Why the Philippine Educational System Needs a Serious Overhaul

Aquino administration's promise tracker. Check it out!: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/aquino-promises/education

Can't help but notice the inconsistency of "Promise 26: Improve science and mathematics education" and the news that DepEd is "removing science subjects for the first two years of grade school". In DepEd's defense, they maintain that science will be 'integrated' in other subjects like reading and that science "hasn't been taught as a separate subject in grades 1-2 since 1983" anyway. However, in defense of say, future scientists, doctors, nurses and engineering graduates that come from public schools; wouldn't it best if they learned science at an earlier age? Didn't we just revamp our K-10 to a new K-12 system--so more room to reinstate science in primary-edu., right? And aren't the public schools funded with tax money anyway? Note that increasingly more jobs point toward the STEM path; and I think our current remittance-based economy will head towards a STEM economy, so how can we prepare for the future demands of our economy? One way is education, duh. If we want to maintain or speed up economic progress (and improve credit rating), we better continue to produce capable graduates, and jobs for them IN the country. And although not all will be science-based graduates, I certainly do not want filipino children and my future kids to have an educational path that cuts corners! Concerned lang for these kids. It will be interesting to follow how these two governmental entities align with that promise.

Article about Deped dropping science: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/140097/k-12-will-strengthen–not-drop–science

What are other countries doing? US apparently not teaching enough science in elementary schools too.http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Science-courses-nearly-extinct-in-elementary-3236187.php

Why science is important: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/08/29/stem-education--its-elementary

http://palatine.patch.com/articles/why-not-teach-science-every-day-in-elementary-school

Why the Philippines Should NOT Settle for Mere a 'Plastic Bag Ban' Law

When We Patronize Plastics More Than Our Flag and Our Home

4/9/13

Red, White, Yellow and Blue

Plastic garbage all over you.

Earth, our only home, says

Plastics are destroying me too.

-K.K.

          Red, white, yellow and blue are the colors of the Philippine flag. And yes, I beam with pride when I see it; because for some reason I associate home with that feeling of freedom. 

That feeling of freedom that's exactly like that childhood memory and feeling when you have endless green fields as your backyard to run around and explore. Happiness, content.

       I associate home with strength and resilience. Because even if the country is stricken with hardships and poverty, typhoons, floods and other natural disasters, the filipinos carry on with a smile and many never tire of earning even the barest of minimum wage, just so they can feed their families for a day. 

            I associate home with so much natural wonders and biodiversity. In this country of 7107 islands, there are just so many things to see and do. One will never get bored.

        I also associate home with corruption, traffic jams, and pollution. All kinds of pollution. And perhaps apathy to some degree, because *see pictures below*  red, white, yellow and blue happen to be the color of plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic everythings too. The plastics that Filipinos irresponsibly dispose of in streets and rivers are now the most ubiquitous pollutant in the country's waterways and landfills. 

       

One of the reasons for my NOT beaming with pride is when I see plastic pollution.

        In case you were wondering, the Philippines launched an "It's more fun in the Philippines" campaign to boost tourism/travel. Usually the caption is matched with photos of white sand beaches with pristine waters. 

But look what plastics have done to our white sand beaches with pristine waters! 

Shame. 

        I think the best way to get the message across to stop plastic pollution is through widespread education. For both adults and children, young and old, poor and rich, filipinos and non-filipinos residing in the country.  Laws just don't work as effectively if people do not know what they are dealing with, why they have to comply with it and why they are fighting for it. Hence, the law gets broken time and time again by businesses and consumers--no one patronizes it.

        

         I propose that 'Environmental Science' classes be added in the curriculum of our elementary schools because it will teach children the value of preserving and loving our land. They will greatly benefit from the environmental knowledge, values and ethics taught in such a class, as it will make them conscious minded consumers. Likewise, the country will benefit with more environmentally-literate individuals because I believe that awareness through education is a more effective tool for mobilizing laws. Getting people to adopt bans and laws will be so much faster and easier.

I also believe in education as tool for environmental change, because with greater awareness, knowledge, and understanding of nature, one is more likely to act in an environmentally-conscientious way.   Yes, it is expected that some will detest and oppose the notion of abandoning anthropogenic practices, but at least that seed of awareness will be within them—that knowledge of the principal roots of environmental problems.  

           If we teach our people and our children to love, then laws will be a lot easier to follow and environmental protection will no longer be thought of as a chore or a sacrifice of comfort and convenience.

          ... When we sing the national anthem, and really internalize what each word means...is our land worth fighting for? Certainly, yes. Is it worth dying for? Many already have. The tribe leaders and locals who stood up to protect the natural treasures that drew developers to their home.  People died, and cultures died when locals were forced to relocate; then ultimately, the land dies and the water dies because some (or many) people are irresponsible keepers of their land.  

Humans and their plastic consumption vs our land. It is an unseen war.

Which side are you on? If humans win, our land is no more. If our land wins however, then it is a win-win situation. We ensure its existence and preserve its natural wonders for thousands more to enjoy, and we continue to live with unpolluted drinking water and better wellbeing. 

         It is an unseen war, so the solution to stopping our environmental problems must come from within us (not just from implementation of laws).    From our conviction, from love, from a change in consumerist mindset and an update of ethics, cultivated by the environmental science education. 

          If people truly know what they are fighting for, then I believe that they will patronize land instead of disposable plastic products.