Editorial - "Nagdamgo og buntag"

Apparently hell-bent on forging ahead despite both criticisms and well-meaning words of caution, the Department of Education unveiled Tuesday its new 12-year basic education curriculum proposal. The way to describe this in perfect nuance is in Cebuano: "Nagdamgo lang og buntag."

Again, there is no argument that the more time people spend educating themselves, the better for them. But like all proposals, the 12-year plan can only work if matched with favorable conditions on the ground. A hybrid seed can only bloom to expectations in the right environment.

The Philippines simply has not reached that point where the best educational intentions can produce the best results for its people. There are simply too many factors to consider if we are to dream of better education for all, and adding more years is just one of them.

Of course we cannot get anywhere without having to start somewhere. Unfortunately, adding more years to basic education is not the right first step to take in getting there. In fact, it probably is not among the first three steps to take.

What most people seem to agree upon, if only the DepEd would care to listen, is that the most logical first step to take is to ensure the quality of skills of the nation's teaching force. For of what use is adding two more years, or five, even 10, if the teachers lack skills.

Education is first and foremost about teaching, not of years. A good teacher can teach so much more to more students in just 30 minutes than a poor one can teach even a single pupil in an entire year.

Now, after ensuring there are enough skilled and well-motivated teachers ready to spring into action, the next step is to ensure there are enough materials and infrastructure to sustain and contain the Philippines' galloping student population.

Then let us ensure that education is made available to the greatest number, and then keep that number in school. If we cannot put children in school and keep them there, then everything else will be pointless.

Only after these initial steps have been taken can we perhaps start entertaining the idea of adding more years to schooling. But let us not jump into the lake just because we are the only ones not yet wet. Let us not do something we cannot undo without incurring irreparable losses.

If the only reason DepEd wants 12 years of basic education is because that is what most

countries are doing, then that seems to be a rather limp and ridiculous argument. The only plan that will work in the Philippines is that which is suited to Philippine realities, nothing else.