Negros Oriental Schools Division Superintendent Salustiano Jimenez said they are ready for K-12 and are against any move to suspend its implementation.
“It’s go, go, go for K-12 implementation here in the province. There’s no backing out, because we are ready,” Jimenez said in a Kahipan forum.
In the Negros Oriental Division, 124 out of 127 high schools will be offering senior high school by 2016.
Of the 124, 89 high schools already have budget allocations for the construction of senior high school classrooms.
“This May, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) started the bidding process, so probably by June, the construction of classrooms will begin and may be completed by July or August,” said Jimenez.
Targeted schools are expected to start implementing the new curriculum of Grade 11 by 2016, and will be hiring teachers that are qualified to handle Grade 11.
Jimenez said a series of trainings on the new curriculum is ongoing for teachers, with the third set scheduled for this summer, in partnership with Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
However, Jimenez also stressed the lack of teachers and classrooms every year as the number of new enrollees is increasing.
“But we’re still able to do it and deliver the services well,” he said.
Apart from trainings of the teachers, the schools division also conducted summits wherein different stakeholders have committed to contribute and support the education program.
The DepEd official urged the public to work together and be united to make the implementation of K-12 program successful. (PIA/Jennifer C. Tilos and Sheena Mae Diongco)
