As JR Late Night Blog gets improved, it is now time for SLOW JAMMING THE NEWS
Slow Jam Topic: PNoy's 10-Point Basic Education Agenda
First Point: 12-Year Basic Education Cycle
Overview of the Point:
PNoy will expand the basic education cycle, from a 10-year cycle to a globally-comparable 12 years, for the Philippines' public school children. At present, those who can afford basic education get into the best universities and the best jobs after graduation.
JR Slow Jammed Point:
Well nice idea PNoy because of the fact you are sticking to the status quo of the educational cycle of most countries in the world. However, I am still not impressed because of the fact that our country's budget is not that high and good. Yeah, people are paying taxes to the government AND currently The Department of Education is still the highest budgeted department in the Philippines. But, let us not forget that this project may deeply affect the country's budget. As far as I have researched, there are a total of 43,267 public schools in the Philippines (source:
http://www.deped.gov.ph/public/public.asp). If PNoy, is going to divide the budget equally to the different schools, then a budget of Php 100,000,000 is not enough. Even Php 1,000,000,000 is not enough. Why? Because obviously the government is not just budgeting the classrooms, they will also be budgeting the books to be used by the students, the facilities that is used on different school departments and the teachers who will be teaching the students. If I were PNoy, I would just proceed with the project on the right time at the right budget with the best economy.
Second Point: Universal Preschooling For All
Overview of the Point:
All public school children will have preschool as their introduction to formal schooling by 2016, and this will be available to all children regardless of income.
JR Slow Jammed Point:
A hand of applause to PNoy if this really happens. At our current educational system today, only private schools are enjoying the privilege to teach students starting at a preschool level. Some public schools start their education at Kinder but most public schools in the Philippines start their education at Grade 1. As far as I am concerned with this project of PNoy, this is one of the best points in the 10-point agenda. I really am looking forward to this point. However, there should still be proper budgeting on this project. Instead of having Day Care Centers, the Philippines should have quality preschool teaching.
Third Point: Madaris Education as a Sub-System Within the Education System
Overview of the Point:
PNoy wants to have 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 the Philippines' public school curriculum as additional subjects.
JR Slow Jammed Point:
JR is actually a fan of equality between different races, equality between the rich and the poor, and equality between the Catholics and Muslims. This education system is the best gift the government can give to the Muslims in the whole Philippines. According to what I have researched, ARMM is only the region in the Philippines with the Madrasah Educational System (source:
http://www.muslimmindanao.ph/madrasa.html). If this will be applicable in the future, then Muslims living in different regions outside ARMM in the Philippines would not spend money on learning in Private Schools. Muslims will also be taught with proper education on their religion as well as the culture they have. If Catholics are taught Religion (-based on Catholic culture) and Values Education, then Muslims should also be taught with Religion (-based on Islam culture) and Values Education.
Fourth Point: Technical Vocational Education as an Alternative Stream in Senior High School
Overview of the Point:
PNoy will reintroduce technical-vocational education in the public high schools in the Philippines to better link schooling to local industry needs and employment. The Philippines need to provide an educational alternative to better prepare the students for the world of work.
JR Slow Jammed Point:
Of all the ten points, this is the "stupidest" (sorry for the term) point yet. Since this is the reason why people tend to work under companies instead of them running their own company. The government must teach all students the proper way on handling their own companies so that in the future they can also use it. Students should not learn about practical activities that would make them a laborer in the future; students should learn about proper education on making their own business enterprise or making their own company. This in my opinion is the reason why students tend to go abroad instead of working in their own country. Because of the fact there are many job opportunities in other countries; but also in fact, there is a huge opportunity to start a business or company in the Philippines. I wish the government can understand this.
Fifth Point: "Every Child a Reader" by Grade 1
Overview of the Point:
By the end of the next administration, every child must be a reader by Grade 1. At the core of the 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.
JR Slow Jammed Point:
A very simple introduction to my point. "I hope the government had taught this earlier". Well the Filipinos have a 90% Literacy Rate, but that does not mean the Filipino children in elementary are already good in reading. So, I just simply what to end my point by saying "Why start later if the government can start it now".
