Improving public education

MANILA, Philippines - Hurrah! I read with elation and a sigh of relief the news item ‘P1.8 B earmarked for gov’t pre-school education program in the national budget for 2010’ and I congratulate Rep. Emmylou Taliño Mendoza for pushing for the passage of a new legislation that would establish a free two-level compulsory schooling system Kinder 1 and 2 for children below 6 years old.

Should this bill be approved this will finally be the solution to the finding that our schools in the Philippines have been left behind by other countries, by our neighbors in Southeast Asia.

The good news is that in Quezon City, we have done something to remedy the situation in our barangay Day Care Centers. Early in 2005, Mayor Belmonte was convinced that our Day Care Workers needed to have their skills and values education upgraded. He approved the holding of Seminar – Workshops for the workers in the 257 Centers. He also signed a MOA with the Miriam University for Saturday classes for them.

If we want to improve the kind of citizens (and human beings) we will have in the future, we have to begin their education this early (3 to 6 years of age) because the learning tools and most of all the values they will absorb at this tender and impressionable age will be those that they will carry later in life. Hence it is essential that we put the best and well qualified teachers at these levels.

I congratulate Rep. Taliño Mendoza for pushing for a free 2-level compulsory public free schooling in our Educational System funded by the additional real estate taxes managed by the Special Education Fund Boards. — Consuelo D. Sison, Alpha Village, Quezon City