I AM A FAN of the 1987 Constitution and am pleased that it has lasted 35 years. Article XIV which deals with education is succinct but helpful. For example, Art. XIV Sec. 2(2) says, in part:
“Without limiting the natural right of parents to rear their children, elementary education is compulsory for all children of school age.”
I take this to mean that education is compulsory up to, and including, Grade 6. This is reasonable. It is regrettable that there are so many children who do not complete elementary education. The pandemic has, of course, probably made things worse.
But estimates published in 2019 suggested that over 20 percent of our students failed to complete Grade 6. The incoming DepEd Secretary, Sara Duterte-Carpio, will have her own priorities when it comes to managing Education but I believe achieving greater success at primary level should be high on the list.
Over the years, Filipino students have not fared well in international comparisons as conducted by the United Nations and other bodies.
For example, Trends International Mathematics an Science Study 2019 (TIMSS) showed Filipino students ranking lowest among 58 countries in an international assessment of Grade 4 students in mathematics and science. The reactions of our educators to our poor performance in international comparisons is disappointing and, all too often, unnecessarily defensive. We should be more upbeat and focus on how we can do better in future.
Atty. Vic Rodriguez, the spokesman for presumptive president Bongbong Marcos says we should ‘give Sara a chance’. Yes, but we should, as parents, also express our concerns where necessary. After all, any country which likes to describe itself as a ‘vibrant’ democracy should expect a vigorous national conversation with no holds barred.
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One of the horrendous problems faced by Sara is the question of money. The current administration has done an effective job at coping with the pandemic, but the necessary expenditures have left us in a weak economic condition.
Teachers, whose salaries are increasingly inequitable compared to other public servants, are due significant rises. But can we afford these?
I believe we can and must./PN
