CHALLENGES IN THE PHILIPPINE

BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

JOVITO R. JOBO, JR.

Graduate School Student – Master in Public Affairs
University of the Philippines Los Banos

March 26, 2009

 INTRODUCTION:
Leadership in any organization is crucial and often determine the success
or failure of the organization. The law of the lid states that the leader’s
perspective and direction leads the whole organization to its destination.

In any organization, the management and/or leadership depends on the

organizational structure. Larger organizations have a more complex
organizational set-up compared to that of a smaller organization. Hence, it is
easier to manage or to lead a smaller organization compared to a larger one.

Public and Private educational organizational set-up also differ as it is said

that public education tend to be bureaucratic and transactional in nature. Often,
especially in case of local community setting, decision making is being made
with the approval of the head of the local government especially in terms of
budget consideration, and staff appointments. Private on the otherhand is often
linear in nature and has the advantages in decision making since often, the
decision making process is made by the owners themselves.

The present public education system is besiege with a lot of problems

which this paper will discuss. These problems calls for good will of our leaders
in solving these problematic situation.

As such, the presentation of this paper calls for leaders who can “Rock
the Boat”, who are visionaries, risk takers, good collaborators and
communicators, mentors, and people with uncommon passion and persistence.
The severity of the problem calls for leaders who have personal integrity,
assertive and ambitious for their organizations. Leaders who are optimists even
in bad times. Leaders who can bring energy, are opportunistic and flexible, and
are not easily deterred.
 THE PHILIPPINE BASIC EDUCATION SYTEM:

In the Philippines, basic education is one of the shortest in the world. This
is composed of ten years where: six years of elementary and four years of
secondary education. A pupil enters elementary education at 6 or 7 years of age
and by age 11, he/she completes elementary education. At age 12 or 13, a
Filipino child is at the secondary level. After completing basic education at the
age of 15 or 16, a Filipino youth then proceeds to institutions of higher learning
either to obtain a college degree, earn a certificate from a post-secondary
vocational/technical institution, enter the work force, or be included in the
growing number of the unemployed and underemployed .

DepEd BASIC FACT SHEET:

Schools can be classified as either government supported or private

finded. The DepEd Fact Sheet for Academic Year 2002 to 2007 gives the
following education data: Teacher : Pupil (Elementary Students) Average Ratio
is 1:36 while Teacher : Student (High School Students) Average Ratio is 1:41.

Included in the DepEd fact sheet is the Ratio of Public Elementary

Schools compared Private Elementary Schools which is 42,000 : 37,000 while
Public High Schools compared to Private High Schools is 8,000 : 5,000.

Enrollment Data indicates that the ratio of Public to Private Elementary

Enrollees averaged 12Million (92%): 1Million (8%) while Enrollment Data
comparison for Public versus Private High Schools averaged 5.05Million (80%) :
1.29Million (20%).
To analyze, the above data shows:
1. That there is a huge reduction of the number of students that came from
Elementary to High Schools with Completion Rate which averages 70%
and drop-out rate average of 7%.
2. That the huge number of enrollment reduction mostly came from Public
Education Systems.
3. That although there is a little different in the number of Public and Private
Schools, majority of the students are enrolled in the Public Education
System.

Alarming Increase of Drop-out and Out of School Youth

There is an alarming increase of Out of School Youth and Student Drop-out
as indicated in the table below:

Table 1. Participation Rate

Education Level AY 2002-2003 AY 2006-2007
Elementary 90.29% 83.22%
High School 59.00% 58.59%
Source: DepEd Fact Sheet

Table II. Completion Rate

Education Level AY 2002-2003 AY 2006-2007
Elementary 71.55% 71.72%
High School 74.81% 72.14%
Source: DepEd Fact Sheet
 Local Survival and Retention Rate:
Local survival and retention rates remain low: Out of 100 students that
enter Grade 1, only 58 go on to high school and only 14 become college
graduates.

