There are so many educational institutions sprouting up all over the place. This is happening in Pampanga and all over the country.
Apart from the local institutions, there are the branches and extension units of major schools from other areas. In Manila, there are even local branches of international schools. It is a thriving industry.
Filipinos do value education as a basic and necessary good and service to be pursued. This has enhanced the number and quality of high value and prestigious educational institutions.
At the same time, it has alsocaused the proliferation of third rate diploma mills. Just like the franchising phenomenon, there is the quality upgrading and transfer as well as the shoddy and purely commercial spillovers.
While the market will probably process the dynamics of survival of the fittest, it may not ensure that it is the quality schools which will survive. These highly commercial schools have mastered the art of mass education and marketing.
They undertake selling like expert marketers sell soap even to the extent of using celebrities as promoters and models. And the Filipino can be gullible and frequently opts for the easy access to credentials and achievement. This devalues the whole educational system.
A concurrent development is that education has become expensive. It is necessary for public schools to be part of the system. However, these need to raise their standards and pedagogical processes in order to produce quality and competent students and graduates.
This will justify the high cost of the resources devoted to their operations. These social safety nets hold true not only for the University of the Philippines but for all state colleges and universities and all public elementary and high schools.
It is noteworthy to find that local goverments have began to focus their attention on and make a contribution to the educational needs of their constituents. Here in Pampanga, I am aware of the City Colleges of Angeles, Mabalacat and San Fernando.
I heard that Guagua is also putting up its own college.In these colleges, the students can pursue a college degree for almost for free. These are totally subsidized by the local government’s funds.
Mayor Boking Morales of Mabalacat told me that they already have more than 2000 students. The City College of San Fernando has around 800 students. Their first batch of graduates have just been conferred their degrees last year. The college offers degrees in management, information technology and education.
It has even courses for the students with disabilities like the deaf and dumb. This is a brainchild of then mayor and now congressman Oca Rodriguez with support of mayor Edwin Santiago and councilor Nelson Lingat. The City College of Angeles is supported by mayor Ed Pamintuan and vice mayor Vicky Vega. Bravo!
I am particularly aware of the operations of the City College of San Fernando, having offered and been accepted to teach a few subjects. The president Dr. Lou Javier, who has her own school, and some of the faculty I met are all devoted to the cause and mandate of the school.
It is a vocation and a social contribution which is being pursued. The students are quite serious and devoted in the pursuit of their studies. They want to learn. Many of them have part time jobs to help support their endeavors.
They deserve to be “ iskolarsngbayan.”
It is timely to support these city colleges. They cannot all be like the University of Makati, which is very rich being supported by the city of Makati. It has an AIM professor, Tommy Lopez, an old schoolmate and friend who is also a Pampangueño.
The rich families, the big businesses and civic organizations in Pampanga can provide support in so many ways. They can provide endowments, grants, various contributions in cash and kind, professorial chairs and lectures, sponsorship of projects, and employment of students and graduates.
The point is to ensure the sustainability and core financial independence of the college by building up its dedicated resources. This may take some time. However, it is a worthy undertaking to continue having “iskolars ng bayan.”
