BACOLOD CITY – Militant women's group Gabriela-Negros launched a signature campaign against the implementation of the K to 12 reformed basic education program, in front of the Negros Occidental High School here yesterday.

Starting this school year, the K to 12 makes mandatory kindergarten education for five-year-old children and two additional two years of senior high school for all students.

Rina Amacio, secretary general of Gabriela-Negros, told The News Today the petition signing is part of their continuing efforts to signify their protest against the program that they believe ignores the bigger problem of lack of teachers and classrooms in public schools.

A number of students and parents have signed the petition, she said.

The new curriculum for Grade 1 to Grade 7, which used to be first year high school, will be implemented for school year 2012-2013. Grade 11 will be introduced in 2016-2017 and Grade 12, in 2017-2018.

The first batch of students under the K to 12 program will complete their 12-year basic education in 2018.

"For us, K to 12 is not the answer to the deteriorating quality of education in the country," Amacio said.

She added that the implementation of the K to 12, aimed to make students who undergo the additional two-year senior high school years employable, cannot address unemployment because even college graduates cannot find jobs.

"And to the parents, this is additional expense. The basic right to education is made impossible by the K to 12 because it discriminates against the poor," Amacio added.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. had earlier said

he has been informed that several complaints on the lack of teachers and classrooms have been lodged as the Department of Education implements the K to 12 program.

Marañon said the focus should be on improving the quality of teaching to ensure better education.*NLG