reflection #7

Component 1 of the

Components of Curriculum and 

Curricular Approaches

The first component of a certain curriculum is to identify the aims, goals and its objectives. In a particular institution called school, whether directed by the government or by the private sector, a positive curriculum is implanted. In this beloved country, our educational system is split into three levels, we have primary, secondary and tertiary – each has its particular aims, goals and objectives.  As we are now applying and approaching the K to 12 educational program, the Tri-Focals of the country has been develop, namely, the Dep Ed for the primary level and CHED for the secondary and tertiary level and TESDA for vocational skills. 

We have also discussed the importance of the school’s vision and mission and goals. We have that VMGO acronym which stands for Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives. For us to know what would become of a particular institution, its vision would help us clarify it. For the vision to be carried out, the school’s mission statement is then significant, targeting to bring into being the kind of persons the students will become after having been educated over a certain period of time. Then, broad statements or plans to be accomplished, school must go further to its goals, which comprise the learners, the society and the support of knowledge. For the goals to be made simple, specific objectives are set for the achievement of an individual learner. It also direct to behavioral change which is the ultimate intention of learning. These are also the bases for which learning outcomes are to be evaluated.

I have also learned from Ma’am Olga about the 21^st Century Skill Literacy among Filipinos. One is considered literate if he/she is able to communicate well, expressing his/her ideas in the proper situation. Also, if one is comfortable or confident in terms of handling or manipulating the ICT; productive and competitive. 

The above checklist of a Filipino literate in this present generation is just one of the manifestations that the designed curriculum of an institution which entails its vision, mission, goals and objectives, is ever effective, successful and useful.

As we desire to be a curriculum designer one day, we then have to take into thought of what vision, mission, goals and objectives are to be considered as to the need of the learners and the society which comprises the first component of constructing a curriculum.

reflection #6

 Campaigns!

Yes! K to 12 Campaigns! This is a shout out for all of us to awaken and be in line with the advance and not a decongested curriculum. We have long been burdened with the previous curriculum of 10-year educational program in which this system had led us to many jobless Filipino people, multiplying street children and out-of-school youth.

With the new (only in our country) K to 12 educational program, it offers a more balanced approach to learning that will enable children to acquire and master lifelong learning skills. This will also help releasing parents of the burden of having to spend college just to make their children employable. Not just this is a better program but that this will help in ensuring employment for our graduates.  This new k to 12 basic education curriculum will be sufficient to prepare students for work. It will enable students to acquire Certificate of Competency (COCs) and national Certifications (NCs) that will be in accordance to TESDA training regulations. This will allow graduates to have middle level skills and will offer them better opportunities to be gainfully employed. 

Additionally, these K to 12 Program will be offered for free in public schools and its graduates will have higher earning potential since they will be more competent and skilled compared to graduates of the current 10-year system. Therefore, this is not at all an additional cost to parents.

Plus, this program will also help students intending to pursue higher education because this curriculum will be in accordance with the college willingness standards from CHED which sets the skills and competencies of the k to 12 graduates who wish to pursue higher education.

What more is that this K to 12 Program will help working students in college level by having DepED in collaboration with CHED to provide more opportunites for working students to attend classes. DepED is also working with the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure that jobs will be available to K to 12 graduates and that consideration will be given to working students.

The good thing is that the curriculum will be learner-centered, enriched, and responsive to local needs. It will also allow students to choose electives that suit their interest. This should partly address those who drop out because of lack of interest. DepEd will also continue to offer programs such as home schooling for elementary students and the dropout reduction program for high schools. These programs the learning needs of marginalized students and learners at risk of dropping out.

What better curriculum could we ask for? This educational system is our most awaited system. The DepEd’s goal of EFA, Education for All, will now be taken into action. So, YES for K to 12 Curriculum!