Money = Quality Education?
December 5th, 2005 at 8:32 am (General, Education)
The Philippine Star reported last Sunday that the Department of Education needs about PhP133 billion to “improve” the quality of education in the country. Reportedly, more progressive countries, notably Thailand, Malaysia, USA, New Zealand and Japan are spending as much as PhP47,700 (Thailand) to PhP293,440 (Japan) per student. Meanwhile, the Philippines spends only about PhP6,000 per student. Although I agree that education should be a top priority in all aspects, I do not think that we should think that money is the best or only solution to the dismal state of the Philippine Education System.
Yes, there is a lack of classrooms, a lack of quality educators and a lack of books, and other resources. But these are not the real reasons for our education woes. In my opinion, the problem lies in the attitudes of the educators, the students and even the government. We keep in wailing and whining “if only.” Because we dwell on what is not and what cannot be, we fail to use our imagination and be creative. There are a thousand different ways to revolutionize our education system, if only we stop pointing our fingers on our lack of funds.
