As a developing nation, the Philippines continues to struggle with providing basic services to its citizens.
Though the education sector is allotted the largest share of the yearly national budget, poor literacy rates among some students and a growing number of out-of-school youth reflect dismal learning outcomes.
Additionally, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to force schools into shutdown to minimize community transmissions, access to education is further reduced for many Filipino children.
In a 2021 report presented by the World Bank, it was found that 90 percent of Filipino children aged 10 and below do not have the reading skills expected of their age.
Described as “learning poverty,” the agency voiced its concerns about delayed literacy and its impact on later educational development.
Furthermore, the study found that only 26.9 percent of households with children of school age had access to broadband internet connectivity, which drastically limits the reach of current modules for distance learning.
Though these figures paint a bleak picture, they also show the critical need for action and innovation in the Philippine educational system.
Apart from community-led efforts to address targeted issues, the public and private sectors need to work together on the following initiatives to give Filipino youth better access to education and help them reach their full potential as the hope for the country’s future.
Building up resources and developing new infrastructure
Before the pandemic struck, the lack of classrooms forced many public schools to find alternative venues to teach in.
The Department of Education reported that the shortage reached 34,000 classrooms in 2019, and many schools had been forced to adopt a shifting schedule to accommodate the growing student numbers.
Cramped quarters and limited class hours affected learning conditions, but the arrival of COVID-19 presented new challenges as well as opportunities.
Without face-to-face classes, schools were forced to develop distance learning modules and rely on existing community infrastructures to distribute print-outs of lesson plans and worksheets.
Radio and TV have also been tapped to help facilitate self-learning programs. As these forms of media are popular, more students can access educational content through them.
Investing in effective communication strategies for the development of content for these channels can help maximize student learning.
Many schools now conduct online classes, which allows for more interaction between the students and teachers.
It also brings Philippine education into the digital age, where students have more access to learning resources.
However, economic inequalities pose a barrier as smart devices and internet access are beyond the spending power of many Filipino families.
This is evidenced by the 11 percent drop in enrolment figures when public schools reopened in 2020. It is important to explore public-private initiatives to address technology gaps with sustainable and long-term solutions.
Additionally, there is a need for more infrastructure, not just to support growing consumer demands, but also to provide coverage for remote areas that are most in need of alternative modes of learning.
Prioritizing policies and projects that support the creation of digital infrastructure Philippines residents need can help overcome some of the challenges in distance education as well as provide new solutions to the limitations of physical classrooms.
Providing teacher support
Students are not the only ones struggling, whether in the traditional classroom setting or with distance learning. Teachers also need access to resources to be able to teach effectively. This includes everything from materials for making their lesson plans to paper they can print their worksheets on. Educators also need laptop computers, video cameras, and even proper training to be able to conduct online classes.
The sudden shift to digital created a new challenge for teachers, who need to make more of an effort to keep students focused and engaged. Apart from technological support, it is important to provide teachers with opportunities for their own education and self-improvement. This helps to modernize pedagogical methods and improve the quality of education available to students.
Encouraging parental involvement
With distance learning creating a gap between students and teachers, parents are called upon to fill the space. It falls upon them to explain lessons and to monitor their children’s academic progress, which is no easy feat given that they are likely also busy with work and providing for the family.
However, if distance learning is to be successful, parents need to be involved.
If parents do not appreciate the value of education, they may not be inclined to support their children’s schooling.
This is particularly challenging among the poorest families who may want to preserve their limited resources or need all their members to work and earn wages. Education is important for breaking the cycle of poverty, and it is important that parents understand that.
The Philippine education system faces many challenges in servicing the needs of Filipino youth. However, ensuring that every child has access to learning is also the key to fixing it.
As stakeholders in the country’s future, the public and private sectors need to work together to overcome these problems and find ways, through innovation, to make quality education available to all Filipinos.
