KEYS TO MODERNIZING EDUCATION SYSTEM

ROSALYN S. BATAC

There is a necessity for international cooperation in the country’s bid to modernize the education system without leaving any potential learner behind, according to the Department of Education.

As a country where our basic family unit and society value education very highly, we are well aware of how essential international cooperation is in meeting our responsibility to deliver quality, accessible, relevant and liberating education for all, said DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones.

With a student population of over 25 million and 722,000 teachers, the Philippines is among the many economies that are still catching up to secure inclusive and quality education. The DepEd is currently undertaking action to address the challenges continuously faced by Philippine basic education. First is legislation, which can play a crucial role in ensuring the adoption of reforms to modernize education system.

Keeping legislators abreast with the most recent developments in education guarantees the agency of its ability to deploy legislation as a key tool in lending a degree of stability and institutionalizing reforms.

Second is to work hand-in-hand with multiple stakeholders outside the government to boost and mobilize innovative financing strategies. Currently, DepEd employs public-private partnerships (PPP), such as Education Service Contracting (ESC), Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program, and Brigada Eskwela.

Apart from securing financial resources for the modernization of the education system, implementing agencies are also required to improve their absorptive capacity to use the resources efficiently and on time. Third action point is that delays in program and budget execution will be stemmed by instituting management and financial reforms through planning, real-time management information system, and monitoring and evaluation.

Fourth is centered on the challenges and competencies of the 21st century, which require ceaseless learning. International cooperation plays a crucial role in the continuous research, education and training of teachers, multi-source feedback mechanisms, and exchange of best practices.

The country is also commited to expand and enhance the Alternative Learning System (ALS) to international attention. Modernization of the education system must not and will not be at the expense of four million out-of-school children and youth, and a significant section of the labor force which has not completed basic education. The challenge, therefore, is to provide mechanisms for equivalencies and international recognition for ALS beneficiaries.

Sixth is a need to experiment and be open to new pathways to innovation in teaching delivery and content. — oOo—

The author is Teacher III at San Nicolas Elementary School, Arayat East District