It's not how long you study

The incoming Aquino administration is reportedly planning to add two more years to basic education -- one more year to grade school and another to high school -- thus bringing the total to 12 years from the present 10.

It is hard to argue against any concern about education. Education is the foundation from which springs a mature and responsible society. The incoming Aquino administration should thus be encouraged to make education one of its top priorities.

But I do have misgivings about adding two more years to basic education. The number of years is a quantitative measure and may add nothing qualitative to the equation. On the contrary, it is even possible to cut the number of years if the quality of instruction can only be assured.

So, before the incoming Aquino administration embarks on what may eventually turn out to be a wild goose chase, and cause undue burden and suffering on those affected, it may be for the good of everybody if it rethinks its aforementioned plans.

Perhaps the incoming Aquino administration should be encouraged to invest heavily on the other aspects of education aside from the traditional government expenditures on infrastructure such as classrooms and school furniture.

The real target of any attempt to improve quality of education must be substantive, with emphasis on what is being taught and how it is taught. For a school can have airconditioned and carpeted rooms, but if a moron teaches students garbage, 50 years won't make them better persons.

What the incoming Aquino administration should do is restore honor and dignity to the teaching profession. And the way to do that is to introduce the kind of competitive compensation that will not force teachers to sell "pancit and puso" on the side just to make ends meet.

The incoming Aquino administration must realize that not even idealism and willingness to sacrifice can stand a chance against the pangs of hunger. People have to eat. That is the bottom line. Most people, teachers included, will likely compromise dignity to put food on the table.

Right now, teachers are among the lowest paid workers in the country. With the teaching profession offering almost no chance of a better life, it is little wonder that very few get enticed to take up teaching.

 I have said this before and I will say it again: Teaching has sunk so low in the priorities of those scouting around for college courses that those who do end up taking teaching do so only as a matter of last recourse, in all likelihood because of unfitness in other courses.

In many Filipino homes today, the brightest of children are made to take up courses that promise the best returns on the family investment. And who can really blame parents.

Given the cost of education these days, schooling can drive most families to destitution.

But since not everybody in the family can be bright, it is not uncommon for the "slowest" to be reserved for teachers college.    The saddest commentary about this tragic Philippine reality is when the dialogue goes: "Hala, 'day, kay hinay-hinay man ka, pag-maestra na lang."

 "Na lang?" But aren't teachers supposed to be the builders of the country's future? What kind of future can we commit ourselves to when we consign the great task of building that future to the hands of the most incapacitated of our citizens.

This great national anomaly must be overhauled completely. And if the incoming Aquino administration is truly serious about its concern for education, then it should drop plans to add more years to education that will mean nothing if we do not improve the skills of teachers.

And again, the only way to do that is to have teachers that are skilled in the first place. But that will never happen unless we make teaching attractive, with benefits that will truly make it worth the while of the best minds in the country to take up teaching.