Principles of Education as Applied to Philippine Education - Part III

“Education should focus on the child, becoming the center of educational activities.” and “Education requires the formulation of objectives in terms of pupil's growth and not in terms of subject matter.” The sixth and seventh principles of education are closely related. Basically, both principles emphasize the need to center all educational activities on the learner. This is one of the most valuable discoveries in education during the last two centuries and a radical departure from the conventional practice of formulating a curriculum based on subject matter and established traditions. A number of facts are now accepted by educators and school administrators. These are:

1. The child (learner) is the most important client of the school. The school exists

and the educational system thrives because there are children who want to

learn and who are in need of education.

2. Child's growth is orderly and follows scientifically proven patterns of development.

3. Learning is affected by maturation, which is a genetically determined pattern of

growth and development, and the individual's readiness to learn. The child must

have reached a certain level of development for him or her to be able to learn. If the

child is ready to learn, then the child needs to be provided with appropriate

learning materials in an environment conducive for learning.

How can society in general and the educational system in particular serve the needs and interests of Filipino learners? This question can be answered by using the 1987 Constitution as a frame of reference. Article 14, section 1 of the constitution mandates the state “to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels.” And what does "quality education" mean?

It means the construction of public school classrooms which are enough to meet the number of students who need education. This is important for a country where ^^lack of classrooms has become a perennial problem. Students must have a place to learn, and this place is the school with sufficient number of classrooms, not mango trees under which instruction is given to students. Quality education means that the ideal ratio of teacher to student inside the classroom is maintained. It should be kept at a minimum of 1 teacher for every 35 students. This situation enhances classroom learning because individualized instruction can be provided by the teacher. In urban areas like Metro Manila, it is not uncommon to find a classroom filled with 50 or more students. In such a situation, classroom learning proceeds at a slow pace no matter how hard the teacher works. Students learn less and teachers become overworked. Consequently, it leads to mediocrity in the academic performance of students and job performance of teachers. Quality education means the construction and maintenance of important school facilities such as libraries, canteens, clinics, gymnasium and comfort rooms. These facilities are built and used for health and sanitation purposes. Libraries must have books and computers, canteens must provide nutritious food, medical services must be available during class hours, gymnasiums must have a place in school, and comfort rooms must be kept clean at all times.

Quality education means the hiring of teachers who meet the requirements of the profession and are competent enough to teach and guide our students, helping them become the best of who they are: mature individuals equipped with world-class knowledge and skills and imbued with love of country so that they are able to do well in their chosen fields of endeavor and serve the country. It means the hiring of pupil personnel workers like guidance counselors, psychologists, doctors, nurses and dentists who can keep our students physically, mentally, emotionally and socially healthy, thereby helping them cope with their school life. Quality education means the formulation of educational programs which promote the Filipino culture and foster the sense of national pride. At the same time, these programs should adopt current trends in education if necessary. Modern trends in education include, among others, individualized instruction, learning through play and games, cooperative learning, learning by experience and the use of positive reinforcements. In addition, updated information on the needs, interests and characteristics of Filipino learners should be utilized in the formulation of programs. Courses on Philippine history and culture, Filipino personality, general psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology and psychology of learning provide substantial information on Filipino learners.

All of these should serve to improve the existing programs in the educational system. For example, the teaching of the Filipino language in private schools has so much space for improvement. In the public school system, programs of free education in the elementary and high school levels have been implemented. What the programs lack is the quality in the system of education.

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^^As of school-year 2012-2013, lack of classrooms and lack of teachers remain to be very big problems in the Philippine educational system. There is now recognition that these problems exist and need to be addressed. Government officials must go beyond this recognition and completely eradicate these problems since, as one person had said, “if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.”

REFERENCES

"Principles of Teaching and Instructional Technology," Cruz, Amelita et.al., 1997

"The Constitution of the Philippines Explained," Revised Ed., 2000 Reprint, Nolledo, Jose N., 1992

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Principles of Education as Applied to Philippine Education - Part II