CEBU CITY – Schools and colleges in Cebu are now taking measures and steps in preparing an additional two more years in the educational system which is in accordance with international standards. This move will make basic education in the Philippines 12 years, instead of the current 10.

However, the Department of Education (DepED) in Central Visayas is apprehensive about the expenses to be incurred by the two-year addition to education, both by the Department and by parents of school-going children.

DepEd 7 Director Recaredo Borgonia is suggesting that the two additional years be implemented in the basic years, like pre-elementary or elementary levels, to ensure that this benefits majority of the students.

"We should put the additional two years at the lower levels because our statistics show that only a few percent of our elementary and high school students go to college," said Borgonia in esterday's 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

Borgonia said placing the additional two years to basic education, especially in the elementary level, would surely better the situation for students who cannot afford to go to college.

"What we can do is strengthen pre-elementary and elementary education and there, the DepEd can help," said Borgonia.

Fr. Felino Javines Jr., Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University of San Carlos (USC), said the University is now gearing up for the transition from K10 to K12 levels, to comply with said international standards.

K10 means a student has to undergo kindergarten, six years of elementary, and four years of college. K12 means two more years but where to put the additional two years remains a questions, said Borgonia.

Fr. Javines said the USC is hopeful that the new administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III will implement the additional two years the soonest time possible.

The additional years is necessary so as to meet the Bologna Accord, which comes into effect this year in the European Union. As it is, currently, if one were to send one’s child to a EU-member country to study, the child’s Philippine diploma will not be recognized because graduates of Philippine schools would have gone through an insufficient number of years in school.

One negative effect of the Bologna Accord will be to deprive Filipinos of many job opportunities abroad. Once adopted by the European Union, educational experts foresee the United States taking a similar, critical attitude toward Philippine education credentials.

"We cannot emphasize enough the devastating effect this would have on the employment prospects of Filipinos abroad," said Fr. Javines.