What should ALL parents want from Public Education?
January 8, 2023 San Agustin, Republic of Philippines–John Michael Macato, a senior at Holy Rosary Academy on the Island of Tablas, aspires to be an Engineer. His brother now in Middle School plans to go into law enforcement.
The content below was originally paywalled.
Outside of Philippines population centers (Quezon City 2,761,720, Manila 1,600,000, Caloocan City, 1,500,000, Davao 1,212,504) hundreds of rural schools deliver education programs designed to allow young people to become aware of their proud heritage and enable them to continue the quest for National Economic Security in this Developing Economy.
[1]Definition of Developing Economy
An important part of the education vision includes building stronger programs and identifying people who have not succeeded in gaining a traditional education to help them to increase their employability and ability to contribute to the national good.
Given the caliber of Alaska Public Education over the years since the state was overwhelmed by oil development, the need to provide remedial education to those with unworthy diplomas could become a reality.
Employers and universities in all the other states know Alaska has been whistling past the graveyard near the bottom in academic outcomes for a long time.
[2]NAEP National Report Card by State
As part of my research this writer traveled to the heart of the archipelago.
Common Ground with Alaska
Alaska shares some heritage with the Philippines: We were both attacked by the Japanese during World War II in the only two invasions of the United States, and it took considerable effort to extract the invaders from our respective territories.
[3]The Aleutian Islands Campaign
[4]History of the Philippines
But Philippines fought side by side with the United States in the Pacific. This is taught in Alaska government classes as a mere footnote of history. Japanese occupation of Alaska was 14-months while occupation of Philippines was between 1942-1945. During this time teaching of Japanese was required in public schools.
When the Second World War broke out, the Philippines once again proved its loyalty to the United States. Inducted into the United States Armed Forces in the far East (USAFE) were 100,000 Filipino soldiers. Davao was bombed by the Japanese on December 8, 1941. This was followed by other areas–Tuguegarao, Baguio, Iba, Tarlac, and Clark Field. The Japanese landed in other areas of the country, captured Manilla, and General Douglas MacArthur could not do anything but retreat to Corregidor with President Manuel Luis Quezon and other officials of the Philippine Commonwealth under the amended 1935 Constitution in Corregidor. In his inaugural speech Quezon urged the Pilipino people to continue their sturggle at all costs. He stressed: No matter what sufferings and sacrifices this may impose upon us, we shall stand by America with undaunted spirit, for we know that upon the outcome of this war depends the happiness, liberty, and security not only of this generation but of generations yet unborn.
[5]Understanding Philipine History
Today constitutions of both governments provide for public education opportunities:
The Alaska Constitution provides:
Article VII
Section 1. Public Education The legislature shall by general law establish and maintain a system of public schools open to all children of the State, and may provide for other public educational institutions. Schools and institutions so established shall be free from sectarian control. No money shall be paid from public funds for the direct benefit of any religious or other private educational institution.
Alaska public education is primarily concerned with assuring a moral vacuum with all public education free from religious influences.
What SHOULD Government Education Do?
Department of Education (DepEd) recognizes the value of quality education and attempts to enlighten those who have learned to read in school to recognize that value–even encouraging those who did not finish public education to return.
Today and Tomorrow
[6]History of Education in Philippines
Since 2001 the Philippines Department of Education has been run by a Secretary of Education without a Board of Education to politicize everything.
[7]DepEd since 2001
The Joke of Alaska Public Education
Recently Re-elected Alaska Governor Michael Dunleavy first came to Alaska as one of many teachers on their Alaska Adventures since North Slope Oil was discovered. As governor he has further enabled a government school system with academic outcomes at the bottom of the nation. In response to this pathetic state of affairs the Alaska Department of Education has published a Strategic Plan speculating about how our mostly itinerant teachers will increase 3rd grade reading ability above 37 percent for the students stuck in more than 50 district learning factories run by politically charged locally elected and unaccountable school boards.
The boards hire Superintendents trained in our teacher training programs to maintain status quo. While the people of Philippines focus on aspirational love of country, the people of Alaska are conned with nebulous claptrap about An excellent education for every student every day.
The Alaska Educational Industrial Complex continues to this day to fail in that charge.
What Exactly does that slogan even mean?
As smart parents are pulling their kids out of Alaska Public Education it remains one of the largest expenditures of state funds for those with no other option.
What are other ways to do this critical function?
In January, 30-Year teacher and principal at four different elementary schools, Sarah Jane Molo graciously agreed to talk to me about how government schools are run in rural Philippines:
How did you qualify to become a teacher in Philipines?
