Press Release
May 20, 2008

ROXAS FILES OMNIBUS EDUCATION REFORM ACT

Senator Mar Roxas today filed the Omnibus Education Reform Act of 2008 to strengthen the Philippine education system through timely interventions on the quality of teachers, the medium of instruction used and the evaluation of students' aptitude, among other aspects.

"We need to fix our educational system to promote social justice and better opportunities for the Filipino youth. This is the best way for us to catch up with our neighbors that have long made wise and huge investments in their own educational systems," Roxas pointed out, in filing Senate Bill No. 2294.

Roxas explained that his proposed Omnibus Education Reform Act embodies the results of a continuing study on the defects of our educational system and is but an initial step in promoting higher standards in education for the benefit of millions of Filipino students.

The Liberal Party President noted that at present, only 65 out of 100 Grade 1 students are able to complete Grade 6, and of these, only 43 graduate from High School. With the small survival rate, most of these students do not even achieve up-to-standards mastery of English, Science and Math.

This, he said, is the result of many factors, particularly low government spending on education, which is at present only 3% of the Gross National Product, which drastically falls below the 6% global standard.

"Education is a building blocks system. Employability cannot be assured if college education is flawed. College outcomes cannot be fixed if high school education is flawed. High school outcomes cannot be improved if elementary school fundamentals are lacking. Authentic reforms must begin at the lowest levels and work upwards. We cannot afford to take shortcuts," he said, noting that as low as 2% of college graduates who apply in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector are accepted.

The proposed reforms in the bill include:

  1. Institutionalizing long-term planning through rolling five-year budget plans that are consistent with quantitative and qualitative targets;

  2. Mandating the use of the mother tongue as medium of instruction for Grades 1 to 3, as studies have shown that early education in the local language tends to be more effective;

  3. A genuine School-Feeding Program for Grade 1 and 2 students in the poorest provinces and municipalities;

  4. Imposition of performance standards through diagnostic tests at the end of Grades 3 and 6 to identify individuals who will require special learning assistance as they proceed to the next grade level;

  5. Mandating the increase in the number of years in basic education, from 10 years to 12 years as consistent with global standards;

  6. Electives for High School students, to equip them with the competencies needed as they decide to pursue College or to join the workforce after graduation;

  7. Intensive training and upgrading programs for teachers: a training program on teaching methods using the mother language for teachers in Grades 1 to 3; and upgrading courses for English, Science and Math teachers who are not majors in these subjects; and

  8. A compulsory pre-school education year.

The proposed omnibus law seeks to substantially improve the present system within ten years, and sets qualitative and quantitative results to be achieved in line with this goal.

An initial appropriation of P19 billion is allocated to the Department of Education, on top of its regular budget, to fund these reforms. A congressional oversight committee is also created to monitor the law's implementation.

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