Normal Educational Plan in the Philippines: Nursery - 1 Year age 4 Kindergarten - 1 Year age 5 Grade 1 to Grade 6 - 6 Years Elementary School High School - 4 Years in High School NCEE or National College Entrance Examination Students who passed can take Four Year University Course/ Diploma Students who didn't pass can take Vocational Courses Vocational Courses - 2 Years in Vocational School not University College or University- 4 Years in College or University Master of Arts - Another 2 years of studies Master of Science - Expect 2 years of study and Specialization (2 years or 4 years depend on the students mastery or internship) Law and Science Degree expect more years of specialization-Students have to study almost everyday even after graduation. Required and mandatory or they will be left behind from the on going non-stop changing world. New scientific findings and terminology keep these professionals working and studying. Go with the flow or be left behind. Normal Educational Plan in the US or Canada: Nursery - 1 Year age 4 Kindergarten - 1 Year age 5 Grade 1 to 6 - Grade School Grade 7 to 9 - Middle School Grade 10 to 12 - Secondary School Graduation. All students received diploma as long as they finished their exploration for Employment. Grade 10 to 12 Senior High School and Grade 12 students are already and should be finished with their voluntary work as their preparatory to being employed in the workforce. Grade 12 is equivalent of Second Year in College or University in Philippines. Depends on what the students earned credits for and what subjects. Since their curriculum or their manual pre-requisite book has complicated format some of the students have problem with what course to take in College. Some of them end up thinking whether to continue studying or rather work instead after graduation. Besides for the most part, the factor of being in University means higher grades and big wallet. Not just big wallet but lots of financial capital to be in the University for the years they have to be in focus. Teachers and management in University would rather accomodate students who can AFFORD the tution fees, school dorm board and lodging. Student loans are available but you have to be very smart to pass the qualifying exams and criteria. Otherwise just work after graduation in Grade 12. When you have the financial ability and capability then it's time to pursue a serious career. Education here is also important in Canada and seriously, wasting money is not an option especially when your money is a grant or in the form of loans. Oh well they know better. Students here are smarter and maybe they know what is better for them. In the Philippines, it's the family the parents who tend to work so hard just to have their kids go to school and attain higher education. They pay almost everything. The kids need not work just concentrate on their studies as long as they can be in top honors or they are high achievers. Some parents even sell their house or farmlands just to send them to school. However sometimes it's the parents who choose what is good for their kids. It's the parents who will choose what University course or diploma they have to acquire. It's the right of the parents who are to be respected. If they want to send their kids to Nursing or Medical school it's okay they will struggle but they want the best for their kids anyway. And this is also true with parents who send their kids to seminary. Most of the time it's the parents' own wishes that their teens become nuns and priests or missionaries. For those unable to decide where and what they have to do in time when the "waiting game" is not over yet...they have plenty of time to plan and plant. Watching trains go by, watching seabirds fly? OMG! Time is passing by us without knowing it's time again to cook. You think I will watch the green grass grows? Dude, let the cows, the cattles do that for me. Now you know what herds are. The shepherds seemed to know.