When I was young, I didn’t dream of being a teacher, explained Molo. But because of economic status in life–I came from a poor family; my parents, were just farmers–but the demand for teachers made training affordable.
Here in Romblon Province we have a lot of graduates of education, but they often cannot score high enough in the ranking requirements to be certified to teach, continued Molo. Out of 200+ applicants, I ranked 32nd and got a job right after graduation.
The Alaska Teacher Placement center is actively recruiting for teachers from other countries!
8]Alaska Teacher Placement Website
What are the requirements to be certified?
Student teaching is required in Bachelor of Elementary Education. And this harnessed us to teach, said Molo. I became a teacher in 1992 and my first assignment was grade one. We can teach any grade level in elementary because we have no specialization–unlike the secondary education. We have lots of training too, to enrich our skills–especially in new trends in education.
These are the formative years of a child’s education.
Molo continued: Secondary Education has a minor and major specialization subjects. One is hired depending on the subject area needed by a certain school.
What are your academic expectations–how do you determine what degree of knowledge a person will know by the time they graduate with a diploma?
We cannot determine on what degree of knowledge the person has after getting a diploma. If the student passed the curriculum requirements for his course, then he/she can graduate. Then, to be employed he/she must take licensure examination for the degree he/she graduated and when he/she passed the examination he/she can work and practice his profession.
In elementary grade level, one must pass the requirements set by the Department of Education in elementary school curriculum. A certificate is given when one graduates in elementary level same with the secondary school. In high school there is a career placement test given to determine the course you will undergo in college
Here in the Philippines the expectation after grade 12 is to undergo college, Molo added. But there are some who don’t have money to go to college; instead they find work to help family augment their living, some enroll in training center for upskilling and to acquire NC II diploma so they can have a job with a good compensation or even go abroad’ to find greener pasture.
How about military?
Military entry is to pass the qualifications set by the NAPOLCOM, or a graduate of BS Criminology and pass the licensure examination. One must undergo thorough trainings to be qualified as one. There are military options but I’m not sure of their entry level, but for sure candidates undergo thorough trainings.
The government has a program for those who have dropped out of school. They can enroll in Alternative Learning System (ALS) to acquire diploma and proceed to college. There is no age requirement, anyone can enroll as long as they want to learn and acquire diploma.
Without further training they will be gallivanting–roaming around without doing anything but perhaps farming or fishing, continued Molo. They may find means to work but in the Philippines, we have very meager salaries for untrained people.
How is the education bureaucracy structured?
We have the Central Office, the Regional Office, the Division Office, and the school. Here in Romblon the seat of government is over on the other island where both the Regional and Division offices are located. Central office is in the capital of Philippines, Manila.
[9]Welcome to the GOV.PH!
This structure was initiated in 2001 and established in 2015.
[10]DEPED ORDER 52, S. 2015 New Organizational Structures…
The Secretary of Education–National vice-president–is Dr. Sara Z. Dutarte, daughter of previous (16th Filipino) president Rodrigo Roa Duterte who served from 2016 to 2022.
As a principal when you need books, or you need materials, you have to go to your regional or Division office?
Through decentralization of education at the grassroots level, the school officials are given more decision-making powers in terms of school repairs and maintenance, procurement of textbooks, school supplies and equipment to improve its nationwide operations and delivery of services, by using school MOOE.
Is curriculum determined by the head office for your teachers to follow? Do private vendors like Pearson, plc provide instructional materials?
[11]Pearson, plc
The Department of Education has its curriculum that is to be implemented by schools, said Molo. We have Most Essential Learning Competencies set per grade level to be taught by teachers and learned by learners.
You don’t have elected school boards?
Each school has School Governing Council and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). These are our helpers/stakeholders to help implement the programs, projects and activities of the school together with the community.
Do teachers get elected to the PTA board?
They can be elected to any position except the higher position like president. They are elected by the association.
How many teachers do you have in your school?
Eight teachers.
Do you teach students?
No.
How many students do you have in your school?
Only 130.
So your teacher-student ratio is about 1-to-15?
Yes, and we are more fortunate than other schools because we have a minimum number of pupils.
You’re very fortunate to have a stable workforce. Is that because you’ve been there a while?
I don’t think so. But most of the teachers are residents of the barangay where the school is located.
From where does the funding come for education?
The legislature determines the budget for every department. Education Fund comes from the national decentralized to its offices down to the grassroot level.
