Facing a daunting challenge three years from now, the education sector organized the Education Industry Tripartite Council to address projected issues as a result of the full implementation of the K-12 system starting school year 2016-2017.The organization of the council was held last November 13 at the Astoria Hotel in Zamboanga City.

This forward-looking action is intended to cushion the effects of adjustments as school administrators and their faculty adjust to the necessary requirements of the extended high school system in the entire Philippines.

According to Mr. Aurelio A. Santisas, Planning Officer of the Department of Education in Region 9, the full implementation will affect schools with purely college course offerings and may displace a number of faculty members if they are not absorbed into the new senior high school curriculum.

"Under the new set up, there will be two high school levels, the junior high school which is completed in four years, and the senior high school which is completed in two years. The junior level will get a graduation diploma while the senior level will be awarded a diploma and competency certification.", Santisas added.

With the additional high school level of two years, it is expected that the first two college years will be gravely affected as there may not be enrollees in those years, unless school drop-outs or student returnees enroll in their schools.

The participants, agreeing to act as a body to looking into certain issues that may crop up, and after a short overview on the mechanisms of the ITC, then elected its set of officers.

Elected Chairperson was Mr. Ronald Don Dulaca of Ebenezer Bible School, Sis. Ma.Charito P. Cabunoc RVM of Pilar College vice chair for management, Ms Charisa Y. Perez of Montessori de Zamboanga(vice chair for labor), MsRosenda P. Bacolod of MEIN College (treasurer) and Ms. Welane A. Gicole of Asia's Latin Institute( auditor). MrSantisas was appointed consultant while the DOLE will act as secretariat.

On the Board of Directors are various school administrators coming from UZ Technical High School, St, Joseph High School, Immaculate Concepcion Archdiocesan School de Calarian, J-Jireh School, Claret high School, HMIJ-FIC, Zion Evangelical School, Brent Hospital and Colleges, Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Zamboanga Polytechnic School, Good Shepherd Mission School, Bethany Child Development Center, AE Memorial Science High School, Computer Technologies Institute and Filipino Turkish Tolerance School.

Josephina Crudo