The K to 12 Basic Education Program that gives high school graduates better choices in the field of work or further education has been passed in the Senate on the third and final reading yesterday.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said, “this development draws us even closer to our goal of a reformed basic education system that offers an enhanced curriculum to better equip our learners.”

K to 12 features Senior High School in secondary education (Grade 11 and Grade 12) and makes Kindergarten mandatory among 5-year olds in all public schools nationwide. The additional two years after fourth year high school will further hone the skills and talents of students on their chosen career path in arts and sports, technical vocational, entrepreneurship or tertiary education.

The bill will proceed to a bicameral meeting of both the Senate and Congress to reconcile its features and further fine-tune the measure before being signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

“We are grateful to the support of our lawmakers in both Houses and we are hopeful for its eventual passage into a law,” Luistro added.

DepEd is currently doing all the necessary preparations for the full implementation of K to 12 in 2016. In school year 2012-2013, the curriculum for Grade 1 and Grade 7 was rolled out. By June (school year 2013-2014) the curriculum for Grade 2 and Grade 8 will be introduced.

The kindergarten law was passed in January 2011 and universal kindergarten was institutionalized in June that year.