Because education is expensive, students are shifting to public from private

schools, most notably in the secondary level. From a 62% enrollment rate
previously enjoyed by private schools, the figure significantly dropped to 21%
in 2005. Public schools, which in 1965 only had 38% enrollment rate, had this
figure rise to 79%. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/97955/Philippine-education-
still-in-crisis

AGGRAVATING FACTORS
The dismal picture presented where student survival rate is slim is further
aggravated by the the shortages in Classroom, Textbook, Seats , and Teachers.
Observing the succeeding data presents the gravity of the situation which calls
for proper attention.

Teacher : Pupil Ratio Comparison

Table III: Selected Asian Country Comparison, Teacher : Pupil Ratio
COUNTRY Elementary Lower Secondary
Indonesia 24 : 1 17.6 : 1
Japan 23 : 1 17 : 1
Laos Less than 20 : 1 17 : 1
Malaysia 21 : 1
Philippines 45 : 1
South Korea 27 : 1
Thailand 21.5 : 1
Vietnam 30.1 : 1
Source : Education for All – 2000 Assessment Country Reports
It is surprising that among the eight Asian countries mentioned, the Philippine
Teachers has the highest number of pupils. It also point out that the closest
figure ,Vietnem, marks 33% lower load compared to Philippine teachers.
Further readings will reveal the effect of these figure to the quality of education.
Shortages... Shortages….
The table below presents the worsening number of classroon and teacher
deficit. Addressing the shortage in textbook is a good indicator as well as
decrease in the shortages in seats. However, the figure shows the geometrical
increase of 686 % in classroom shortage and artihmetic increase of 31% in
teacher shortage.

Table IV. Classrooms, Seats , Textbooks, and Teachers Shortages

2001- 2002- 2003- 2004- 2005-

Shortages
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Classrooms 8,443 12,470 44,716 51,947 57,930

Seats 2,108,17 1,886,49 4.87M 4.56M 3.48M

3 9

Textbook --- --- 24.22M 34.7M ---

Teachers 37,932 35,818 46,356 38,535 49,699

Source: DepEd Briefing Materials, 2002-2005 Budget Hearing

Shortages 2001-2002 2005-2006

Classrooms 8,443 57,930

Teachers 37,932 49,699

Public education in the Philippines is at a crossroads. There are large-

scale shortages of classrooms, teachers, desks and chairs, textbooks,
audio-video materials. Over-crowding of classrooms is standard with class sizes
averaging about 80 students per class. The education system is marked by
inadequate teacher training programs and declining per capita expenditure per
child by the government. For every school-aged child enrolled in school, there is
another who has never attended or has dropped out. These problems are
particularly acute in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, especially in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
http://philippines.usaid.gov/documents/oed/education.pdf. January 2008. .

Teacher Shortage and Brain Drain

Though the DepEd Factsheet present a good teacher : pupil/student ratio

and also the class size per classroom, reality check reveals the shortages in
Classroom and Teachers. As mentioned in an article made by Pinoy Teachers
Network written on Novermber 12, 2006 , it says: “The exodus of Filipino
teachers has taken a toll on the Philippine educational system. It is not
uncommon to have a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:150”
http://pinoyteachersnetwork.blogcity.com/brain_gain_not_brain_drain.htm
.

Living Salary Gap

Figure below indicates the Living Salary Gap our teacher faces monthly.
Teacher salaries has not increased since 2001. Further inflation increases the
living salary gap annualy.

Table V. Entry Level Salary of Philippine Teachers.

