Governance, as I have learned, constitutes the government, the private sector, and the Filipino citizens or the masses, who are not part of the sectors aforementioned. It is only important, in any policy, program, and/or project of the government, to consider and engage all sectors of the society to result in a positive outcome. With this, I will further discuss what my participation, and all other sectors’ participation, should be on the crafting of the K-12 program.

I believe citizens’ participation in the design, guidelines for implementation, and pursuance of the K-12 Program should not be limited on the level of consultation. I will justify this by pointing out two arguments.

First, the K-12 Program will greatly affect not only the students, as the recipients of the program, but the parents of these children. Although there is a voucher being offered by the Department of Education, some private schools still do not accept such voucher. I know this because my younger brother has undergone the program and he did not avail of the voucher of the government since the school does not accept it. As a result, my parents had to shoulder the expensive tuition fee and other school-related expenditures. In addition, some students who availed the voucher of DepEd still do not receive free education because they had to pay some portion of the tuition fee that is not covered by the said voucher. This is another burden to most parents especially to those who are not fortunate in life and have difficulty knowing how and where to make money for their everyday expenses. For my parents, it is a burden because the tuition that is paid for his secondary education should have been allotted to his tertiary education. Also, my parents could have retired earlier because all of us have already graduated from school and are able to work and make money of our own if the program was not implemented.

Second, K-12 Program should be matched with the curricula in tertiary education. If research subject is already being taught and done in Grade 12, then, what new knowledge can be gained in college? If what is being taught in college is already integrated in the K-12 Program, why do these individuals be encouraged to enter college then?

Thus, my participation as a citizen should be at the level of Delegated Power, wherein the citizens are the ones to decide over the program. Through this participation, I am certain that my demands are to be integrated in the final decision. Because there is participation from the government and the people, a more relevant and appropriate policies and/or programs can be formed.

Pinakbet