TIM eMagazine Issue 6 | Page 14

Maritime The Standards of Training and Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) convention code will be used as a basis for developing the curriculum for the maritime specialization. standards of the maritime industry. Recall that critics of K to 12 want the program suspended because of its labor implications on college workers, among other concerns. However, the Supreme Court had dismissed the petitions thus paving the way for its implementation this coming June. The decision allowed the Department of Education and stakeholders to focus on the urgent remaining tasks for the opening of Grade 11 by June this school year. Luistro urged the petitioners and others concerned about the program "to work with us even more closely so we can address any remaining challenges." In a related development, Kabataan party list said the SC decision will impact even on future generations of Filipino school children who will "bear the brunt" of two more years of high school "under a labor-export and profit-oriented framework." It also said the K to 12 law program poses additional burdens, both on the part of the government and the families of students. Two more years of education is tantamount to two more years of torture. This, in essence, is what the SC allowed in its decision to dismiss the petitions. For MARINA Administrator Max Mejia Jr.: “We thank DepEd for their support and cooperation for the maritime SHS program. Thru the program, we will be able to show that the Philippines is able to provide or offer highly competent, well-trained and highly qualified Filipino seafarers, who are ready for employment upon graduating from high school.” 14