SALARY Living Salary

Year Cost of Living
Level : Teacher 1 Gap
 1998 P8,605 P13,438.80 P4,833.80

1999 P8,605 P13,825.50 P5,220.50

2000 P9,466 P14,825.50 P6,359.10

2001 P9,939 P15,174.30 P5,235.30

2002 P9,939 P15,975.90 P6,036.90

2004 P9,939 P18,069.30 P8,130.30

Family Living Salary

1st Quarter 2006

P19,950 (NCR)

P16,3344 (National)

(P665/day; P544.80/day – IBON Facts and Figures)

Teacher Exodus

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Data reveals that

1,666 Filipino teachers leave the country every year to teach in Africa, Europe
and Asia while other work as caregivers and domestic help in the Middle East,
Hongkong and Singapore.

It is saddening that the teachers give up their profession for caregiver or

domestic helper job abroad because of the living salary gap. The domestic
helper in Hongkong for instance earns a minimum HK$3,480 or equivalent to
PhP21,500.
 The shortages of teachers abroad, especially in U.S. entices Filipino
teachers to migrate. It will be noted that by 2014 U.S.A. is projected to need Two
(2) Million Teachers to teach their children. http://www.abcte.org/how-we-help.
This prospect of employment in U.S. and other prosperous nations gives a larger
salary gap along with other teacher benefits such as free access teacher
trainings/seminar. Moreso, teachers in U.S. are being paid when they go to
trainings/seminars.

The table below shows the comparison of the Net Income that received
by Teachers in selected countries as of Year 2005. Figures on these countries
were Considered since they are the prime destination for our teachers. It is
observed that the Philippine Teacher’s average net income for one year is even
less compared to one month average net income of teachers in the United
States. Our closest neighbor, Thailand, have a 64% higher average net
income of teachers compared to the Philippines. Countries in the which includes
South Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, and United Kingdom have their
teacher’s average net income of 9 to 15 times compared to Philippine Teachers.

Table VI. 2005 Teacher’s Income Comparison with Selected Countries

COUNTRY Average Weekly Hours
Net Income in US$ Work Requirement
United States $ 4,055 36.6
United Kingdom $ 3,568 32.5
Australia $ 2,742 39.1
Canada $ 2,236 31.1
Japan $ 2,961 No data
South Korea $ 2,096 39.7
Thailand $ 388 38.0
Philippines $ 237 40.0
Source: http://www.worldsalaries.org/teacher.shtml

Rapid Population Growth

 Data from National Census and Statistics Office cites that the Philippines
official population count as of August 2007 is 88.57 Million. Out of this figure,
more than 30% of the population is found at NCR, CALABARZON, and Central
Luzon. For eight consecutive years, 2000 to 2007, the population growth rate is
2.04% per annum. This means that 1.81 Million new babies are being born
annually. It is projected that by Philippine Population is expected to reach
100Million in 2016.

If we are to continue our present teacher : pupil ratio which is 1 : 45, the
government should strictly consider addressing the present shortages in
classroom and teachers with due additional buffer for the 1.81 Million new
students annually (1.81Million is the actual new borns per year).

National Toilet Bowl to Pupil Ratio

One of the things which caught the country’s attention is the national toilet
bowl ratio which was featured in the News Programs of Television, Radio,
Newspapers, and even the Internet. Toilet, as a basic facility is a must have for
all establishments be they public or private in nature. Quoted below is the article
written in Inquirer, a top Media Corporation in the country.

“The national toilet bowl to pupil ratio stands at 1:51 in primary schools
and 1:102 in secondary schools. In the ARMM, it’s 1:171 in the elementary
level and 1:250 in the secondary level while in NCR, it’s 1:114 and 1:143,
respectively…..…. … Take the case of Silangan Elementary School (Annex) in
Taguig, Metro Manila. Last year, all 2,031 students enrolled in that school
were provided with one toilet bowl. That’s a toilet bowl to pupil ratio of
1:2,031.”
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view_article.php?article_
id=143332
 TOLL ON THE QUALITY
There is a strong perception that the Philippines is lagging behind other
Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Among the reasons
given is the low quality of basic education in the country. Recent High School
Readiness Test given to all grade six graduates in public elementary schools in
May 2004 show very low scores in science and mathematics test. In the National
Secondary Achievement Test given in year 2000, students gave correct answers
to less than 50% of the questions in science and mathematics.
http://www.adb.org/Education/philippines-country-analysis.pdf
In the 2008 World Competitive Yearbook of the Swiss-based International
Institute for Management Development, the Philippines ranked 52nd out of the 55
countries in education. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/121226/Solon-reiterates-
call-for-higher-teachers-salary

