Republic of the Philippines

University of Southern Mindanao

Kabacan, Cotabato

Three Pressing Problems in

Education

Irene R. Costelo

MST – Chemistry

November 2017
Introduction

It is believed that if you want to save for a lifetime, educate a child. Education is

essential in shaping the future generation. A pillar that is significant to mold young minds, in

the hope that these young minds will soon uplift the status of the undervalued country. But

how can this be done if Filipino graduates were also belittled because of a system that is not

satisfactory for all.

Philippine education is confronted with matters that even from the old curriculum

brought difficulties to its stakeholders. The Department of Education has these issues as the

top priority for resolution, but was not able to do so for the longest time. The department is

desperately trying their best to put an end to these adversities. In fact, the Philippines has

adopted a system that is universal, in hope that this might help elevate the status of our young

professionals.

But are we ready to have this system considering our current situation? The K-12

system has proven its worth to countries that are far beyond ours. First world countries used

this system and they have been number one in terms of business, trade and industry. This

system claims to have been producing graduates that are globally competitive which is also

very evident with what they have achieved for the past decades.

The aim of the department is commendable, that they wanted to produce globally

competitive professionals. However, there are issues that could hinder their goals. The list of

concerns with regard to education can be quite lengthy but the most alarming – lack of
infrastructure, the quality of education and affordability of education. We cannot reach our

dreamt success if until now we are facing these dilemma.

1. Lack of Infrastructure

Lack of infrastructure is also one of the issues confronting the Department of

Education prior to and during the initial implementation of the K-12 program. Needed

for the new curriculum are 30,000 new classrooms; 30,000 new teachers; and 6,000

nonteaching staff.

This is a challenge to students especially teachers implementing the instruction

inside the classroom or a multipurpose hall. Students must be put to a conducive

environment for learning for better absorption and retention of topics discussed.

Putting this scenario at my assigned school, we hold three classes at the multipurpose

hall with tent as the separator of each class. This is the remedy that the school applied

to partially solve the problem. We have school buildings under construction but it has

been two years of waiting and now it is abandoned. Necessary steps has been

undertaken and we are still waiting that maybe they could continue what has been left

hanging. This situation is distracting for students since they can here each teachers’

lectures and instruction during classes.

A concrete and typical structure for learning is essential for students’

concentration and that they could love learning because they were able to grasp the

idea fully. Just like the “Hull House” founded in 1889 by Jane Adams and Ellen Gates.

The structure is used to promote and maintain educational and philanthropic

same with Filipino learners as well as learners across the globe. We bloom where we are

planted right. If students are placed outside with distractions, they might not reach the

potential of their abilities.

2. The Quality of Education

There has been a decline in the quality of Philippine education at the elementary

and secondary levels. Results of National Achievement Test (NAT) among elementary

and high school students and NCAE were way below the target mean score. According

to the Department of Education, during the 2004 high school readiness test, only 0.64%

scored 75% or better or 8,000 students out of 1.2 million examinees passed. In the

conduct of self-assessment test for English, 19% scored 75% or better or 10,000 out of

51,000 teachers. For international assessments, particularly Trends in International

Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) as of year 2003, Philippines ranked 43 out of

46 countries in Mathematics and ranked 42 in Science, having Singapore as number 1

and Japan in number 2.

The blame game starts anew. Why is there a decline in the quality of education

in the Philippines? Is it because students nowadays lacks interest and they become

passive and distracted by negative stimulus surrounding them. Or it could be that

teachers are not competent enough to hand in concepts and instructions. Or maybe we

can blame the system particularly RBEC curriculum because areas for learning (topics)
 are quite behind schedule compared to countries using K-12 curriculum. There has been

no concrete study on who is to be blamed for this circumstance.

Let us intensify the role of a teacher. Students are dependent on the guidance

and attention that teachers, as second parent gives, thus the principle of Vygotsky’s

scaffolding. Teachers need to support and direct students’ to the right paths to take.

Learners could be clueless what track to follow and a presence of a sincere teacher

would be of great impact to their lives.

3. Affordability of Education

There is a big disparity in educational achievements across social groups. Studies

revealed that socioeconomically disadvantaged students have higher dropout rates in

elementary level. Most of the freshmen students at the tertiary level come from relatively

well-off families.

Families that are less advantageous will resort to a defense mechanism wherein

their child was forced to work because they cannot sustain its education. This has been the

overused reasoning of families that cannot send their children to school. Under Sigmund

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, abusing the use of defense mechanism is also upsetting.

Instead of having similar reasons when asked, why not resort to a new solution to this

problem.

Government agencies and private sectors offer scholarship programs to help

deprived families a chance to send their children to school. Scholarship grants are all over
 the nation. It is just a matter of perseverance and determination to get a slot and you are a

step away from your dreams.

Conclusion

Government efforts to strengthen educational system in the country is a good start in

achieving excellence. K-12 system has been proven effective in producing competitive

professionals equipped with the necessary skills and ideas. As to the Philippines, we cannot

determine yet if the system is a failure or a victory. We are still in the experimental stage and

our first batch of K-12 graduates is not yet on the field to exercise what has been learned from

the new system.

It is good that we adopt and change our ways. But this could not be fully realized if

problems that are existent during the RBEC system would be the same issues that exist until

now. These issues need to be addressed first so that the result of our consolidated efforts

would be very satisfactory if not outstanding.

Recommendations

The following are proposed recommendations to address educational issues in

Philippine education:

1. School buildings that are ongoing construction should be closely monitored by the

Department of Education and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to

ensure completion rate at the exact timeline given.

ways of instruction. 21st century teachers should be equipped with essential skills to

address low quality of education in the country. Students need also to think outside the

box. They must be more involved and engaged in the activities that mold their young

minds to perfection. The system must also be flexible to address differences in culture

and capacities of its stakeholders.

3. Aside from scholarship grants which is a very helpful strategy, there must also be a

sustainable livelihood program for families needing financial help. Families that will be

a recipient of such program should be screened thoroughly since there has been a

backlash of the recent program (4P’s) that some recipients are teachers and barangay

officials and there is this member of the grassroots that need it the most and yet it is

given to average families.

References

Reforms in the Philippine education system, The K to 12 program (Released 2015)

Problems and issues in the Philippine educational system (2011)