The K-12 curriculum, otherwise known as the “enhancement basic education law”, was passed in the year 2013 and implemented in 2014. The goal was to effectively upgrade and match the value of the Philippine educational system to that of other countries.

With its advantages such as available opportunities for studying abroad, better stock knowledge for universities, and technological advancement in study areas, the K-12  is hard to grasp for most, especially to those coming in after grade school. Here are 8 relatable problems K-12 students go through.

You are forced to choose a strand

STEM, ABM, HUMSS, and much more are strands expected to be chosen in the 10th grade –  students in the range of 13-15 years old. This means that students from an early age who are just adjusting from being a teenager had to pick a strand of interest that will greatly affect their grades and future, and would possibly lead to regret.

You are too focused in one area

If you wanted to have a career of being a writer and a doctor, or  a lawyer and an engineer at the same time, you are sadly placed in a crossroad. Strands, as mention above, are too focused in one category that students often forget that it’s the combination of all categories that truly help you in the future. K-12, please fix this.

The unavoidable discrimination

Discrimination is bound to happen especially when you have chosen a humanities, arts, or sports strand. Well, how can it be our fault if we’ve selected a strand that suits our forte?

Urgent shift in environment

It’s like you’ve just finally adjusted into being a traditional high school student, then, BAM! You’re facing new learning styles with different sets of laptops, tablets, and uniforms

Skipping a grade

Skipping a grade (or two) will not only hinder you from learning the basics, but also give you twice as much work, presentations, and more importantly, expectations from teachers and parents.

College Entrance Tests

Here is a big one: we all know that being in Senior High School means being in transition to your dream college. The school should provide a heavy change within the student’s environment – teachers with certified area of expertise, laptops instead of paper materials, presentations instead of a read-aloud-activities. Regardless of these upgrades, the department has overlooked College Entrance Exam Tests. What good is it to change the environment of the classrooms when we have to study thrice as hard as before due to the tests inability to specialize per strand?

Describing K-12 to older graduates is near to impossible

No, we’re neither a Junior nor a Senior. We’re both – we’re grades 11 and 12. You know what, never mind; just let us graduate.

The money

Enrolling on a K-12 program costs thousands more compared to the old curriculum. These are times when I wish I was born in the past.

The K-12 system will have its first and official graduates this year. As it stands, there are a handful of overlooked obstacles that students face today. Hopefully, through time, these complications will disappear and it will be as ideal as its proponents intended it to be.

Know someone who’s graduating as part of K-12? Tell us about them below!