Department of Education said last Friday that they will offer free crash kindergarten lesson to help million of Filipino children prepare for school.
According to DepEd Kenneth Tirado, this program was crafted seven weeks ago after the government has observed that many students were not able to read even after the first three years in primary grade school.
He also added that the increase in number of drop out rates which reaches six percent and resulted of failing to finish in the primary school by many children is also one of the factors that has considered by the government to pursue this program.
As of now, Tirado said that they are expecting that million of children who are in aged between five and six are now getting ready to enter the next school year in June. All of them are now being advised to undergo and join the kindergarten program.
All public schools in the country will be the venue for the free cl(–foul word(s) removed–) which will begin this month.
Without giving the exact number of children who had taken up the offer, Tirado said that about half a million took part in this program last year.
In a press conference, Armin Luistro, Education Minister said that this Kindergarten program is important to build a good foundation of education to children who will enter the primary school.
Luistro said that those children who are better prepared on the way of school life, develop a positive attitude towards schooling, learning and striving more to excel which will likely lead them in finishing their basic education.
He also added that President Aquino’s government is now getting the parliament p(–foul word(s) removed–) the law that those students in high school will stay six years from four years starting on 2016.
Currently the compulsory schooling which begins at six years old take about ten years to finish but if the extension will be p(–foul word(s) removed–)ed it will take 12 years.
Luistro explained that the 2 years extension in high school is a help to expand the learning time and stretch the skills development of the students. This will also help them to prepare in entering college and for work in the future.
If this will be implemented Luistro is expecting that this will improve our global competitiveness and would help every student for their personal benefit.
He said that he is aware that there are many who are not in favor of this extension of 2years in high school, especially the parents for it will only give them more expenses.