Budget Cuts: Cause of the Poor Quality of Philippine Education?

We were all aware of the quality our education ‘was’ decades ago. Just a few years ago, the Philippines actually ranked as one of the best. But what happened now? Where are we? The answer might seem morbid, but sometimes the truth really hurts, WE ARE AMONG THE LEAST EXCELLENT COUNTRIES.

Being a part of this Profession, Vocation, and Mission, it really hurts to know what and where Philippine Education is right now. It’s hard to accept that the said field we are in is rapidly growing worse if not at its worst. With these things in mind, all of us can derive to our own conclusion on how and why these things actually happen.

The rapid decline of Philippine Quality of Education was caused by numerous if not so many reasons. Upon reading lots of different arguments regarding this matter, my eyes were opened that almost all of these causes are present in the Philippine society. When we try to stop for a while and think about it, we’ll end up with our own set of answers. The most prevalent among all I’ve read and heard are the following: poverty or financial incapability, corruption of the government officials, and lack of funds.

All three factors are very evident in the daily lives of Filipinos. But let’s try to focus on the last one, the LACK OF FUNDS. For the year 2011-2012, the initial budget plan allotted for the education sector is amounting to 238 Billion Pesos. For a normal Filipino, this is already too much. But if you are going to think as a financial expert, this amount is so insufficient. The said amount also did not meet the primary recommendation of UNESCO which is AT LEAST 550 Billion Pesos.

See? It’s not even 50% of the recommended budget! Funds aren’t really lacking. It just depends on the people in position of deciding for the betterment of each Filipinos if they will give what they deserve or just keep “it” for themselves. Sad to say, but none among the best universities of the Philippines got it through the World’s 300 Best Universities.

This is our situation; this is the real scenario of Philippine Education. Misuse of funds or improper allocation, greedy and corrupt leaders, thus resulting into a very poor rating for the quality of education, these wrong doings must come to an end for us to enjoy what each Filipino truly deserves. So for those in position, I highly suggest that the change everyone is craving for must start from you.