Enrile to gov't: Carry burden of rising cost of education and spare students, parents from tuition..
Wednesday, 08 June 2011 03:34
Enrile said the government should seriously consider allocating available funds to increase the competitiveness and relevance of public elementary and high schools as well as state universities and colleges. The lawmaker lamented that while the administration has found ways to increase the allocation for its dole-out program by P2 billion, it has not given the same level of urgency to address the deteriorating state of education in the country.
"If Malacañang matches its P2 billion additional allocation for its conditional cash transfer program in terms of additional funding for our public schools and SUCs, we can abate planned increases in tuition and other school fees which are also necessary because of the rising cost of education. And by coming up with a system that rewards schools based on their competitiveness, the government can provide incentives for public schools to perform better," Enrile said
On his campaign trail, President Aquino promised to make education a central strategy in building national competitiveness. "Media reports showing classroom shortages, poor toilet facilities in schools, and other problems mirror the reality that there is a lot that still needs to be done to make our public schools at par with international standards," the congressman noted.
He cited a recent study conducted by the Asian Development Bank that warned of the Philippines falling into the "middle income trap" if crucial reforms - including those in the education sector - are not met.
"The government should heed experts' calls and focus on really improving the quality of education to equip our graduates with skills that will allow them to move up the value chain. If we want to build national competitiveness, this is a necessary ingredient," Enrile said.
The lawmaker also called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to more aggressively explore partnership with local government units, civil society groups and other education stakeholders to increase the chances of school reforms to succeed.
In particular, Enrile said "DepEd Central officials should go down to the school level" and seek ways on how it can empower and strengthen school administrators, local school boards, and Parents'-Teachers' Association which have the capacity to concretize envisioned reforms in education.
"Reforms in education is a multi-agency, multi-sectoral task that should not solely rest on DepEd's shoulders. For one, the DepEd can further strengthen its collaboration with local government units in instituting and sustaining reforms that are done in the school," Enrile said.
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