EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR EVERY FILIPINO LEARNER
JENNIFER S. LUMANUG
The late African president Nelson Mandela Jr. once said ,“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world” as it is believed to be the greatest and most liberating force away from poverty. Hence, almost all the countries in the world have high value for education. Parents find ways and means to send their children to school with the hope for a better and brighter tomorrow.
In the Philippines, classified as a developing country, education plays a key role in terms of financial security and progress. Both the families and the government perceived education to be one of the basic necessity in one’s life. It is in this regard that the Philippine government invest the highest chunk of its national budget for education because it believes in its end result, globally competitive graduates equipped with the needed competencies to perform expected tasks. The government continuously work its way towards the implementation of various programs and projects to uplift the quality of education for the global learners. Through the policies of the government on Education for All and K to 12 Implementation, learners are ensured of an equitable and inclusive education for all of them.
The success of both programs lies in their full and effective implementation. The school, being the “main implementer” of the educational system and the best venue in delivering the teaching-learning process must work with the different government agencies to ensure complete implementation of these policies. School heads, teachers, non-teaching personnel, parents, and the rest of the community must cooperate and collaborate towards educating the 21st century youth and hone them to be responsible, competent global workers who do not only work for their own benefit but more so for the benefit of the society, including the environment. Lastly, the education system has been practiced since the ancient times. The systems of education in for the past centuries may have been evolving from generations to generations, but its essence and goal has remained the same, to effect change and transformation to the learners. That after attending school, the learner is transformed into a better thinking and feeling individual.
The Philippines, being a member of international alliances/ brotherhood, is one with the world in ensuring equitable, accessible, quality, appropriate, free , value-laden and timely education for all types of learners Filipino learners It just takes one’s attitude, perseverance and willingness to learn because the government, through the implementation of the academe, assures accessible education. After all, it the one of the rights of every Filipino, All they have to do is make themselves available, have an open heart and mind to effect the change and transformation brought about by Philippine education. Education is truly for all the Filipinos, while K to 12 Education is for all types of learners. Therefore, both ensures a better delivery of instruction which make our graduates at par with the international standard of education.
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The author is Principal I at Lara Integrated School