1.

You are tasked to lead a review of your country's educational system and
present models from at least two (2) countries, what countries will you choose
and why? Justify your answer by presenting facts and in line with the
previously discussed comparative education approaches.
1. I have reviewed some educational systems of other countries and I found
out that Japan has some similarities with our Philippine educational system.
The school system starts from kindergarten to college and graduate studies.
Same with the Philippines, there are few percentages of learners who are
going to private school, and the larger percentages are enrolled in public
schools (Abner, 2002). Japan is considered a model of how a school operates
today. Their educational system shows well-disciplined learners sitting at
their desks, listening to their teachers, and studying harder to pass the
various entrance examination for college. The Japanese educational system is
categorized into five basic levels: kindergarten, primary (6 years), lower
secondary (Grade7-9, three years), upper secondary (Grade 10-12, three
years), and tertiary (four years). They introduced their education from 6 to 15
years old on a free and compulsory basis. They oblige their people to finish
education because they believe in the beneficial impact of education in
achieving a good life. Another fact about the Japanese educational system
that I think is best is the prioritizing their own languages in education. It is
the primary dialect used in all subject areas from social studies, math, and
science along with arts, music, home economics, and physical education.
They are patriotic people and patronized their own languages, products, and
the like. They are well-oriented on how to love their country and no wonder
why Japanese people are very advanced and successful economically. Today’s
educational system in the Philippines is most likely the same as the
American model of education. The Philippines’ pattern of teaching remains in
the original heritage of America when they colonialized our country. The
English language became our primary medium in instructing learners.
Bilingual (English and Tagalog) teaching of Math, Science, and Literature was
introduced under the leadership of Ferdinand Marcos in 1974, that’s why our
late ancestors were fluent in speaking the English language. As we check the
educational system of the United States, the types of schools providing this
education are kindergartens, nursery schools, preschools programs, and
child daycare which are all present in our Philippine educational system to
prepare children for the next level of their learning according to the required
range of ages. For example, Grade 1-6, 6 to 12 years old; for junior high
school – Grade 7-10, 13-16 years old; and senior high school, Grade 11-12,
17-18 years old. The duration of compulsory education starts from the entry
of 6 years old to 18 years old which is similar to the various levels in the
Philippines. At this point, our education is still adapted to what the American
people have given to us as heritage. In terms of higher education, the United
States of America begins with the post-secondary which is supported by
different public and private institutions. This higher education includes
Research Universities which focus on granting Comprehensive doctorates;
Doctorate- granting universities offer comprehensive studies which award
doctorates in the limited areas; Master’s (Comprehensive) universities and
colleges are institutions that offer academic and professional programs at the
Bachelor’s and Master’s levels but do not award research diploma;
Baccalaureate Colleges for bachelor’s degree only; Associate of Arts Colleges;
Professional school and other Specialized institutions; and post-secondary
vocational and technical schools. This different education offered by different
institutions in America reflects the opportunity to pursue specified courses
that depend on the needs or available requirements possessed by the
interested students. So, I realized why there are many students and
professionals planning to study in the US, just because of the privilege to
choose the right course for what credentials you have. In other words, the
line of opportunities is longer than expected.

2. Having been aware of comparing educational systems, you are now aware
that manpower (the teachers to be specific), is one of the vital components in
enhancing an educational system. Considering the present scenario in the
Philippines, present at least five (5) areas by which you think can further
upgrade the quality of our teachers. Justify your answers.
