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| Macleans |
Story by Bella Cariaso
The [Philippine] government spends at least P300,000 a year to educate a University of the Philippines student and P30,000 per year for a learner enrolled in public schools, Education Secretary Sonny Angara reminded graduates of UP Mindanao.
The [Philippine] government spends at least P300,000 a year to educate a University of the Philippines student and P30,000 per year for a learner enrolled in public schools, Education Secretary Sonny Angara reminded graduates of UP Mindanao.
“You also made it through as the chosen ones worthy of prized public investment. For our Applied Math graduates, kindly compute the implications of this. This comparison is not a gateway to guilt, but a reminder of your roots,” Angara said in his speech during the 27th Commencement Exercises of UP Mindanao.
“The state made this investment on you knowingly and willingly because we believe that you have the potential to contribute towards peace and progress in Mindanao,” he added.
Angara said based on the latest data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, eight in 10 provinces with lowest functional literacy are in Mindanao.
“In Tawi-Tawi, one in three residents can’t read or write functionally. This is not an indictment, but an invitation to equity. When people say Mindanao is behind, you have to remind them. ‘We are not left behind, you were just given funds earlier’,” Angara said.
He said that the government expects the UP graduates to continue helping Mindanao as the UP campus was created so that Mindanao can have its own scientists, artists and leaders.
“This campus was established through Republic Act 7889, a law championed by father, (the late former) senator Ed Angara, who believed that education is the great equalizer,” Angara added.
“Your diploma is a duty to the forgotten, a voice for the voiceless. This is a pledge to go where the wound is. Sadly, Mindanao has long been wounded,” Angara added.
Three-year college
Three-Year College
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) yesterday opposed the move of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to trim college education to only three years.
“Shortening college is not the solution to our education crisis. It reflects a shallow understanding of the real problems,” ACT-NCR president Ruby Bernardo said.
Gatchalian’s bill would integrate general education courses at the Senior High School (SHS) level.
Bernardo maintained that the roots of educational decline lie in the neglect of the Kindergarten to Grade 3 stage, where children are supposed to develop basic literacy and numeracy skills.
She added that the current state of basic education, particularly the SHS program under K-12, requires immediate attention and reform before any consideration of shortening college education.
“What we need is comprehensive curricular reform that addresses the gaps in our basic education system, not shortcuts that will further compromise the quality of our graduates,” Bernardo added.
Overdue bonuses
“Shortening college is not the solution to our education crisis. It reflects a shallow understanding of the real problems,” ACT-NCR president Ruby Bernardo said.
Gatchalian’s bill would integrate general education courses at the Senior High School (SHS) level.
Bernardo maintained that the roots of educational decline lie in the neglect of the Kindergarten to Grade 3 stage, where children are supposed to develop basic literacy and numeracy skills.
She added that the current state of basic education, particularly the SHS program under K-12, requires immediate attention and reform before any consideration of shortening college education.
“What we need is comprehensive curricular reform that addresses the gaps in our basic education system, not shortcuts that will further compromise the quality of our graduates,” Bernardo added.
Overdue bonuses
Overdue Bonuses
ACT Philippines trooped to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) yesterday to press the agency for the long delay in the release of the 2023 Performance-Based Bonus (PBB).
ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said that the teachers are also calling for higher allocation for salary hike and education in the 2026 national budget.
“We have already engaged in dialogue before the midterm elections, yet our benefit remains withheld. We have waited long enough. We fulfilled our duties despite crushing workloads and chronic shortages. What we deserve is simple: timely benefits and due recognition for our valuable service,” Quetua said.
Quetua added that the protest action comes as the DBM prepares to submit the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program to Congress this August.
BENTO BOX
Compared to PhP300,000 per student, the average cost in the US is more than twice as much at PhP807,001.46 = [US$14,306 x (PhP56.41/US$1)]
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