The Kto12 Scare

There are a few reasons why I am not afraid of Kto12 easing us, GE teachers, out. First, I teach English and my school happens to give much importance on the subject. Second, I am tenured and I do not expect to be retrenched unless I violate some serious rule. Third, I am 51 years old, I actually look forward to more time to write instead of staying on campus 45 hours a week. Lastly, I am consulting in and writing Kto12 instructional materials.

This does not mean I do not sympathize with those who feel their teaching careers are about to end. It's just that I believe that what we GE teachers need to undergo is fair enough a bargain for the leveling up that our educational system is going through. Don't get me wrong. I have a son who was caught by this Kto12 shift but I don't mind the additional two years because I know that this system change is for the better. It also helps that this is happening in the time of Pres. Noynoy Aquino and Dep-Ed Secretary Armin Luistro.

I feel for those who believe the national language is being shortchanged by that CHED Memo. I think CHED needs to rethink what it has said so far on the language policy in HEI's under the Kto12 scenario. But I also believe our national language will prosper in basic education considering that there is the mother tongue-based curriculum in the primary years and Filipino will have the support of Dep-Ed.

To say that they (some language teachers affected by the absence of Filipino as a subject in college) fear the future and their livelihood is rather weak an argument for retention. I am sure most teachers especially in the tertiary are good in many things not just in the subject that they handle. It is a matter of attitude when one says he does not know where to get food to feed his family. The news program that aired that sentiment was of course being consistent with its fetish for the miserable and the misery it always paints about this country. If you want to feel better about yourself and your future, do not watch local primetime newscasts.

I hope that the debate triggered by the CHED Memo will result in unity among the ones who profess to support the national language. While we are at it I hope we continue with intellectualizing the language by writing instructional materials not just for HEIs but most especially for basic ed. I also think we should agree that instructional materials be written in Filipino and not just Tagalog. As it is right now our people keep referring to the national language as Tagalog which could be the reason this campaign for the national language has not gained enough support from the other regions.