Graduation of K to 12 pioneer students on May 30, a landmark event in Phl educational system

A landmark event in the history of Philippine education system will take place on May 30 with the  pioneering batch of the Department of Education's (DepEd) K to 12 Program in two pilot schools in Leyte will be graduating on May 30 of this  year.

Palo Mayor Remedios L. Petilla said the first batch of K to 12 students from the Palo ! National High School and the Merida Vocational School will graduate on May 30 at the upper floor of the Palo Municipal Hall.

This is a very important historical event, Mayor Petilla said as she disclosed that no less than the secretary of Education has been invited to grace the graduation.

It was learned that in a recent assessment made by the DepEd and the Provincial Government of Leyte, about 200 students of Grades 11 and 12 took the K to 12 Program Modeling Implementation for two years.

The students come from Palo National High School and Merida Vocational School and are under the Income Creating Opportunities Thru Technology Projects (ICOT-P) of then Leyte governor now Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla which  being continued under the term of Governor Dominic Petilla.

Several private firms committed to hire the students under tourism, information and communications technology (ICT), automotive and metals, and engineering sector.

The DepEd in Eastern Visayas has initiated the modeling, in consortium with the Provincial Government of Leyte, Technical Education and Skill Development Authority (Tesda), Commission on Higher Education (Ched), and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges Eastern Visayas Chapter.

Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said DepEd can now assess what are needed to be improved in the implementation of the program in the Philippines.

“The K to 12 Program reinforces our vision to provide alternative learning and skills to our students who would not be able to continue to a college education. As they finish senior high school, they become equipped with skills and competencies that will make them ready to work,” he said.

The shift in the country’s education system started in 2012 with the universal kindergarten program. Filipino children aged five years old are now required to spend two years in kindergarten before entering Grade 1. opt