I WAS pleased to hear President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. highlight education and the commitment to implement face-to-face classes this coming school season. Over two years of online classes, worksheets and modules at home have negatively impacted the quality of education for children, as well as their social and mental growth. Parents and guardians also faced challenges while monitoring and supplementing the teaching processes. Perhaps this is the reason why the result of the Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian showed an overwhelming rate of 44 percent of Filipinos dissatisfied with the current K to 12 program. Parents were frustrated. Some were shocked at the low quality of teaching modules. But before we knock the whole K to 12 system, let me say, it is not all that bad. Yes, it needs improvement and support. But no, it shouldn't be removed.

A teacher directs uniformed students to line up to enroll for school year 2022–2023 at the Lakandula High School in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO

I am not an expert in education. I am an active parent in my daughters' school committees. I had a decade's experience as a children's rights advocate for an international organization. My opinions are just anecdotal, as a mother of three children who were and are still in the Philippine K to 12 system. I felt very strongly about educating our kids in local Philippine schools during their elementary years, that this was one of the reasons I chose to reside in the Philippines. I wanted the same discipline and drills I had as an elementary student. Most of my peers chose international and progressive schools in Manila. For me, I chose a traditional Catholic school.

Some private schools relabeled the grading grid by skipping a year and counting Prep as Grade 1 in preparation for the K to 12 rollout. They've always had 12 years in basic. The "extra" years in public school meant graduation at the age of 18. It was meant to prepare them for employment, entrepreneurship, skills competency, or further higher education. The Philippines was the last country in Asia to implement K to 12 in 2013. Before that, only two other countries had a 10-year basic education program, Angola and Djibouti.

If done very well, graduates of senior high school in the Philippines become competitive in foreign universities. My daughter, a product of our traditional K to 12 system, made it to a top 20 university abroad. Her undergrad program in the humanities ranks number 8 to 11 globally, and she is doing well. All that from a simple Philippine K to 12 education with no other supplementary programs. Before the K to 12 system, a local Philippine high school graduation diploma was not recognized by foreign universities. Supplementary education was needed.

Critics of K to 12 say that current graduates are not really employment-ready. I question whether this is a result of K to 12 shortcomings or is it because employers in service industries still require a college degree. Perhaps, it is also time to review the labor sector and see whether a college degree is necessary for kitchen cooks, security guards, sales attendants in shops, receptionists and some factory workers. K to 12 vocational strands could address the need for employable skills.

In the decade I served as an advocate for children's rights focusing on nutrition, health, safety and education, I was able to visit many public schools around the Philippines after emergencies. Our traditional public school buildings are actually well-designed with cross-ventilation, gardens and natural light. They are used as emergency evacuation centers and double up as election voting precincts. I've seen some provincial schools incorporate gardening and container farming in basic education. We helped build tippy-taps, a low-cost makeshift technology that allows for handwashing stations. A lot of these buildings are in need of physical renovations, not to mention an upgrade to meet digital needs. Most are crowded and ill-equipped for both students and teachers. President Duterte increased the salaries of public school teachers. A Teacher 1 salary increased from 19,077 to 23,877. But more reforms and support are needed.

I hope that this Marcos administration takes the time to properly review the K to 12 system. It has not all failed. It is designed well with standards that meet global expectations. For me, it was one of the best legacies of the PNoy administration. But it was not implemented nor supported properly in the public school system.

Like BBM said, we need to improve the way maths and science are taught. Not everyone will aim to be in the STEM fields. But the core of all senior high academic strands should have strong math and at least some good natural and environmental sciences. Let us keep Filipino students in school until they are at least 18. We cannot cut corners and shorten the length of high school just to get students in the workforce earlier. We should be a nation that is on an upward trajectory in terms of skills and standards rather than be one that takes shortcuts.

Support parents and families by providing food and transportation subsidies. The "Libreng Sakay sa MRT" is a good program in Metro Manila. Local governments around the country should also provide free shuttle services in the barangay so children can continue going to school. Private citizens and organizations can get together and sponsor feeding programs in schools. We can provide students with free arroz caldo, mongo, rice and bread buns. Encourage school gardening programs where students can learn to grow food, manage supply and learn about the economy by setting up afternoon farmer's markets. Make the children responsible for cleaning the classrooms. They can learn to make natural disinfectants. They manage trash and recyclables. These are forgotten basic life skills that offer so much learning and instill discipline. It takes a village to raise a child.