Good early education a must - expert

MANILA, Philippines – Good and solid education starts early, according to Dr. Paraluman Giron, Department of Education (DepEd) director for Region IV-B and former Manila superintendent of schools.

This is the reason, Giron told the 155th general assembly of the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE), that the DepEd has started to focus on preschool and Grade 1-3 teaching to be able to build a strong foundation for higher learning.

Thus, she recommends that the best teachers be assigned to Grade 3 and below so that the students obtain the best learning skills.

And vital to good early education are multi-language teaching and development of reading skills to enable students to have strong knowledge in English, science and mathematics, Giron said.

She said multi-language teaching is based on mother tongue of students, not necessarily Pilipino because of regional differences resulting in Ilocano, Pangasinense, Kapangpangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Cebuano, among other things.

While English is now the universal language, the mother tongue of students helps them understand better, Giron said.

“I asked teachers what language they use when their students cannot understand what they are teaching and their answer was: their mother tongue,” she said.

Giron said English, however, should not be downgraded as “higher English proficiency translates positively into higher science and math abilities.”          

She said that English and mother tongue help each other in making students understand better the lesson, and this is what connects them to English, science and mathematics.

FUSE, organized by Dr. Lucio Tan, Sen. Edgardo Angara, and Salvador Escudero III, seeks to improve Philippine education in English, science and mathematics.

Giron stressed that love for reading among the young is important because it makes the students read their textbooks, as well as other materials, which help make them better at the three key subjects.

She disclosed DepEd has launched a program to establish library hubs so that students can avail of adequate reading materials.

Good teachers also play an important part in good early education, but this is a weakness in the Philippine system as majority of science teachers and a significant number of mathematics teachers are not science or math majors, respectively, Giron said.

She said that DepEd is solving this problem by having these non-major teachers undergo special training in the University of the Philippines, De la Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, other reputable schools and in non-government organizations like the FUSE.

Giron said DepEd is also building competency among students and teachers through its computerization and Internet connectivity program.

All these, she said are intended to be tipping point, a breakthrough in Philippine education.