EDUCATION AND TEACHERS AS CATALYSTS OF CHANGE

MAYETH M. MANANSALA

Education can be considered as the main tool that can change humans’ life and nations’ economic status, from a simple and ignorant man to a more knowledgeable and competitive one and from unprogressive to a wealthy and developed nation. The importance of quality education is widely known around the world. That is why people and nation are investing more on education, which aims to transform a holistically developed citizen who will rule each country and to meet the global standard of the current generation. Education is very essential to every man. Where in, the time that a child is born, he/she has already possessed the different rights that are necessary to fulfill. One of these rights is, the right to educate or the right to education which is under Article 3 of Presidential Decree no. 603 “Child and Youth Welfare Code” or commonly known as The Right of a Child. The parents should observe this right. Sending children to school is one of the major roles of parents as how they give efforts in dealing with this responsibility. Since, they do believe, that education is the only thing that they can grant to their children, something that nobody can steal. That is why in the part of parents, they are very particular in choosing the right school, which can mold their children to a total developed individual who can be future leaders, nation builders, economic providers and most of all, a God-fearing citizen of the nation. Youth are considered as the fair hope of the nation. Therefore, the progress of every nation lies on the shoulders of every child. Nurturing children with quality education has something to do with the teachers who are in charge in teaching the things that children will not learn in their respective houses and something that their parents could teach in the same level as their teachers. The educational system of the Philippines has undergone changes from countless times and stages of development since the education started and until today. The country is finding ways to improve and change the education system to make sure that the children will acquire enough learning that can be seen as outcome of students learning with their teachers and in the school. Relevant to that, teachers are referred also as individuals who play a very significant role in the society, they are the one who can make a difference, can influence life, and where in the success of every individual is rooted on the effectiveness and efficiency of the teachers. Their influence as agents of change in the society is beyond question. Teachers’ duties and responsibilities are not easy as what some people think. Most of their time is spent in dealing with their duties and in knowing each child’s background, as they put learners as the center of the educative process. They are also capable of making some adjustments in different aspects, assuring that the needs of learners are address. Especially today, they are called 21st century teachers, thus, they require flexibility and innovations as they practice the contemporary way of teaching as well as innovative teaching is necessary for the future of education to help students to reach their full potential. Innovative teaching is a necessity for all teachers to meet the educational needs of the new generation.

-oOoThe author is Teacher I at Guagua Elementary School, Guagua East District