Reality Check: Philippine Education system

Right, my friend. I'll give you an example of what we call burden on the part of the teachers and students: My second grader (8 years old) boy is already trying to convert centimeters into inches... and other units of measures. What the...*&&* We might be teaching them how to do it...but its relevance is not being taught. I asked my son about what is that all abut but he simply said we must convert it to know the length of an object in inches. It pains my head to think about how my son is trying to understand what is that all about :(

This is exactly what is happening today. Let's face it: the incompetence of educators is tolerated by school authorities, that is why the children don't even know what they want to become when they grow up. Motivation is what it takes for somebody to get himself or herself focused on something. And motivation is given by a good leader. Aside from knowledge and license, good leadership ability is one important thing that the educators must possess to be able to teach others effectively.

Now, we're talking. We are having quite a very nice discussion here and I really appreciate your passion, among the many others who have visited this topic. Of course, I am not talking about the whole pie. Indeed there are still lots of good educators out there... but one bad thing that our country is facing right now is "brain drain". Where are the bulk of these good people that we are talking about? The one high school teacher who made me love the english subject is gone...married a foreigner and there she is somewhere in foreign lands :( haven't heard from her since then. Quite true, good people do not want to become teachers because the salary is low. Why? How? Majority of business entities require their employees to be university or college graduates, and it is with this reason that people who do not bear this qualification are taken out of the picture. And for one to get a good education, he should be willing to spend more by enrolling in a reputable school... a privilege enjoyed by the elite. And these elite who are supposed to be good enough to teach, in as much as they have gained a good education, do not want to become teachers either...for they do not want to step down to the level of the poor... a no-no for them to teach in public schools... for obvious reasons... Parents may want their children to be good...but not all parents are good enough to understand what the teachers wanted the kids to do especially for their homeworks. Most uneducated parents are really facing this dilemma. I know because I talk to them whenever I attend PTA meetings...

Oh man. Educator's incompetence... I don't think it's that, it's part of it but its not like it's the sole reason. There are a lot of great teachers out there among the whole lot of educators in the country... But that whole lot? Not that big. Teaching doesn't really bring in the big bucks so it really isn't a career most people would want to take on so school authorities just make do with what they can. And, I think it is important to note also that schools aren't solely responsible for molding and motivating children. Their homes should be the primary source of push for a kid to develop himself. I just think it's unfair to criticize teachers in general because I do believe that there are more than one exception.

There are still public school sudents who are better than those studying in private. Take for example my son who is in his second grade, compared to our neighbors' children who are studying in private. He can read, comprehend, and argue in straight english than his counterparts. I think, education has something to do with the teaching ability and method of the teacher, coupled with the child's degree of interest in learning. We can blame the politicians, we can blame the government, but then, parents have also a vital role in the education of our children. We must not rely too much on the teachers and the school. Parents must do their part, and that is, help the children develop good study habits, among others.

We call them here the FL (Fast Learners) sections. However, based on my experience as a parent, and through constant observations, pupils who belong to these sections are obliged to attend additional advance studies that are administered every saturday, pass more projects and do more homeworks, which, in effect do not only cramp-up the time of the children but oblige the parents to extend round-the-clock monitoring of the progress of their children which, I, personally could not possibly do because I am a working mom. They are asking the pupils and parents to do the impossible. I am glad that my child does really belong to the cream of the crop, but sad to say it's so tiresome and sometimes, frustrating. :(

As for abilities, the government (or school systems) aren't exactly NOT doing anything for the said gaps. In some schools, they have set a star class or the special class wherein the brightest students can make use of their potentials more effectively. They are usually more advanced than most other classes in the regular curriculum, if they are planned and implemented well. The government has also established public science high schools to gather the bright students from all over the city and they are having subjects that are usually more advanced than in general high schools. They household is also vital in a child's intellectual development. For language, as an example, I grew up speaking either straight English or straight Filipino. It was not allowed to speak in Taglish, and whenever asked a question in English, we must answer in Tagalog and vice versa. This has not just made me a functional bilingual, but a fluent one. I have seen parents who speak "English" -- Conyo English -- to their children, as if this will make their children grow up to be good English speakers. This irritates me as if someone is clawing on a chalkboard, but there's nothing I can do about it. This will be our nation's downfall, our lack of fluency in our own languages.

I think half-session applies only to public schools in Metro Manila, because those in the provinces still spend the whole day thus could focus more time in the subjects. I agree with you on the ratio. It should be lessened to 20 or 25, so that both student and teacher could effectively communicate with each other thus learning could be made easier. Know what... I think the schools focus so much on school over-all competition in National Achievement tests, thus they concentrate in teaching the cream of the crop rather than the whole studentry.

