Education Policy Issues in the Philippines
Introduction
It has been the accepted belief that the way to the improvement of the “quality of the population” hinges largely on education.1 Consequently, it is agreed that the development of the human resources of a nation is the ultimate determinant of the country’s growth and development. Specifically, the country’s ability to develop the knowledge and know how of its people in order to make them productive contributors to the nations economy, determines to a large extent the “character and pace of its socio-economic development”2. Furthermore, it is increasingly acknowledged that higher education is a “driver of economic growth”, supposedly, even allowing developing countries to leap frog on their pursuit for economic development.3
Scope of the Essay
For this reason, this essay will look into the education policy issues in the Philippines, focusing on tertiary education, which will directly relate to the socio-economic development of the country. Although, the paper will not cover fully the comprehensive issues relating to the sector of tertiary education in the Philippines, the essay will present the vital key issues concerning the following: a) globalization, b) quality and efficiency and c) relevance.
Specifically, the aim of the essay is to address the following questions:
1. What are the implications of globalization in the tertiary education particularly along the issues of competitiveness, ‘brain drain’, flight of skilled labor and other related concerns?
2. What are the reasons for the continued deterioration of the quality and efficiency of tertiary education in the Philippines? and;
3. How relevant (or irrelevant) is the system of tertiary education in the Philippines?
Significance of the Essay and Methodology
Ultimately, the over-arching aim of the essay is to examine the state of tertiary education in the Philippines concerning the three important issues (globalization, quality and efficiency, and relevance), with the end view to explore
It has been the accepted belief that the way to the improvement of the “quality of the population” hinges largely on education.1 Consequently, it is agreed that the development of the human resources of a nation is the ultimate determinant of the country’s growth and development. Specifically, the country’s ability to develop the knowledge and know how of its people in order to make them productive contributors to the nations economy, determines to a large extent the “character and pace of its socio-economic development”2. Furthermore, it is increasingly acknowledged that higher education is a “driver of economic growth”, supposedly, even allowing developing countries to leap frog on their pursuit for economic development.3
Scope of the Essay
For this reason, this essay will look into the education policy issues in the Philippines, focusing on tertiary education, which will directly relate to the socio-economic development of the country. Although, the paper will not cover fully the comprehensive issues relating to the sector of tertiary education in the Philippines, the essay will present the vital key issues concerning the following: a) globalization, b) quality and efficiency and c) relevance.
Specifically, the aim of the essay is to address the following questions:
1. What are the implications of globalization in the tertiary education particularly along the issues of competitiveness, ‘brain drain’, flight of skilled labor and other related concerns?
2. What are the reasons for the continued deterioration of the quality and efficiency of tertiary education in the Philippines? and;
3. How relevant (or irrelevant) is the system of tertiary education in the Philippines?
Significance of the Essay and Methodology
Ultimately, the over-arching aim of the essay is to examine the state of tertiary education in the Philippines concerning the three important issues (globalization, quality and efficiency, and relevance), with the end view to explore