Complicated challenges face the school year

Three parents picking up their kids from the neighborhood public school were chatting while waiting at the school canteen. “Grade six na mga bata, naintindihan mo ba ang mga dagdag na grade seven at eight daw?” Dulce asked the other two. Ellen and Nene both shook their heads. They are by no means the exception. The majority of young parents in the CD income level are clueless as to the changes facing the country’s educational system.

Adriana Agcaoili is a theater actress, writer and single parent to 13-year-old boy Migs. She belongs to the enlightened minority whose views form the manner in which she has brought up her son. This year, he leaves the confines of a Christian education at The Learning Tree, which utilizes an experiential-integrative approach to education. Adriana has decided to bring him to the Ateneo for high school. “I know he will miss the intimacy of the Learning Tree, but I know he will benefit from this transfer,” she tells us. Migs is Christian while Adriana is Catholic. “The transfer will show how Christ centered he is. Migs will find his way,” she says confidently. It is no surprise that she welcomes the new curriculum which she says will provide the youth with more time to prepare for adult life.

We sit down with Rene and Isabel Gaviola, a traditional family wherein the husband works, the wife stays at home to care for the five kids — Mia, an Ateneo AB Psychology graduate now working; Gerry, second year Art Studies, UP; Gia, fourth year, Philippine Science High School; Renzo, second year, Ateneo High School; and Lia, eighth grade, Junior High Poveda. Rene is the sole breadwinner, taking on two jobs, watching movies and eating out as a family, dispensing with the house help and driver. He believes in a college degree for his kids. We see the entire family regularly at Sunday church and wonder how they cope. “I have to give up being lazy,” Rene quips.       

Obviously, families with children in private schools follow their individual tastes, while the majority in public schools goes by the rule of the majority. What is important is that all recognize that some sort of education is needed to get ahead in life.       

Single parent Adriana Agcaoili with son Migs

It is, nevertheless, not only the teachers, parents and students who will need to confront lower standards, a bigger student population, lack of rooms and qualified teachers in the coming school year, but also the K plus 12 from kindergarten to elementary, junior high and senior high school that takes effect beginning this month.

We seek out Naty Munarriz, a retired educator who has spent her life in private schools for other concerns. She answers with more questions. What would be the medium of instruction within these additional grades — English, Tagalog or Taglish and a hybrid pidgin English? What books will be used and when would these be ready? In the public schools with the horrid ratio between teacher and student, how would one fit in 80 students standing and sitting? How would one even remember the names of even half of these students? As the curriculum stretches out and students drop out in the middle of high school, how does one address that problem? The road, she says, will be long and fraught with problems with 2018 as the first graduates of the new, enhanced curriculum of K plus 12.

It has certainly not been for lack of trying that the government is hard-pressed for solutions and funds. President Noynoy Aquino was present when the presidents of 110 State Universities and Colleges (SUC) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) pledged themselves towards the implementation of the Covenant on Philippine Public Higher Education Reform.

In part, the Covenant states: “We are aware of the fundamental and long-running deficiencies of Philippine higher education; the lack of overall vision, framework and plan; deteriorating quality; and limited access.”

Utilizing President Aquino’s roadmap that focuses on nine key areas requiring improvements, SUC and CHED were certainly energized by the approval of a supplemental budget of P4.28B for use in Public Higher Education Reform.

The DepEd had activated the Oplan Balik Eskwela Action Center in the crucial days of school opening. For information of all kinds, call 636-8641 or e-mail [email protected]. 

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