Actually, they don't even focus on the national statistics. Not all schools participate in the NSAT/NEAT anymore. They only pick "representative" schools. Like for Metro-Manila, they pick the Science High Schools and the other better schools. Thus giving it a better result, which doesn't really reflect the real situation in the education system. And then the teacher-student ratio of 1:60 is not only present in Metro-Manila schools. Some provinces have that too, plus shifting of 3-4 sets of students per day, and not just half-sessions. We lack teachers, especially now that the brain drain of our country also applies to teachers especially in the sciences and mathematics. It's not the teacher's fault if they are dumped with 50 or 60 students. I have observed a private school that has 50 students in it. I myself have graduated from a private grade school and there were 56 of us in the class. This isn't an issue of private or public school system. It's an issue on the number of classrooms, number of teachers available, and capitalism.

Look at the latest stats on Let: http://www.batangbaler.net/news/licensure-examination-for-teachers-let-results-august-2006/ http://www.deped.gov.ph/cpanel/uploads/issuanceImg/factshett2006(Aug31).pdf With the passing rate on LET, elementary and secondary alike, vis-a-vis our ballooning population, and the meager budget allocated to education, we can never be sure if the need for teachers will ever be sustained. PLUS the scarcity of classrooms... what will happen to our youth? and take note of the passing percentage... isn't it that it's about time the country should make it a point to give intensive training to all aspirants of the teaching license so we could hope to gain a higher passing rate, and when we mean PASSING, the competence is evidently shown on the end result,i.e., better trained pupils. From the moment the students enrol in teaching courses, their aptitude should already be gauged. Problem is, most schools accept enrolees because they want the money without taking into consideration the real capability of the student.

My friend, there is a saying: "It is easier said than done". It is not what the people want that is to be done but what the authorities want. And we can not do anything about it, however we try to talk. Students rally in the streets to voice out their concerns, but the government just disperse them. Gone were the days that our national hero said "the youth is the hope of our motherland"... for the youth were not being given the benefits that they deserve.

Studies show that a student's attention span only lasts 40 minutes. Beyond that, the student loses interest. I think 40-minute classes are good, as long as it doesn't get crammed too much with a whole chapter. At the rate we're going now, we don't really have the time to digest what we learn. We end up memorizing things and be happy if we pass. btw, i'm speaking for basic education, younger kids. Not for the tertiary level.

I am dreamng of an education system that will help enhance the childrens' talents from the start. As in specialized fields in as early as elementary years, so that students need not learn of things that will not be of use once they finally land in a job in their fields of specialization.

Great point my friend. I sometimes am unrealistic when passion is kindled. Thanks for the stopper. :) I appreciate it.

i do respect your opinion but i still think the basics are always necessary. even if they are specialized in a particular area, i still see that if you are average or well briefed on the basics, it will not be very difficult for you to switch from one field to another when the need arises. besides, we encounter different situations and people everyday, so, these fundamentals can assist you in one way or another. i would like to indicate those government or certification exams, they do include a lot about the fundamentals.

You are right on track my friend. Indeed, it is through the teachers that students learn. therefore, they must be equipped with impeccable integrity, knowledge, ability, and good discipline to be able to teach effectively. Nowadays, teaching is no longer considered as a profession, but as an occupation. That is why the government must be very strict in granting licenses to teachers, for they are the key to one's attaining a quality education. The undeserving should not be allowed to teach.

We need better teacher training. For now, it sucks. And not many want to end up as teachers, the "noble profession." For one thing, the pay isn't that good. They would just rather work at a call center. It pays better, and they don't have to take home their work.

And science and technology are not given much importance, hence, intellectual properties are being sold to other nations. Filipino Inventions are now claimed by other countries.

i definitely agree with you. during the election campaign period, these officials tell people that they have big plans for the education system but none of them seems to be true to it. our country's education system really needs help.

I do hope things would be sorted out in the near future, and in this very life. My heart aches to see my child carry his backpack that is actually heavier than him. Homeworks and projects that are given today to be submitted the following day. what a burden for us parents who sometimes do not have the means or worst, time, to buy all the stuff needed to complete their projects. I agree. Out educational system should be revised... But who will?

Well, if the education system in your country is that good... congratulations!!! All students there then might be good.

I agree with you on the public-private same learning part. Actually, in our province, public schools are far better than those studying in private schools. That was before. Now, when you say you are a graduate of a public school... they look down to you. Now, looking at the scenario inside a public school classroom...you can not even breathe. Lack of ventilation, noisy, and overpopulated... who could concentrate? However, I don't believe that these facts are the primary problem in our education system. For it all boils down to one thing... educators' incompetence. I might be too harsh, but it is true.

And since our government is not doing anything about it... what could we do? Education is very important, for it makes us very competitive... to what?.... Our good professionals are out there, looking for greener pastures in foreign lands... Because our government is the one driving them to do so. One news I heard is that one committee or something... was sent to the United States to negotiate for the Philippines to be included as NCLEX site...isn't this a form of encouraging our nurses to take the exams and be given privilege to work as nurses in the US? what a shame...

Most of our competent educators are now working abroad, but who could blame them? Their salaries wasn't good enough to even make ends meet.