The 1987 Philippine Constitution says education must have the biggest slice of the budget. According to Article XIV Section 5 (5), “the State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.”
This provision shows the significance of investing in the youth and providing them the skills necessary to be capable and productive citizens in the future.
Unfortunately, over many decades, the hefty share of the Department of Education relative to that of other agencies has provided opportunities for corruption among education officials. The Filipino public is no stranger to reports that, for instance, funds intended for textbooks have gone to bribes, that computers with basic features supposedly procured for teachers have fetched prices higher than fancier and newer models, and that millions of pesos of taxpayers’ money have been allotted to projects with no discernible benefit except to cast specific agency officials in a good light.
In the meantime, amid all these scandals, the physical conditions of many schools remain deplorable, facilities are still lacking, and teachers still do not receive commensurate compensation or opportunities for professional growth. While some schools have kept up with the demand for better facilities and instruction quality, many have not, leaving the disparities wide, gaping, and unfortunate. Small wonder, then, that Filipino students perform dismally in areas of reading, mathematics, and science, and just as poorly fare in critical and creative thinking.
Amid this grim backdrop, recent appointments by the administration to several key positions in the Department of Education leave some room for hope and optimism.
On Thursday, the President named former Ateneo School of Government Dean Ronald Mendoza as undersecretary for policy and planning. Education advocate Ani Almario is assistant secretary for curriculum and teaching. Georgina Yang — assistant secretary for the Office of the Secretary – used to direct the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and was head of the anti-poverty program of the previous vice president.
The credentials of these three new appointees and their accomplishments in their respective fields underscore the fact that education is serious business. They are experts in governance, development, education, and public administration. These backgrounds are crucial to the results we want to achieve in terms of education – results that will not be realized through tough talk, a haughty attitude, or policies made on a whim.
Of course, the appointments do not guarantee immediate success. They will be serving in a department where practices and loyalties could be deeply entrenched, where politics may carry greater weight than merit, and any attempts at reform could be met with resistance or skepticism. They may find there is neither enough time nor resolve from the organization to push through with genuine reform.
There are numerous good people at the department, and they have been there for a long time. They will find a welcome addition with these new key appointments. Together they can focus on what truly needs to be done at the department without much fanfare. It’s about time millions of Filipino learners got what they deserve.
