Multilingual Education; Quality Textbooks; Covenant with Local Government Units (LGU’s) to Build More School and finally; The Expansion to a 12-year Basic Education Cycle (K+12). By the time the Aquino administration had assumed office in 2010, the one thing that it is very excited to push for is the reform of the basic education cycle, which would expand the basic education in the country from a 10-year period to a 12-year cycle. In a speech by the Commission on Higher Education Chairperson (CHED) Patricia Licuanan (2012) which officially launched the program, she said, “The K to 12 initiative is probably the boldest innovation embarked on by the education sector that is meant to address several issues in education”.