Sixth Point: Science and Math Proficiency
Overview of the Point:
PNoy will rebuild the science and math infrastructure in schools so that the Philippines can produce more scientists, engineers, technicians, technologists and teachers in universities so that this country can be more globally competitive in industry and manufacturing. To build a culture for science and math, PNoy will promote science and math clubs and fairs.
JR Slow Jammed Point:
As more and more Filipinos work as nurses abroad, this is the best alternative to the problem. If more and more students get interested in the field of science and math, then there will be millions of Filipino students who might become scientists, mathematicians, engineers, teachers, and technologists in the future. If this happens, then the Philippines will be at the same point as Japan, United Kingdom and United States is standing at. We would not be considered as a Third-World Country anymore; but we will be considered as a First Class country in the world. The only problem that the government has to overcome is the laziness of the students to study math and science in school especially in elementary. As most normal students say "Elementary is as Fun as High School is". Schools should make Math and Science exciting as the government launches this sixth point project.
Seventh Point: Assistance to Private Schools as Essential Partners in Basic Education
Overview of the Point:
PNoy will expand government assistance to private education. A strong private school system will strengthen the Philippines' public schools by providing parents an alternative and not adding to the overcrowding.
JR Slow Jammed Point:
Ok, this is kind of good but I am not cleared with the statement "PNoy will expand government assistance to private education" in the overview. Does this mean that the government will focus on developing public schools at the same time private schools? So does this mean that there will be no longer private handling of private schools? I hope that this point can be cleared much further. With regards to the statement "providing parents an alternative and not adding to the overcrowding", does this mean that parents who can't let their child study in over crowded public schools study in expensive and not so crowded private schools? I really am not cleared with the seventh point of the 10-Point Basic Education Agenda of President PNoy.
Eighth Point: Medium of Instruction Rationalized
Overview of the Point:
The Philippines should become a 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.
JR Slow Jammed Point:
I, for one, know four languages: English (I learned it from school obviously), Filipino (the dialect we mostly use at school and home), Ilocano (my grandfather and grandmother at my father's side speak such), and Visaya (my grandmother at my mother's side speaks such). It is for a fact that all Pilipinos know how to speak Filipino because it is our national language obviously. It is also a fact that most Pilipinos know how to speak English because it is part of the Bilingual Language Policy of the late President Marcos which states that all Pilipinos must know how to speak English and Filipino. But for the "retain your dialect" part it is very hard to have that in school. For example, a teacher in La Union tends to teach Science in Ilocano while a teacher in Cebu tends to teach Science in Visaya. If this is the way how the Philippines will work then there would be no balance on our language. I think English and Filipino are the two languages which should only be used in school disregarding the dialects.
Ninth Point: Quality Textbooks
Overview of the Point:
PNoy will not tolerate poor textbook quality in schools. Textbooks will be judged by three criteria: quality, better quality, and more quality. Poor quality textbooks have no place in schools in the Philippines.
JR Slow Jammed Point:
This is a good point, President PNoy. I really am very happy that this will now be implemented in your administration. For the past administrations (most especially the administrations of Estrada and Arroyo), schools are suffering from low quality books made in the Philippines. What our schools need are high quality books which are made here in the Philippines. Truly our literacy rate would be true and acceptable if students will learn proper gramming and proper explanations with the use of Quality Textbooks.
Tenth Point: Covenant with the Local Governments to Build More Schools
Overview of the Point:
PNoy will build more schools in areas where there are no public or private schools in partnership with local governments, as well address the country's persistent classroom and teacher shortages. Our country need more schools with smaller populations so that teachers, students and parents can form a real learning community.
JR Slow Jammed Point:
In my opinion, this is the conclusion of what the 10 Point Basic Education Agenda is about. Our country can only achieve these whole agenda if we the Filipinos will help hand-in-hand in making Aquino's administration the best administration there will be in the history of the Philippines. Proper budgeting and proper management is the key to the 10 Point Basic Education Agenda
JR's Final Statement to the 10Point Basic Education Agenda
Let us Remember:
"Kung gustong umunlad ang bansa, may paraan; Kung ayaw ng gobyerno o ng taongbayan, laging may dahilan"
And that's how we slow jam the news...
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JR 2010 September Late Night Blogs
