House Overwhelmingly Approves K to 12 Bill on Third and Final Reading

A bill that will ensure the continuity of K to 12 and its corresponding funding by the state has been approved overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives by a vote of 190 in favor and eight against.

The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2012, or House Bill 6643, was approved on third reading yesterday. It will then be reconciled with the Senate version for amendments and improvements until it becomes a law.

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said that DepEd is thankful for the support of the lawmakers in spearheading legislation that will open more opportunities to the Filipino youth by way of an education system that is relevant to the learners, the community, and industries. 

“We are getting closer to our goal of putting in place a basic education system that responds directly to what our learners need and to what the employment and entrepreneurship sectors require, even as it gives enough preparation for students who are geared for higher education,” added Luistro.

K to 12 starts with Univeral Kindergarten which mandates all public elementary schools to offer kindergarten class and accept 5-year old learners beginning 2011. It is followed by six years of Elementary, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High School where students will pursue their preferred career track depending on their skills and inclination. K to 12 does not preclude students from pursuing a college degree and gives them better preparation for the rigors of higher learning. 

Luistro has expressed his appreciation to the K to 12 proponents in the House of Representatives, especially Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo, Committee on Basic Education and Culture Presiding Officer, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, and the late Salvador Escudero III.

The K to 12 bill in the Senate is being championed by Senator Edgardo Angara. 

A most recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Station revealed that majority of the respondents approved of K to 12 and are confident that it will bring the much-needed reform in the country’s educational system.

Nationwide Survey Reveals Increasing Public Approval of K to 12 and High Confidence in DepEd’s Capacity to Achieve Goals

The K to 12 Basic Education Program of the Department of Education has increased public approval rating based on latest survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS).

In a survey conducted from August 24-27, results showed growing acceptability of the key features of the reform program compared to survey results in March 2012 and earlier.


72% of Filipino adults believe that K to 12 will give students more sufficient knowledge and preparation for work and college compared to those who finished 10 years of basic education, garnering a net rating of +48, up from +35 last March.

The percentage of Filipinos who believe that more students will be encouraged to finish Senior High School (SHS) in the K to 12 Basic Education Program because it is equivalent to two years of college showed a ten-point increase with 69%, a significant increase from 59% in March, with a net rating of +41.

Moreover, results showed that 68% of Filipinos with a net rating of +39 believe that more students will finish SHS even with the additional cost and number of years because K to 12 graduates will be better prepared for work, higher education, and business.


K to 12 prescribes an enhanced basic education program that covers one year of Kindergarten education, 6 years of elementary education, and 6 years of secondary education consisting of 4 years of Junior High School and two years Senior High School. K to 12 graduates will be equipped with middle-level skills, readiness for higher education, and readiness for livelihood, may it be employment or entrepreneurship.


Looking at the complementary aspects of providing access to quality and equitable education for all Filipinos, the same survey revealed that 72% of the respondents agree that DepEd will be able to improve the quality of teachers while 7 out of 10 say DepEd will be able to address classroom shortages.


Overall, public satisfaction with DepEd increased by 12 points while awareness of Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC was at a record high of 90%.


The Third Quarter 2012 Social Weather Report was conducted nationwide with 1,200 respondents representing all economic classes, and a balance across genders, age groups, and locale (urban and rural).