President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is not opposed to the implementation of the K-12 program but is focused on improving its curriculum, according to Malacañang on Wednesday.
“Hindi na po siya tutol talaga sa K-12. Aayusin po ngayon (He is not really against K-12. It will be improved now),” stated Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during a press conference.
“Pero kung ano po ang magiging batas, iyan din po ang susundin. Pero sa ngayon na nandiyan ang batas, ito po ay bibigyan ng halaga at palalawigin at pagagandahin po (But whatever the law will be, that will also be followed. But now that the law is there, it will be valued, expanded, and improved),” she added.
Marcos acknowledged the lack of preparedness in implementing the education program, as Castro noted.
“Ang sinabi lang po niya ay hindi naging epektibo agad dahil hindi niya nai-prepare ang mga ahensya para dito (What he is saying is that it was not effective immediately because he did not prepare the agencies for it),” she explained.
In a podcast aired last month, Marcos expressed frustrations regarding the K-12 program and directed Education Secretary Sonny Angara to strengthen the curriculum and address long-standing gaps in education infrastructure.
Castro emphasized that the current administration would make every effort to enhance the K-12 program.
“Ayon po sa ating Pangulo, hanggat nandyan ang batas para sa K-12, ito po ay susuportahan at palalawigin at pag-iibayuhin na maayos para sa ating mga estudyante (According to our President, as long as the law for K-12 is there, it will be supported, expanded, and improved properly for our students),” she stated.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has previously filed a bill seeking the removal of the senior high school (SHS) level in the K-12 program, citing criticism and objections from various groups.
Angara mentioned that there are ongoing efforts to improve the SHS program, with over 800 schools nationwide participating in a pilot run of the enhanced curriculum for Grades 11 and 12, set to begin in the school year 2025-2026.