Solon Lauds Approval of K+12 Bill

PRESS RELEASE                                                                                               18 OCTOBER 2012

SOLON LAUDS APPROVAL OF K+12 BILL

Congress has passed on second reading the bill seeking to enact the K+12 basic education program but not without debate.

Included in House Bill 6643 or the bill for the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2012” is a provision adopted from House Bill 3479 by Cong. Angelo B. Palmones of AGHAM Party-list which seeks to allow graduates of Science, Mathematics, Statistics and Engineering Courses to teach Science and Mathematics in the Elementary and Secondary levels. The included provision, section 8 of the bill, was proposed to be amended prior to its passage on second reading last 17^th of October, 2012.

“We want to acknowledge and express our  appreciation of  Congw.  Rosenda Ann Ocampo’s firm conviction and belief why this provision should not be amended from the K+12 bill,” Palmones said.

Congresswoman Ocampo was the sponsor in plenary of the said measure.

“The other authors who worked hard on this bill,  together with the positive recommendations  of DepEd and DOST helped  to enlighten  that this provision does not only address the  lack of manpower in the basic education unit, but it also addresses the need to have teachers fully equipped and trained in the sciences for students to  learn better  from their mentors,” Palmones added.

In a report on the 2003 Trends in International Mathematics and Sciences Survey (TIMSS) for fourth grade students, the Philippines mathematics average score was 358 compared to the international average score of 495. For the sciences, the Philippines’ average score was 332 compared to the international average score of 489. In the same survey with equivalent to 8^th grade student participants (aged 13 years or those who are in second year High School), the Philippines’ average Mathematics score was 378 out of the 466 average international score, while the country fared 377 out of a 473 average international score for the Sciences.

The K+12 program aims to have significant improvements in the quality of education for the country’s younger population especially in math and science. 

“Quality science education is one of the advocacies of AGHAM Party-List .  We sincerely  hope  the K+12 bill helps  assure  the public that our advocacy goal  shall  be served,”  Palmones added.  (AGHAM/Anne Margaux B. Mateo)