Legislature does the budget?
The legislature determines funding for all the things needed from government; Public Safety, Health and Social Services, Education. One of the biggest expenditures is Education–billions of dollars for the 47,000 schools in the Philippines.
Are your teachers represented by public sector unions?
No. But in some city schools, I think they have. There is a party list that represents teachers’ problem in he congress.
Do you have a negotiated agreement with your teachers–your eight teachers in your school? Do you regularly negotiate a contract?
No, no. We have no contract. Because once we are hired by in the Department of Education, we have a permanent appointment.
So salary and benefits are set by the employer?
Yes, it’s a flat rate. It’s on a scale that’s set and the salary is determined from the top.
Alternative Education Options
We also have an alternative learning system for students beyond the elementary level. For example, the Elementary program is only to 12 years old but a student age 15 can undergo the Philippine Elementary Placement test, said Molo. If they can pass that test they can go to secondary school. Additionally, at the secondary level a student beyond the secondary age limit can take the Philippine Placement Test, and go to college.
https://www.deped.gov.ph/als-est/
Conclusion
It’s past time for Alaska Policymakers to decide when to quit digging deeper the government education hole our state is in. How can this state expect to attract quality people to engage in quality development options otherwise?
References:
[1]Developing Economy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_country
[2]NAEP Nations Report Card By State
[3]The Aleutian Islands campaign
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands_campaign
TheAleutian Islands campaignwas a military campaign conducted by theUnited States,Canada, andJapanin theAleutian Islands, part of theTerritory of Alaska, in theAmerican Theaterand thePacific TheaterofWorld War IIstarting on June 3, 1942.[3]In the only twoinvasions of the United Statesduring the war of aU.S. incorporated territory, a smallJapaneseforce occupied the islands ofAttuandKiska, where the remoteness of the islands and the challenges of weather and terrain delayed a larger American-Canadian force sent to eject them for nearly a year. Successful Japanese invasions of other U.S. territories, which wereunincorporated territories, in the western Pacific shortly after theAttack on Pearl HarborincludedWake Island,Guam, and thePhilippines. The islands’ strategic value was their ability to control Pacific transportation routes asUS GeneralBilly Mitchellstated to theU.S. Congressin 1935, “I believe that in the future, whoever holds Alaska will hold the world. I think it is the most important strategic place in the world.”
Pike, Francis (2016).Hirohito’s War: The Pacific War, 1941–1945. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. p.1003.ISBN978-1-350-02122-8.
[4]History of the Philippines p-182
Just as the United States had done with English, the puppet government ordered the teaching of Japanese, or Nippongo. Othe Americans were portrayed as purveyors of decadence who had placed an undue emphasis on individual rights. According to General Hayhashi Yoshide, director of the Japanese Military Administration (JMA), the United States had led the country down the path of “deceit and misguidance.” The lesson was clear: Filipinos needed to rehabilitate themselves.
[5]Understanding Philippine History: Readings and Discourse, Amalia C. Rosales, et al. Lorimar Publishing, Inc., 2020 P159
[6]History of Education in Philippines
History
[7]DepEd since 2001
In August 2001, Republic Act 9155, otherwise called the Governance of Basic Education Act, was passed transforming the name of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) to the Department of Education (DepEd) and redefining the role of field offices (regional offices, division offices, district offices and schools). RA 9155 provides the overall framework for (i) school head empowerment by strengthening their leadership roles and (ii) school-based management within the context of transparency and local accountability. The goal of basic education is to provide the school age population and young adults with skills, knowledge, and values to become caring, self-reliant, productive and patriotic citizens.
[8]https://www.alaskateacher.org/foreign_teachers.php
Information for Foreign Teacher Candidates
Over the last few years we have seen an increasing number of teachers from other countries working in Alaska for school districts. This is because there is a shortage of US teachers nationally. Most often, these teachers are working on J-1 visas, and there may be 200 or more foreign national teachers – most from the Philippines – working in Alaska schools for the 2022 school year.
[9]Welcome to the GOV.PH!
The GOV.PH or National Government Portal (NGP) is a single window uniting all web-based government content to maximize efficiency and provide rapid, high-quality services to citizens.
https://www.gov.ph/
[10]DEPED ORDER 52, S. 2015 New Organizational Structures…
DO 52, s. 2015 – New Organizational Structures of the Central, Regional, and Schools Division Offices of the Department of Education
[11]Pearson, plc
[11]Pearson, plc
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearson_Education
