WhyNot05 Mike Luz

WHY ARE WE NOT YEARNING MORE FOR LEARNING?

Issues to Address in Philippine Education

Juan Miguel Luz

Why Not Forum 5.0Quezon City, Philippines29 July 2008

Why are we Not Yearning more for Learning?

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

1. Setting the tone for Why Not 5.0: The Question

2. The Present: Where are we now in Philippine Education?

3. The Future: If we don’t change, where will we be?

4. The Reality: What are we producing?

5. A Way Forward


THE QUESTION

Filipino families rate education highest among their dreams and aspirations for their families,

…Yet, education indicators show too many children:

Dropping out of school Not finishing school Doing poorly in school


THE QUESTION

Do we really value education

or the idea only? (Is this a myth we want to believe in?)

Or

Is education valued only by those who can afford it? (“The rich get richer”)


THE PRESENT: How educated are we? How educated is the workforce (e.g. heads of household)?

Great education divide (among HH heads; SWS, August 30-September 14, 2003)

• No formal education 1.6%• Up to elementary graduate 37.5%• Some HS/HS graduate 33.8%• Some college/vocational 13.8%• College graduate/Post graduate 13.3%





If some college becomes a criteria for finding qualifiedworkers, then the pool of hire-ables is very limited.





If some college becomes a criteria for finding qualifiedworkers, then the pool of hire-ables is very limited.

Only 42% completeHigh School


(65% graduation rate)

THE PRESENT: That trend will continue because too many children are dropping out of basic education.




12% non-Transitionrate




Health and nutrition gapof young children (poverty).




Learning gap: Troublewith reading, math (remedial learning)






Achievement gap:If no good in school…






Achievement gap:“If no good in School, then…”

Too small a science base tosupport an industrial economy



THE FUTURE: More of the past with large gaps.

Projected Manpower profile by Educational Attainment (Base Case), AIM Policy Forum, 1998




With full college education


THE FUTURE: More of the past + larger gaps



With complete high school





With complete high school

Should be < 15-20% in the long run


NOTE:Keeping kidsin schoolwill compoundcurrent shortages (Success willbreed newproblems)

Will add from 1 – 1.2 millionchildren justby improving retentionyear-by year.

+240,000

+200,000

+120,000

+110,000

+100,000


THE FUTURE: Society (the economy) needs better results from Education

What industry looks for in graduates/new workforce entrants:

• Ability to communicate• Ability to think logically• Trained to solve problems (overcome obstacles)

Other attributes:• Self-discipline/self-starting qualities• Service-orientation

Following basic knowledge:• Mathematics• Basic science • English language proficiency• Computer literacy

Basis for logic, problem-solving skills


THE REALITY: What are we producing?

What are employers looking for in graduates? Company managers were asked in studies done by the DAP

(Productivity & Development Center) to determine when certain skills and knowledge should be acquired and the degree of attainment:

Skill Educational Level Degree of AttainmentBasic writing, reading, arithmetic Elementary Not quiteTheoretical knowledge and work skills Secondary Not quitePractical knowledge and skills of work Secondary Hard to tellHuman relations skills Secondary SomewhatWork habits Secondary Hard to tellWill to work Secondary Not quiteSense of responsibility Secondary Not quiteSocial responsibility Secondary Not quiteEthics and morals Secondary Not quiteHealth and hygiene Elementary Hard to tell

The consensus among employers is that a high school diploma with its current coverage is inadequate for their purposes. HS graduates show deficiencies in their ability to communicate, to think logically and to solve problems.


THE REALITY: What are we producing? (% of the school-age population)

Unschooled/inadequately schooled• Elementary school dropouts - 33%

• High school dropouts - + 22%

Schooled but not properly educated• High school graduates - + 35%

Special sectors with little access to schooling• Indigenous people, urban & - + 2%

rural poor


THE REALITY: What are we producing? (% of the school-age population)

Unschooled/inadequately schooled• Elementary school dropouts - 33%

• High school dropouts - + 22%

Schooled but not properly educated• High school graduates - + 35%

Special sectors with little access to schooling• Indigenous people, urban & - + 2%

rural poor

Only 8% of our children are being properly educated up through the end of High School.


A WAY FORWARD; Building Blocks Approach (Examples)

1. Get kids to school (Grade 1)• Tulong sa Tao (Petron Foundation)

• CENTEX (Ayala Foundation)

• Other programs (pre-school, headstart, etc.)

2. Elementary achievement• Every Child a Reader by Grade 3

• Sa Aklat Sisikat• Synergeia• Books-for-the-Barrios/Model Schools• Other reading programs

3. Transition to high school• ERDA Foundation


A WAY FORWARD: Building Blocks Approach (Examples)

4. Keep kids (especially boys) in HS• Technical-Vocational Education (especially for boys)

• School sports

5. High school achievement• GILAS

• SMART Schools

6. Special sectors• Muslim-Filipinos children: ALIVE (Arabic Language &

Islamic Values Education; Madrasah schools)

• Indigenous People: Many mission programs (SIL, SVD, NDEA)

WHY ARE WE NOT YEARNING MORE FOR LEARNING?

Issues to Address in Philippine Education

Juan Miguel Luz

Why Not Forum 5.0Quezon City, Philippines29 July 2008