ASEAN INTEGRATION: WHAT IT BROUGHT TO PH EDUCATION

ROSE ANN S. SUNGA

“One Vision, One Identity, One Community.” This is the official motto of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which serves the very purpose of the organization. As compared to other regional organizations, ASEAN also envisions unity in promoting peace, welfare and development among countries.

The Philippines is one of the founding fathers of ASEAN together with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Five decades after its establishment in 1967, it expanded to 10-member states which now include Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam, Laos and Cambodia. From the time that these countries agreed to sign a declaration, gradual integration in the region started for the achievement of joint economic, social and cultural development.

Over the years, Philippines have faced opportunities and challenges to cope up with the integration. Although Philippines is economically performing well in the region, one of the major undertakings that the country is facing right now is the formation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 for a borderless economic community by 2030. For the succeeding years, competition will be tougher across Southeast Asia. ASEAN will be a region with free flow of goods and services, labor and investments. On this note, Philippines hold a crucial position of producing the best especially in terms of human resources for getting the advantage in the market. The country must prepare and gear every Filipinos with all the possible knowledge, skills, competencies and resources for them to compete globally.

Now, the education sector is shouldering the biggest responsibility to meet the requirements of ASEAN integration. The pressure had thrust Philippines’s educational system to strategic moves including the institutionalization of K-12 Program wherein additional years were added on the Basic Education Curriculum. Curriculum and curriculum standards are being enhanced to meet the international norms and to strengthen the country’s quality of education. Interest-based tracks and industry-academe partnerships were offered for Senior High School for employability. Academic calendar is shifted for synchronization. Additional teachers are being hired. Teachers are taking up further studies for new trends of instruction. New facilities are being built and other school needs/concerns are being taken into consideration.

There is no perfect plan or perfect implementation. The government is still experiencing major lapses. Philippines truly have a long way to go to polish everything. But despite of this, the education sector is clearly giving its best to achieve the desired outcome for the country’s development. If everything goes well at the end, no matter what challenges that had been carried out, a better life for the Filipinos will always be a sweet success. — oOo—

The author is SST II at Telacsan National High School

RUBY R. MANALASTAS

Children tend to pick up on what they see whether good or bad. They’ll try finding ideal person to follow and imitate. And as they become students, they are exposed to different environment and people. This is why being a teacher and a role model for the students is very important. The things we do and the words we say plays a significant part in teaching the children. This is not far from Christianity. However, this also doesn’t mean we are to try to act religious and put up a different image in front of others, but we are to imitate and model Christ. And since teacher-student relationship is mostly an everyday connection, how then can we, as teachers, model Christ especially in the classroom?

First, as a teacher we must love the students because God is Love and we want to show Christ to our students, we must also love them as God loves us even if they are the one that’s driving the teachers crazy making them feel pissed most of the time. And it’s not enough to just say we love them instead we need to show them that we love them because actions speaks louder than words.

Secondly, as a teacher we must care more about our students than our policies because we are here to help our students grow and be matured. But most of the times we get so entrenched in our policies that we miss the point that instead of helping out the students to grow we make them feel under in our policies. In these cases, we must pray for wisdom and remember that the growth and maturity of our students is our main goal. Students are different in terms of maturity and nature and try to bear in mind that they are also a human being that is need to be valued and cared the most.

Thirdly, as a teacher we must let His truth permeate because God’s truth should be such a part of us that we can’t help speak them in our daily conversation and lessons. And let those of us in public schools thinks this doesn’t apply, realize that God’s truth is universal that our students needs to hear that truth because Faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word of God.

Fourthly, as a teacher we must model Christ like living because our lives should portray Christ and our conduct should be an example. Our spirit and we should be evidencing His fruit of the Holy Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Self-control. To practice and in order to have these fruit of the Holy Spirit, as a teacher that wanted to model Christ we must make a daily habit of reading the Word of God to know Christ more and be like Him.

Lastly, as a teacher we must be humble at all times because servant leadership is a powerful example of Christ and will draw students to Him. When we can set aside our pride, admit our mistakes, and not be easily offended our students will see a very real difference. Humility is a virtue and Jesus Christ is the concrete example that we must follow. — oOo—

The author is Teacher III at Sto.Tomas High School