On education and nation’s progress
EDUCATION here in the Philippines has always been looked up to as the most democratic of all institutions that could lead people to peace, progress and prosperity. With such view, parents dedicate their sweat and blood for the schooling of their children who are most likely to have burned their proverbial midnight oil—just to win that lucky ticket to their own personal prosperity. A lot got lucky and went off our country to live the life they have dreamed of.
One of my colleagues mentioned during our vacant time, “Education is no longer a right but a privilege”. This is a hard truth for every Filipinos; for if we look closely enough at our situation, we can see that something is wrong.
We might possibly agree to this statement because the gap between the rich and the poor is evidently getting farther. For us who are living here in the city, we should consider the fact that our access to the information highway – which we take for granted – is something strange to our rural counterparts. And it is this access to the internet that makes us part of a privilege few. But what about our counterparts who have to hike their way into the nearest barangay high school? Do they have real access to quality education? The answer is an obvious NO. For they even get absent to help in the farm, or their teachers get absent once in a while because they couldn’t pass through the knee-deep parts of the village roads.
Why did things turn this way? The answer is simple, a lot left our country but a lot were left behind until there came brain and brawn drain, many got rich but more became poorer. The most unfortunate thing about this scenario is that thousands of Filipino teachers do prefer to work as an Overseas Filipino Worker. Moreover. Let us also accept the fact that there are those who graduate from college who would rather pack their things up and work abroad.
Remembering my friends’ words, we must put in mind that the government is providing free education in the elementary and secondary, the voucher system for the senior high. State colleges and universities offer affordable education without compromising quality. Scholarship grants are given to deserving students. Working students can be found anywhere as they struggle against the hardships in life. People believe that there is a chance for change, which we could achieve through education.
With these things, I still find reasons to smile, I say that education is a gift to every man and it will always remain as a right for every individual.
I wish that we are utmost grateful for the education that we receiving. I hope that we are all mastering our craft so that someday we will all become responsible citizens in making a move to make education an instrument for the progress of our nation.