MANILA, Sept. 30, 2011—The Kindergarten plus 12 (K+12) program is an opportunity for the minor seminaries to re-visit and re-orient their curriculum, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.
“We want that our students “at the end of basic education are prepared for life,” he said. “We want basic education to be comprehensive enough,” Luistro said.
He further stated that they “continue to envision specialized high schools that are focused on particular” expertise.
He also mentioned that he hopes to have discussions with all the minor seminary rectors nationwide as soon as possible.
Luistro was the guest speaker of the Isang Angkan kay Kristo (Sangkan VI), an annual gathering of 4th year minor seminary students nationwide at the San Carlos Minor Seminary in Makati City which ended today.
On the part of the rectors, Fr. Jan Michael Gadicho of Borongan diocese’s Seminario de Jesus Nazareno described Luistro’s call as “a big challenge for us, seminary formators.
“There would be paradigm shifts. We should not just form seminarians for priestly ministry but for life,” Gadicho said.
Gadicho said it is also a “good thing” that Bro. Armin’s heart is with the seminary for he considered the “seminary formation at the prime of education.”
“K+12 would help us to equip the seminarians in pursuing their aim for academic excellence,” said Mgsr. Tony Viray, rector of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Seminary of the Diocese of Lucena.
The program, he said, will not only be good for the seminarians’ education but also for the Church to have a “better and more competent priests.”
More than anything else, “holy and faithful priests” should be the main goal of seminary formation, Viray added.
This year’s Sangkan IV assembly, which started yesterday, saw 14 minor seminaries coming together to enhance the bonding and unity of the seminarians.
Guided by the theme “We are One Body,” the seminarians also showed their expertise and skills in sports. [Roel Joe E. Abonal/CBCPNews]
