EDITORIAL - Yes, Phl education is about economics, not academics

The suicide of a first year college student at UP Manila over her failure to pay P10,000 in tuition fees has prompted calls for a review of UP policies regarding tuition, and promises by senatorial candidates to look at tuition policies in general.

Maybe there is a need to go a step farther. A review should also be made about the K to 12 Program that this government insisted on implementing despite widespread objections by those who stand to be most affected by it.

The suicide of 16-year-old KristelTejada should shake the notion that education is all about academic preparation. Perhaps that is so in other countries. But in the Philippines, the reality is that, as one columnist aptly put it, education is more about economics.

Of what use is a good academic preparation (this is hypothetical, of course, considering that the quality of education in the Philippines lags behind that of most self-respecting nations in the world) if a student lacks the money to pursue it to the very end of the course.

Indeed, according to studies by the government itself, of 100 students who enter Grade One, only 60 will go on to graduate from Grade Six. The number can drop even lower by the time they get to Fourth Year. Yet the government felt it needs to add two more years. And it did.

In most cases, this very high casualty rate has nothing to do with academics. If it were due to academics alone, there are options available to those who fail to allow them to cope and eventually finish. They can repeat, or they can take summer classes. They can get tutorials.

The real culprit is economics. The 40 out of 100 who enter Grade One but will not finish Grade Six are not dull and dumb as everyone can be taught given a little dedication and patience. They will not finish because they have no money to finish.

The government seems too preoccupied with the notion that basic education is free in public schools. Yes it is free. But you need money to buy school supplies. You need money for fare. You need money for baon.

And what if you do not even have food at home? Or running water to take a bath? Or light to do homework and study? What if you do not even have a home? The problem with this government is it is too idealistic for its own good. It dreams big but does not have feet on the ground.