ABSTRACT
The Kindergarten Curriculum Framework has been developed as a developmentally suitable, ageappropriate, individually appropriate, and socioculturally acceptable curriculum for kindergarten learners. Kindergarten learners are always growing in various domains (cognitive, verbal, physical, creative and aesthetic, socioemotional, and values and character). set in the National Early Learning Framework (NELF) formulated by the Early Childhood Care Development (ECCD) Council. The Department of Education (DepEd) pointed out that as an important asset of the nation, the Filipino child is “a human person who loves God, his or her parents, and his or her nation; is glad to be a Filipino; respects the people's customs, traditions, and good values; is aware of his or her basic rights; appreciates different cultures; and is capable of living in peace and harmony with all.” The DepEd also affirms that kindergarten is a transition stage between informal and formal literacy. At this stage, children should be immersed in activities, games, and play in order to spontaneously acquire the skills/competencies required for their holistic development as emergent literates and readiness for formal education. In this transition, children are bombarded with changes occurring around them. Thus, interventions to address the kindergartens’ needs must be in place, and the kindergarten teachers are in the best position to effect changes and apply the needed guidance and corrective measures on areas needing attention. In today's complex world, it's critical to assist children in developing their personal and social competence so that they can live a happy, welladjusted, and rewarding life. As a result, the home-school collaboration is critical in addressing all challenges affecting children's capacity to learn.
Keywords: Administration, Education, Learning, Performance, Kindergarten, Learners, Teachers
INTRODUCTION
Education is the most essential building block of every society. A critical item and tool that is extremely useful in everyone's life. A process in which every human being has to go through to gain knowledge and acquire significant experiences in different areas of life to understand and cope in the world they live in. It is an aid in citizens’ productivity that contributes to the economic growth and nation building. Since education is the foundation of society and a prerequisite for social progress, education is being valued by the Philippine government.
As stated in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, Article XIV, on Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports, Section I states that:
“The state shall preserve and promote all citizens' right to a high-quality education at all levels, and shall take reasonable actions to ensure that such education is available to everyone.”
The cited provision highlighted that every Filipino has the right to education and the government thru the Department of Education does everything to reach out even the farthest community to educate each citizen in any possible way. Provision for formal and non- formal education in all kinds must be offered to respond to the needs of each citizen regardless of the age and economic status.
As one of the ASEAN members to react to the issue of "Education for All," the Philippines ensures that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education. In response to this global goal, the Philippine Educational System has undergone a significant metamorphosis when Republic Act No. 10533 was signed into law known as Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. It is a law that strengthens the Philippine Basic Education System's curriculum and extends the number of years for basic education. It encompasses at least one (1) year of kindergarten education, six (6) years of elementary education and six (6) years of secondary education. The Kindergarten program has been intensified by the RA 10157 in 2012 known as the “Kindergarten Education Act”.
“Kindergarten education is critical to a Filipino child's academic and technical development because it is during this time that the young mind's absorptive ability for learning is at its peak. It is also the state's policy to use suitable teaching and learning languages to make education learnercentered and responsive to the needs, cognitive and cultural capacity, circumstances, and variety of learners, schools, and communities.”
This mandates kindergarten as the first stage of compulsory and mandatory formal education. One year of preschool education will be included in the Kindergarten education program for children aged 5 years old.
The mentioned law proved that every child has the equal rights to avail the mandatory education. As Kindergarten has been institutionalized and be part of the basic education program it became an eye opener to all the stakeholders that early childhood education is vital in the total development of a child. Not only that early childhood education brings the benefit of preparing the child to a bigger world, it also lets the child meet the needs of their child stage life that will make them become a more successful in their performance in an educational environment.
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