In the present scenario of education in the Philippines, I can say that we are
now facing the most challenging educational issues that can take the
government into deep thought on how to continue quality education despite
the continuous effects of the COVID 19 pandemic. These new challenges can
worsen the privileges of the teachers and their competence as well. The
government should prioritize the welfare of all public teachers to help them
in engaging themselves in teaching learners effectively and efficiently. I have
realized that in order to improve the quality of Filipino Teachers, well-
systematic management of the educational system will be provided by the
government. The hiring of good leaders in the educational system is
recommended to create a new order of leadership that can meet the main
objectives of education. School leaders are expected to do their
responsibilities in managing teachers and learners. We observed that they
have the opportunity to change and improve everything in the school and
other important concerns. Therefore, a school principal can influence all
headteachers as what she planned for the whole school year and point out
what is best for her teachers and learners. Being a good leader in the school
can establish a leadership program that can benefit all teachers who are
qualified to be a leader in the grade level they belong to. This will disseminate
the working load easily and effectively transferred from one concerned person
to the other. Then we can say that the success of the teachers comes from
the kind of leadership they have. The first area that is the most considerable
factor is the investment in high-quality teacher educators. Many colleges and
universities are producing education graduates who should be ready to teach
learners according to what training they have finished within their years in
college. Those agencies, public and private, have the responsibility to work
on the inventory of weaknesses and shortcomings of their educational system
to provide the necessary number of quality teachers from their institution.
Sometimes, we are very vocal about the reputation of the school. But it is
true that there is a big difference in the graduates from prestigious
universities and colleges because of their upgraded strategies and training to
produce a reliable graduate. I admit that a high-quality teacher is not only
from her own knowledge but with the institution she connected with. If a
good teacher taught future teachers, they would become like their teachers
too. The good qualities of the teachers would be transferred to her students
such as deep content knowledge; a model in employing instructional
strategies and assessment practices; clinical and supervision skills; have a
good disposition to mentor and support teachers and learners (Cordingley et
al., 2007). Furthermore, it is relevant to hire effective teachers in their work if
the schools recruit professional development providers with extensive
teaching experience and strengthen the teacher-professional development
provider capacity. The second area is the increasing the salary of the
teachers. It is real to say that a good salary can improve the way of teaching
of a teacher because she/he is able to provide the necessary things or
materials for her/his teaching and at the same time she/he can fulfill the
basic needs of her/his family. Today, it is also a big deal to talk about the net
pay of a teacher since it reveals teaching efficiency. It hurts to say that many
teachers can not focus on their work due to the existing financial issues that
affect the life of a good teacher. They are finding ways to surpass the
problems through getting a second job like selling etc. or tend to quit their
job and go abroad. Since we have a new leader, our President Bong Bong R.
Marcos, Filipino teachers are hoping to increase the teachers’ salaries next
year or onwards as if he mentioned the salary reformation. If this would
happen, there is a tendency that the number of students who will enroll in
education courses would increase as expected. In fact, a wage increase will
lead to dissuading teachers from switching their present work into
industries. Its beneficial result will also increase for sure, the quality of
graduates (Staron, 2021). Teachers’ willingness to improve and change their
old strategies into more advanced techniques of teaching will be observed
and expected to occur. The third one is the support teachers in achieving
professional growth which includes an educational scholarship to take
master’s and doctoral degrees to improve the self-esteem and understanding
of teachers, especially the teachers who serve in teaching for a long period of
time. School heads and headteachers can support teachers to grow
professionally with simple support strategies such as feedbacking to the
teaching observation of the teachers and influence positive through
employing a good teaching practice and motivation (OECD, 2009). Providing
training and seminars in the schools can help teachers to discover new
materials and approaches to be used in the classroom. Teachers’ acquired
knowledge would be translated inside the classroom. The last factor that can
call a teacher an upgraded teacher is the application of ICT. The use of
Information and Communication Technology is very effective in providing
good access to the teaching-learning process. This technology can offer many
opportunities to upgrade or improve the way teachers communicate with
their learners, teaching them in a convenient platform or materials and
working with colleagues. ICT, then, can reduce the cost of producing
instructional materials, increase the impact of retaining knowledge and
recovery of concepts, and help the teachers and learners in offering
information and new skills. Teachers benefit a lot from integrating technology
into their lessons. Planning and presenting the lessons are quite easy to
perform because of the existing accessible application depending on the kind
of learning activities and strategies as employed in the classroom. This will
perfectly achieve a meaningful and interactive learning environment that can
enhance the learning skills of the learners.