EVER SINCE the Department of Education bombarded Congress and the rest of us with dubious propaganda in the lead up to the “passing” of the “Enhanced” Education Act (RA 10533) in 2013, I have become cynical about whatever those who are responsible for education management have to say. Specious arguments are used to justify doubtful decisions.
Lapsus Calami (PN, Aug. 4) tells us: “The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has been encouraging colleges and universities to change their start of classes from June to August. The goal is to align Philippine schools with the international academic calendar.”
“International academic calendar”?
There is no such thing. Furthermore, there is no need for it. The academic calendar in any country is usually determined by the local climate. In Europe, for example, August is traditionally a summer holiday month so schools start the academic year in September. Australian schools close for their summer holidays in December.
I do not see the purpose of colleges and universities in the Philippines changing their start of classes from June to August. The international dimension quoted by CHED is irrelevant.
Lapsus Calami goes on: “The K+12 program is also part of this alignment to facilitate mutual recognition treaties of Philippine diplomas to academic institutions in other counties.”
What mutual recognition treaties? There are none.
Some foreign colleges and universities may offer places to Filipinos, but this is on an individual, not a generalized basis. Imee Marcos reportedly attended classes at Yale, Miriam Defensor-Santiago went to summer school at Oxford (anyone can attend), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo went to Georgetown (Washington D.C)
But universal “mutual recognition treaties” in which any K+12 Filipino graduate can automatically enroll in any university in any country will not happen. The academic standard in the Philippines is not high enough.
For several years the Philippines took part in fact- finding exercises administered by UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). The exercises took place to compare the academic attainment of 15 year old students in Mathematics, English and Science. Regrettably the Philippines did not fare well in comparison with other countries and eventually disengaged from the UNESCO program.
I believe we should rejoin the UNESCO activity and attempt to improve our international standing by improving the quality of education in our schools.
Within the Philippines, the role of national examinations has diminished. It is important to know how individual students and schools are faring compared with their peers. If a school is lagging behind, then the need to make improvements is identified. We are not seeing this.
The academic progress made during Grades 11 and 12 is not sufficient to justify the two-year academic program. The senior high school element of K+12 is not working well. Too much time is wasted on “projects” which have little academic merit. Our Grade 12 graduates are years behind their counterparts in Singapore or Australia.
Our education system needs to “shape up.”
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I have always regarded Lapsus Calami as PN’s sanctum sanctorum. It would be sad if this were to be breached by propaganda./PN
