Let’s help our public schools!

The presidential public scolding of the officer-in-charge of the Department of Education two weeks ago brought to the fore the worsening situation in and neglect of the country’s public education system.

While the issue at hand was the varying definition of the formula to address the shortage of classrooms, the incident was a microcosm of everything what’s wrong in the administration and promotion of education in our country.

But even then, pointing fingers will not make our children in the province smarter and more literate. At this stage, it has become evident that public schools in Pangasinan can no longer depend on the national government to look after the education of our young. Pangasinan must now rely on her resources, particularly stakeholders, available to her in the next decade if Pangasinenses are to lead in the race towards literacy.

Foremost of all, all Pangasinan congressmen must be asked to commit at least 50% of their pork barrels to the construction of classrooms in their own respective districts until there are adequate classrooms to serve the ideal ratio of 1:35 teacher-students per class.

The governor and the provincial board must give a high priority to education (and yes, agriculture) in allocating funds from their Internal Revenue Allotment.

Ditto for all city and town mayors and their respective councils. They must serve the highest priority to educational projects and school boards’ activities, i.e., maintenance of school buildings, acquisition of computers and access to internet and training of teachers.

Then, parents and teachers’ associations in every school should begin forming anti-corruption committees whose task will be to monitor the delivery of contracts, from bidding to delivery of school buildings, books, school tables and chairs, computers, etc., including evaluation of training of teachers, intended to benefit their respective schools. Without this effort, more than 45% of budgeted funds can be lost to bribes, kickbacks and over-pricing.

There are hundreds of overseas Pangasinan associations who can help show the way to make Pangasinenses prepared to meet global challenges. A project study and a sincere appeal for financial assistance will go a long way!

Yes, Pangasinan has what it takes to make her people the most literate among Filipinos. But will our leaders have the political will to make that a reality? Will parents finally become pro-active and give time to their children’s future?

The greatness of future Pangasinenses lies in us today.

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