THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TODAY
Many experts and observers considered Educational system in the Philippines as a result of various unfinished experiments conducted by some researchers to complete their studies about educational system. The Philippine Government keep on adapting methods from different countries which they thought helpful to the Filipinos. The k to 12 program opened during the time of President Benigno Aquino III aimed to “provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.” The purpose is also to cope our country with global competitiveness in terms of education quality.
Teachers are commonly the implementer of any program made by the Department of Education. They also knew the comparison of what the Department called the "Traditional Teachers and 21st century Teachers". We agreed that Teachers ability and skills was levelled up through training, workshops,seminars, research, and mainly self study.
Teachers can easily adjust to any kind of program made by the Department of Education. They are Talented and knowledgeable to cope to any kind of issues resulted from changes in curriculum and laws governing the department. But let us compare the result of learners from time of Traditional Teachers to the kind of learners created by some laws that control/limits the ability of Teachers TODAY.
1. Non - Readers - Traditional Teachers do not allow students to be promoted to higher level without reading ability because they have the right to discipline the pupil specially in elementary. Today lots of 21st Century learners enrolled to Junior High School are non - reader. Elementary Teachers should not be blamed because the order to promote all students is from the Deped higher officials for unjust reasons. If the Teachers gave failing grades , the Principal will sometimes alter/change the grades that according to them is a Discretionary power given to them. Now let us imagine how High School Teachers will insert new knowledge to students without comprehension and the worst without reading ability. All areas of discipline are affected for they will turn to reading and counting lesson first before proceeding to the actual lessons. Now the question is How Teachers can give quality education if the System of implementation contradicts/against to the true purpose of the program to create a globally competitive learners.
2. Behavior of Students - Traditional Teachers are well respected by the students, They are protected by the disciplining authority over the learners. As they arrive, the classrooms were prepared for the day's lesson, the chairs were properly arranged, the learners were waiting for the first word from their respected adviser. 21st century era has arrived together with Child Protection Policy that made learners opposite to the Traditional time of students.Because of some laws that pamper the wrong behavior of students, DISCIPLINE was faded abruptly , resulting to poor study habits, uncontrolled behavior, bullying and other related activities. The Purpose of such laws are good , but the question is Does it really attain the true purpose?
3. Workload - Traditional Teachers were associated with chalk, chalkboard, manila paper, stick and manual class record and grading sheets. The 21st century Teachers Today are connected to laptop, projector, e- class record, deped websites, wi-fi, deped e- mail, LIS, Narrative report , Activity proposals, Promotion rate report, Innovation, Non-reader report, home visitation, Statistics of late,absences and behavior of students, Bid and Award Committe, Health Status report , deworming, Drug related cases report, Gulayan report, national greening program, clean up drive, dengue awareness, Feeding program from the pockets of Teachers, Printing of different reports (from teachers salary), Reports of LAZY PRINCIPAL, SMEA, etc(so many more). The number of contact hours to students was minimized . The question is " Is it true that we are in the 21st century education program or the name 21st century is just a joke?
4. Salary - Traditional Teachers spend their salaries in Transportation, Family needs, Classroom expenses like manila paper,chalk,and coupon bond. 21st century Teachers needed to buy laptop(every 4 years sometimes lower than 4 years), Printer, ink, coupon bond, wi -fi, load for internet connection(LIS,Research), Cellphone with camera (for report purposes), projector, award for students, brigada eskwela solicitation(from pocket of Teachers),Home visitation expenses,Personal Transportation, coaching expenses(different events), Seminars(sometimes personal registration fee) etc. TEACHERS are overwork but underpaid.
5. New Policies and Laws TODAY THAT ARE AGAINST THE TRUE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION ( No homework Policy).
Teachers will continue to serve the True Purpose of Education at the expense of their own salary and dignity, they are the true heroes wearing their uniform as costume and their teaching skills as their Superpower, they are SUPERHEROES.
