I maintain several blogs, one of which is called “Critic-at-Large.” In that blog, I receive a number of comments, mainly from abroad. Let me share some comments that have to do with our educational system. Because I did not get their permission to move their comments from virtual space to print, I will not identify the authors but simply reprint their posts (which are public, anyway), grammatical lapses and all:
“Suggestions: Revise High School curriculum to include Logic and some such basic philosophy (thinking) courses, Writing and Reading (including research techniques and writing papers) courses that include surveys of world literatures, education, sciences. Junior college used to be called A.A. (Associate in Arts) prior to the baccalaureate. If the revision of high school curriculum cannot be done in high school, those mentioned above could be done in the Junior College level. Add one more year to Baccalaureate, but professionalise the Junior college to qualify them for streamed vocational/occupational opportunities, so an AA grad could get himself employed and earn his tuition for the rest of the baccalaureate and save for graduate courses.”
“It is an excellent idea to have a global agreement on the accreditation of educational preparation. It is a veritable tool for global economic advancement and the like. This will help immigrant professionals get employment in their lines of expertise. It is embarrassing and wasteful to have a PhD driving a cab when immigrating to another country.”
“I am really pleased that the CHED now recognise that in order to compete in the global market, it is imperative that they implement changes in our educational system. When I had my qualifications reviewed by the UK NARIC, they concluded that my doctorate degree was only the equivalent of their master’s! Imagine how I felt.”
“Why impose taking PE and ROTC? I also think that languages – at least 2 (one European, one Asian) – should be part of the curriculum in high school.”
“You should compare the high schools in the Philippines with US high schools. Some high schools already take up calculus 1&2, advanced physics, chemistry, and etc.”
“With all respect, it’s not easy to generalize. Yes, a lot of things have to be put into consideration, but, is the extra year worth it? Or, is the problem related to how deep the teachers tackle lessons in elementary? Think of it, maybe the extra year would just be a waste of money if the subjects are taught at poor standards.”
“I must point out that Scotland has 12 years of school based education followed by 4 years of undergraduate study, rather than the 3 as seen in England & Wales.”
“Yes we Filipinos can compete globally in terms of skills, however there are companies that are really keen of the educational background and this matters a lot. I still believe that we have a lot to offer and we can make a difference out there.”
“With the new administration, the education reform can be made possible. Revision of curriculum also includes addition of facilities, materials and all that, this entails a lot of money. In other words, since the outcry of the new administration is to reduce if not to eliminate corruption, then funds allocated for the education reform will be properly spent. So I personally recommend that the reform will be pushed, let it happen.”
“I’ve seen the difficulty raising our competitive edge with only 10 years in basic ed. Good that PNoy has decided to implement K+12. PE and NSTP should be part of the high school along with most of the social sciences. We need our students to take up courses in college that will make them more competitive in the global market, more on ICT, management, sciences and mathematics.”
“So much for technical and instrumental analysis of what is wrong with our educational system! Why make a fetish out of two or three plus years in high school? The analysis does not raise the issue of how such reform will dismantle the reproduction of social and economic inequalities that educational institution perform! It tends to reduce educational reforms and problems to nothing but curricular revisions. Whether you incorporate logic or humanities in high school, they will all end up as exploted workers of fast-food chains! The famous Macjobs! At least, if you are exploited, you have read Plato and encountered Lenin’s State and revolution. Education therefore becomes a process of cultural capital accumulation. Does this reform address that?”
And, finally, an old post from the dark ages of the Arroyo administration:
“Listen to XXX of Gloria Arroyo’s administration which started this stupid plan of using English exclusively. And you will know what I mean about very bad English. I have heard him talk in Tagalog, however, and he was perfectly better in it. But I squirm when I hear him speak in English.”
GOOD NEWS FOR ANXIOUS ADMINISTRATORS: The Steering Committee of the K to 12 program will soon release the final versions of the curriculum for Grades 1 and 7 (the two grades that will use the new curriculum this June). Also almost finished is the curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 (for those schools that will model Senior High School starting this June). Congress and the Senate are working on the necessary legislation, despite all the time spent on impeachment.