On Education..

The month of March is said to be the Month of Graduation in the Philippines. This year, I myself will be witnessing another Graduation Rites at Liceo Del Verbo Divino, the school were I'm at service. The Kinder 2 pupils will have their "Moving Up" activity (this is just a graduation per see in their Kinder level going to Grade School - grade one. The High School students at this very moment are now on their threshold's stage where they will be leaving the very precious moment of their high school days. A few more steps (few more days) from now, they will be marching to the graduation march music. A lot of stories to tell about the high school life, the college life of each every students. The sweet and sour moments of their life while on "pencil pushing". However, it will soon become memories to cherished. I know there will be mixed feelings among the graduates. For some, they are now planning ahead for their college life and the course that they are going to take. For the college students who will be graduating this year will also experience some other kind of excitement and jubilation. So much so, whatever level they are in now (pupils, students) from Kinder, Grade School, High School or College, they are all moving forward...to their future. Their perseverance in studies, the great endeavour of their parents in sending them to school... will payoff a price of a golden wealth in life .. that is EDUCATION. I is said that the right for education is a right to all. It is not a privilege. Unfortunately, in the end, in our situation at present it seems more and more children are out of school anymore. The dropped outs are increasing in high school and in college level. It is because of POVERTY; and the higher tuition fees of private schools, the scarcity of teachers; the increasing cases of broken families; and the influence of the new age of communications... that is the computer age. Every year we are producing more and more graduates. But in return , there are more who are unemployed. Are there more graduates who are qualified for the job openings or there are less job opportunities in our country?. Indeed, we are just producing more diplomas but less job opportunities. If there are jobs openings, it is so sad that more are not qualified or fit for the job. Others are also too ambitious. Some are choosing a job in which they not really qualified or fit because they have no skills. There are some who doesn't like to start a job which is a little bit at a lower rank or level. They are ashamed to try and start to work because they wanted a white collar job . Let us not forget the saying "Sipag at tiyaga", "Pag may tiyaga may ginhawa". In another story , there are those who are very lucky to be employed even if they are not qualified . It is because of "whom you know policy" , the "payola policy" or they called it "share share" as payment forthe "Utang na Loob". The very factor that contributes to our unskilled graduates or workers today is the "Downgraded Quality" of Education" that we have now. And the so many factors that affects our students. The corruption at the Department of Education and in some schools or there is something wrong in our education system itself?. Throughout the country the Local governments are continuously converting schools into State Universities. Unfortunately in the end, the share from the whole pie of the government's budget for education are becoming more smaller. Moreover, more schools now were given a permit to open but lack of school facilities. Not to mention the schools who are just renting a room or a building. So, because of the lack of opportunities here in our country, the result is the birth of the so called "Bagong Bayani" or the Overseas Filipino workers (OFW). From professional skilled workers or domestic employment. That is why we are now facing a new problem the so called "Brain Drain". Finally, these are just all my personal views on Education; Yes, there are problems in our country.. from education... to job opportunities...but there are also solutions to these.. That if the government will push hard in correcting the quality of our education system, stop corruption, opens more job opportunities, helping small scale industries and investing in skills training system like the TESDA, to help the unemployed to start a small scale underground economy that would support for their livelihood. I know that the story I have written has no end... but it rests on each individual to change and persevere to reach the unreachable star for a better future.