Lifelong Learning Blogs

Friday, March 25, 2011

Better Education For A Brighter Filipino Future


Increasing the educational cycle to 12 years basic education

This is to to give children a chance at succeeding. It aim to uplift the quality of education and graduates the Philippines will produce to be able to be globally competent. As the only counrty in Asia which has only 10 years of basic education cycle, President Aquino believes that by applying the K+12 system will help Filipino children achieve the best basic education possible.

Universal pre-schooling for all

The Aquino campaign proposes the establishment of a real pre-school system that makes the pre-school available to all kids regardless of their parents’ income. Noynoy Aquino proposes that all public school children will have pre-schooling as introduction to the formal school system by school year, 2016.

Madaris Education as a sub-system within educational system

Filipino Muslims have asked for an Education System that respects their beliefs and culture that goes side-by-side with the formal educational system. A Madaris Education can be included to help keep Filipino Muslim children in schools.

Technical Vocational Education as alternative to high school senior

Technical, vocational education must be reintroduced into public high schools with accompanying trade tests and skills so as to provide high school graduates the quickest path to work upon graduation.

Every Child a reader by Grade 1

The Aquino Campaign recognizes that the core problem to learning problems is the inability to read. The educational policy of an Aquino Administration aims to make every child a reader by grade one at the end of its tenure in 2015-2016.

Science and Math proficiency

Noynoy Aquino pledges to bring science and math club movements with elementary and high school science and math fairs.  Noynoy Aquino also pledges to build a strong science and math curriculum that begins in Grade 1.

Assistance to private schools as essential partners in basic education

The Aquino Administration proposes to expand Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) to aim for 1 million private HS students every year through education service contracting (ESC).  It likewise pledges to remove the wasteful education voucher system of the Arroyo Administration.

Medium of Instruction rationalized

Noynoy Aquino supports the UNESCO tried and tested formula of mother tongue instruction before moving on to English for higher grades.  From Pre-school until grade 3, the Aquino Administration’s policy will be an education taught in the mother tongue, with English and Filipino as subjects. As grade level go higher, English will be increasingly used for science, and math while social studies will be in Filipino.

Quality Textbooks

Text books under an Aquino Administration will be judged by: Quality, better quality, and more quality.

Covenant with Local Governments to build more schools

In areas where there are no public or private schools, the Aquino Administration will enter into a covenant with local government units to build smaller populations so teachers and students and parents can form a real learning community.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

21st Century Education


Our world is marked by increasing change, evolving technologies, and the phenomenal growth of information.  21st century education needs to be different because the rate of change is so rapid that just keeping up-to-date in any domain is considered as a challenge. We need to make sure that our skills will not become obsolete and that we are able to make the most of the new opportunities. How we teach must reflect how our students learn and the world in which they will emerge.

Twenty-first-century learning exemplifies an approach to teaching that merges content to skill. Without skills, students are left to memorize facts, recall details and relegate their educational experience to passivity. Without content, students may engage in problem-solving or team-working experiences that fall into in consequentiality, into relevance without rigidity. A 21st century teacher has the initiative to motivate, thus moulding learners to take intellectual risks, foster learning dispositions, and nurture school communities where everyone is a learner.

One of the most essential skills needed in order for students to be successful in the 21st century is critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Simply being able to read books or do math computations would be worthless unless students are given the capability of digesting the information and the ability to apply that accumulated knowledge in their daily life. Other essential skill includes the ability to be self-disciplined and responsible in setting and assessing goals. Assuming the responsibility for their education will be enough for them to be self-motivated in making choices concerning their education and accepting the consequences of their action or inaction. Giving the students the tools needed to always continue learning. Education should be a life long pursuit and building a strong foundation so that they can continue building it all throughout their lives. And, if we hope to succeed as a country, we should give that opportunity to all, not just to those that can afford a quality education. The key to 21st century education is to leave classic education behind or to modify it to be at par with the ever changing times. Today’s education system faces irrelevance unless we bridge the gap between how students live and how they learn. In today’s modern society, students have access to rich information and global communication where teachers support, facilitate, encourage, and collaborate with each learner. Students use technology in every facet of their lives, therefore the instructional day should incorporate that same technology seamlessly into the curriculum and the way we educate them.

I believe that in order to transcend from a 21st century teacher, I must become a learner myself to be able to understand and apply different learning styles. I should continue to absorb experiences and knowledge and stay current to be able to adapt a teaching method inclusive of different modes of every learner.