Money Making in Education

Friday, 10 June 2011 02:24

Written by Aaron Benedict De Leon

At the dawn of the opening of classes, the DepEd seems busy with its Balik Eskwela Program, ensuring that schools are logistically prepared for the resumption of School Year 2011-2012.

We have heard for several years, and decades in fact, the lingering problems in public schools such as lack of classrooms, books and even in qualified teachers. It’s as if it has become a chorus in the Education Song. Since when? Since the time I wasn’t even born yet (pre-1986).

I would have to agree with a friend, who works in the same political sphere that: “Education nowadays has become more of a privilege, than a right.” If in 1993, two schools were clashing in the National Debate Tourney Championship whether education is a privilege or a right, I’m sure that debate in the context of 2011 would be less contentious, than what it was 18 year ago.

What makes everything worse is that education has not become public and is overly non-universal.

It seems that yearly, the problem in education continues to exponentially double or triple. Aside from the usual logistical and capital resource concerns that plague our education system, we’ve seen the emergence of bogus nursing and maritime schools, schools whose interests are merely monetary, and never anything close to quality.

This concern was further legitimized by the statement of Ms. Yolanda Quijano, DepEd undersecretary for programs and projects. She mentioned that their estimates show that only 75% of schools have the necessary permits to operate. However, she echoed the lack of police power to close down colorum schools because of bureaucratic judiciary processes.

Though several cease and desist orders have been issued by the CHED to close down non-performing nursing and maritime schools, it has merely been reactive, more than proactive.

The reaction in closing down non-performing schools was borne out of the European Commission’s report on the Philippines, taking notice of its poor maritime training standards and this report even went as far as issuing a stern warning that our Filipino seafarers would not be granted certification unless our government acts on it by August of this year. Meanwhile, the need to shut down some nursing schools is also due to the weakening demand for nurses in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and other countries. Further stressed is the fact that the aforementioned countries are looking for nurses with specialties on certain fields, thus putting to jeopardy several new graduates, and board passers in nursing.

As of press time, the current number of Higher Education Institutions in the country has been reduced to 1,726. This is still high, compared to our neighbors in Asia and in Europe.

Analysis:

In reality, this problem stems not only from changing trends in the global economic arena, but also a problem on having a comprehensive focus on areas that present bright prospects for our students.

The emergence of bogus schools, for example, has exploited the desires of not only many Filipino students, but also families, to rise out of poverty. They have taken advantage of the situation to squeeze money out of the pockets of these not so well-off families, and have sacrificed the level of education for the sake of opening up this program.

The illegal collection of fees in public schools continues to be a yearly problem. Whereas public education should be free, unnecessary exposure trips and other suspect miscellaneous fees, become allegedly the milking cows of certain administrators/teachers.

It is a reality, and it is a known fact, that quality education has become expensive in this country. But what seems to be unacceptable is the fact that students and families don’t get their money back with quality education.

Functional Literacy has become more of an issue nowadays, than one’s ability to read or write. More or less, the education system has produced less quality graduates because of less quality curricula. Furthermore, companies have had to reduce their standards of hiring just to cater to the limited skills and abilities of some fresh graduates.

My advocacy does not focus anymore on making public education totally free, because I no longer believe that education is a right, based on the realities presented before the general public by education stakeholders. What I just want to say is that people should get their money’s worth for education.

Nothing has been free in education for many years now, and maybe its time some civil society groups would just have to accept the fact that there will never be enough allocation for education.

Our focus should now be diverted towards making our education system more proficient, responsive to the evolving trends of the global arena.

It’s time that we just don’t recognize what job is in, but equally invest, literally and figuratively, in sectors that pose promising propositions for our future. We have many bright and smart scientists who are barely noticed, and we have promising individuals who I believe can make a big dent in the field of science and technology. Agriculture also presents enormous opportunities for young kids, and that its value in a growing economy should not be undermined.

This increased focus is what should drive businessmen in establishing better performing schools. I believe that money will follow, once a good education program and curriculum is established. Effort always precedes results, in the end.

Our government and private sector must recognize that the view towards increased global share in employment is not satisfied by band-aid solutions, by overly relying on seasonal jobs or even in trying to ride on the bandwagon in terms of building schools catered to jobs that are in.

Investment is necessary in this aspect, where we try to develop industries to become the strength of our workforce. I believe the Filipino worker is skilled and capable, as long as he is provided adequate training and technology to reach his potential. We should never put utter disregard in professions that have great promise, and we must explore all means to direct funds in support of training and development of these sectors.

Education is not just a question of resource, on the part of the government, and not just a way to earn money, for private groups and individuals. It’s always trying to re-invent the wheel, and doing something of excellent quality, which will propel both its public and private motives.

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