IT SHALL be the goal of basic education to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and the values they need to become a caring, self-reliant, productive and patriotic citizen.
The government aims for quality and equal education for all. This goal was initiated way back when the objective was in order for us (Filipinos) to become globally competitive. In support of this illusive dream, every year and every president who has been elected proposes a higher budget to education.
From previous years, as compared to present days, the budget of education is almost one forth (¼) of the national budget. The budget allotted to the Department of Education is said to be allotted for text books, improvement of school facilities, hiring new teachers, building additional classrooms, teachers’ salary, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Every year, during congress deliberation to the national budget, it favors the department of education in getting the bigger share. This budget will be enough if they will spend it properly and without anomalies and corruption. But as per record shows, there are still learners and students using charcoal and dry leaves instead of papers and pencil in writing during classroom discussion. And there are also record to prove that the ratio is 1 is to 120 per classroom session, which means one teacher for one hundred twenty students. For others, the multigrade system as they call it, the ideal only is (1 is to 25) or one teacher for twenty-five students only.
Another issue pertaining to education which is happening in the province of Luzon, as well as in far places of Mindanao, there are allegedly registered school and enroll students and assigned teachers just like ghost employees in the Municipality. How much more in the other remote areas in the Philippines?
And there are laws providing for the free public education for all qualified citizen and to promote quality education at all levels. It is hereby declared the policy of the state to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality basic education and to make such education accessible to all by providing Filipino children a free and compulsory education in the elementary level and free education in the high school level. Such education also includes alternative learning system for out of school youth and adult learners. It shall be the goal of basic education to provide them with the skills, knowledge, and values they need to become caring, and self-reliant, productive and patriotic citizen. These laws stipulated and very clear to all, that the Republic act # 6655 and the Republic Act # 9155 providing all Filipino children for free compulsory and mandatory education for elementary and high school level. These laws inspired by our neighboring countries as they adopt and practice this system like Japan, Singapore and others despite their good economic condition not like us.
In addition, is it enough for the government to provide voucher system to give quality and equal education for all in the K to 12 program? We are now waiting for the outcomes of the first batch graduates of senior high school students if they can attain the goal of K-12 to have jobs and be entrepreneurs in their chosen career.
Precy N. Diaz
Teacher III
Dolores National High School
(Unsolicited contributions here are unedited, unabridged, as is. Errors in grammar, syntax, etc, solely the writer’s. — Editor)
