Roxas Pushes Immediate Reforms In Educational System

Senator Mar Roxas last week stressed the importance of reforming the Philippines educational system as he noted worsening graduation and literacy rates among students in public schools nationwide.

“Our country’s education system is growing worse. Every year, we see more and more students unable to enroll because of poverty and for other reasons. It is important that we solve this problem now,” he said.

He cited studies which he made showing that out of 100 students who enrolled in grade I, only 65 finished grade VI. The graduation rate for high school students is lower at 43 percent.

Roxas also noted that of those who finished the elementary level, only 23 percent fully comprehend what they were taught during their six years primary schooling. On the other hand, of those who finished the four-year high school level, only 16 percent achieved the required mastery of Math, 7 percent have mastery of English and only 2 percent have Science mastery.

“Because what they learned in school is not enough, their skills are likewise insufficient for them to find good-paying jobs,” he said.
The Ilonggo senator said government should now pursue educational reforms to address the worsening state of the education sector and push for immediate Senate approval of his proposed Omnibus Education Reform Act of 2008.

“Education is the great equalizer. Wherever you were born, even if you grew up eating salt and rice as a meal, graduating puts you at an equal footing. But that is not the case now because the educational system is a failure. It does not justify our parents’ sacrifices,” he pointed out.

“We have to change the system now. Education is a long-term commitment. The more we delay reforms, the less competent our children will be in an increasingly competitive arena,” he added. The proposed bill requires the Department of Education to come up with a 10-year Strategic Education Reform Program and to impose performance standards, to be measured through a diagnostic test to be administered to students who have completed Grades III and VI to help teachers identify those needing learning assistance prior to their entry to the next grade level.
The other salient provisions of the bill includes:
= Mandating the use of the mother tongue or the language first learned by the child and used at home, as the medium of instruction for Grades I, II, and III. Filipino and English will be taught as separate subjects;
= Establishment of a mandatory in-school feeding program for Grades I and II;
= Electives will be offered to equip students with knowledge and skills to help them pursue further studies or find jobs; and
= Intensive training and upgrading programs for teachers. A training program on teaching methods using the mother language for teachers in Grades I to III; and advancement courses for English, Science and Math teachers who are not majors in these subjects.

“I will do everything to ensure the passage of the Omnibus Education Reform Act before this Congress adjourns. Awareness is key. The people should be made aware of the problems in the system and they should know that we can do something to solve these problems,” he pledged. /MP