SC upholds K-12 program’s constitutionality

SC upholds K-12 program’s constitutionality (philstar.com) – November 10, 2018 – 2:30pm MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has junked petitions questioning the legality of the government’s K-12 program, which adds two years to the secondary education curriculum. In a 94-page decision penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the SC declared as constitutional Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. The high tribunal also upheld the legality of Republic Act 10157 or the Kindergarten Law, which states that all children from age five will have to undergo kindergarten, now considered mandatory before formal education. In denying the petitions, the SC said the K-12 law was “validly enacted.” “The Court, despite its vast powers, will not review the wisdom, merits, or propriety of governmental policies, but will strike them down only on either of two grounds: (1) unconstitutionality or illegality and/or (2) grave abuse of discretion,” the SC’s decision read in part. “For having failed to show any of the above in the passage of the assailed law and the department issuances, the petitioners’ remedy thus lies not with the Court, but with the executive and legislative branches of the government,” it added. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral