1. 12-year Basic Education Cycle
I will expand the basic education cycle, from a 10-year cycle to a globally-comparable 12 years, for our public school children. At present, those who can afford basic education get into the best universities and the best jobs after graduation.
---Okay, so we've all heard about President Aquino's plan on changing the current basic education cycle from K-10 to K-12, meaning seven years instead of six in elementary and five years instead of four in high school. This is quite a hot-button issue among students. PNoy sees that the key problem facing our educational system is its short length. No matter how intelligent our Pinoys are, they can never learn in 10 years what children in other countries learn in 12. PNoy plans to expand basic education in this country from a short 10-year cycle to a globally comparable 12 years before the end of the next administration, to give public school children "an even chance of succeeding." Most teachers approve of this, some parents have mixed feelings about this, and students hate the idea of having to go to school longer. Of course our teachers are glad that finally, a president is focusing on education. More jobs will be given, and the current level of our students will (hopefully) rise. Parents might have clashing opinions on this. On one hand, their kids will have a better chance at a brighter future, but on the other hand, more years to put their children through school means more expenses - expenses that not all families can afford. Only a few handful of kids want to make their student-life longer, and usually just because they don't want their friends to go separate ways; most students are dying to get out of high school, to experience the "real world" set in college. Students are already reacting negatively because it requires additional costs and more time to acquire a high school diploma. For me, it is a good idea, but is it feasible? I'm not so sure about this.
2. Universal preschooling for all
All public school children will have preschool as their introduction to formal schooling by 2016, and we will make this available to all children regardless of income.
--Does the administration know how many preschool-aged children there are in the country? Do they have the rooms or buildings that can house these students? Available regardless of income, great, but it is quite unclear how this plan can be put into action. Most private schools already have this (whether it be called Kindergarten, Pre-school, or Day-care) and they have a good result: before entering Grade 1, the child already knows how to read. Again, good idea, but not exactly feasible with all the problems that will be encountered.
3. Madaris education as a sub-system within the education system
I want a full basic education for all Muslim Filipino children. This is to give proper respect to their culture while providing a sound curriculum in English, Filipino, science, and math. Madaris education, with subjects in Arabic language and Islamic values education, can be integrated in our public school curriculum as additional subjects.
--Now this is a tough one. The Muslim educational system is different from DepEd's, from their philosophies to their teaching methods. There are bigger problems than their religious, cultural, and political differences. If the administration wants to integrate these two cultures, then all students must learn about each other's. Some Muslim children have read the bible, have any Christian children read the Qur'an?
4. Technical vocational education as an alternative stream in senior high school.
I will reintroduce technical-vocational education in our public high schools to better link schooling to local industry needs and employment. We need to provide an educational alternative to better prepare the students for the world of work.
--Great idea! It's about time our Pinoys become prepared to live in the real world! Our problem today is that high schools do not prepare students for the workplace. If two extra years be added to the basic education, it will give them time to teach students the skills to find jobs or become entrepreneurs.
5. “Every child a reader” by Grade 1
By the end of the next administration, every child must be a reader by Grade 1. At the core of our children’s non-learning problems is the inability to read properly. By the end of the next administration (SY 2015-16), every child passing pre-school must be a reader by Grade 1.
--This is just redundant. Since PNoy already has a plan for universal preschooling, then why must it be repeated? Is he trying to make a point? Seriously, with his preschooling plan, why reiterate?
6. Science and Math proficiency
I will rebuild the science and math infrastructure in schools so that we can produce more scientists, engineers, technicians, technologists and teachers in our universities so that this country can be more globally competitive in industry and manufacturing. To build a culture for science and math, I will promote science and math clubs and fairs.
--Another good point. There are only a few students taking up science and engineering course, compared to those taking up accountancy and the like. Some high schools offer special subjects, kind of like the Advanced Placement classes in America. This can be considered as the equivalent of Science sections or high schools, but it is not enough. It should also be taught in all high schools, whether they be special classes or not.
7. Assistance to private schools as essential partners in basic education
I will expand Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Program (GASTPE) to a target of 1 million private HS students every year through education service contracting (ESC) while doing away with the wasteful education voucher system (EVS) of this administration. A strong private school system will strengthen our public schools by providing parents an alternative and not adding to the overcrowding.
--Private schools have issues, too, though mainly financial. But this plan isn't really necessary, because a simple DepEd Order would make this true. I don't see why it must also be reiterated.
8. Medium of instruction rationalized
We should become trilingual nation: Learn English well and connect to the world. Learn Filipino well and connect to our country. Retain your dialect and connect with your heritage.
--Very creative. I've never heard of a President focus on the dialects of a region as a main part of education. Interesting, though not really fair to those who migrated to a specific place. Can you imagine being forced to learn a language/dialect you're not familiar with and be graded on how you perform? I'd never survive that. xD
9. Quality textbooks
I will not tolerate poor textbook quality in our schools. Textbooks will be judged by three criteria: quality, better quality, and more quality. Poor quality textbooks have no place in our schools.
--FINALLY! Most of the textbooks used are of poor quality, having tons of grammatical errors and sometimes confusing and hard-to-understand explanations. I laugh at all the grammatical errors I see in some books. Why, if a fifteen-year-old like me can see them, then there must be something wrong with those books.
10. Covenant with the local governments to build more schools
I will build more schools in areas where there are no public or private schools in partnership with local governments, as well address our persistent classroom and teacher shortages. We need more schools with smaller populations so that teachers, students and parents can form a real learning community.
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