DepEd’s BUDGET REVISITED

Though the present education situation in the country which is besiege

with problems of lack of classrooms, facilities, textbooks (some of whom have
been found containing erroneous data), and teacher emigration poses a
gargantuan task for the education officials and the political leaders to save our
education sytem.

Romulo Nerie, a key Cabinet official of Gloria Arroyo stated the proposed
solution of the government that the Arroyo administration aims to build 6,000
classrooms a year, grant a scholarship for every qualified student from a poor
family, put a computer in every school. PROCEEDINGS – Policy Dialogue
Series 2004 : Academe Meets the Government on the Philippine Economy .
As learned above, building 6,000 new classrooms per year is way behind the
requirement to address the present shortage in classrooms which continue to
add annually because of high population growth.
 On budget allocation, come 2009, the DedEd budget will increase by
15.32 % from PhP149.25 Billion to PhP167.94 Billion, the biggest budget so far
in the history of the department. However, it is still insufficient to finance the
abovementioned shortages in the basic education. The original proposed budget
given by the DepEd was PhP 259.46 Billion, PhP110.21 Billion higher than the
approved budget.

The International Standard for Education budget account for 6% of the

country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP. Historical data reveals that from Year
2001 to 2007, the DepEd’s budget only account for 2.07 to 2.53 % of GDP, a
substandard figure. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/sep/12/yehey/metro/20080912met1.html

Regarding the welfare of the Teachers, both upper and lower house of
congress on the other hand have proposed bill, Senate Bill 2408 and House Bill
4734, aimed to increase the salary of teachers by PhP9,000 (from PhP 9,939
to PhP18,939). The bill, if approved, will place the teacher’s salary to Salary
Grade 19 from Salary Grade 10. Target implementation for this program will
spread on a 3 year timetable or PhP3,000 increase per year for three years.

BUREAUCRACY IN PHILIPPINE EDUCATION SYSTEM:

It said that the Philippine Educational system is bureaucratic. Being

bureaucratic have its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of being
a bureaucratic are: 1.) it is characterized by hierarchical authority relations,
defined spheres of competence subject to impersonal rules, recruitment by
competence, and fixed salaries. 2.) The main aims of a bureaucracy are to be
rational, efficient, and professional in the implementation of policies and
procedures.

However, problems arises when bureuacracy become self-serving and

self-perpetuating. This results to losses in valuable resources
(overpriced/substandard assets, supply, etc.) due to corruption and the
placement of unideal/substandard people in the organization because of
“palakasan”. This also results to slow down in transactions that need speedy
results.

CONCLUSION:

Education as a Public Good was created to make sure that progress will
continue as citizens earns general knowledge and technological know-how. As
the greatest equalizer, education is very important for people in all strata that is
for the rich to ensure that they maintain and even upgrade their status in society,
and for poor to be competitive and eventually attain their desired economic
status.

Low quality of education give rise to private schools. The perception that
private schools offer better quality education makes many parents enroll their
children to this schools which is marred with commercialism. However, still
majority of Filipinos cannot afford sending their children to private schools for it is
even hard for many to even send children in public schools as indicated in low
participation rate.
 The present administration have inherited flaws in the education system.
Shortages in classrooms, teachers, seats, books, and even toilet is a very big
problem that besiege the education process.

For a country whose biggest export is manpower / skilled workers, human

capital spending is a serious matter, and should be on the top priority of the
government.

An adage : “sometimes no reaction is a reaction” is indeed true much

more the inadequate reaction. International standard in the Education
Department’s budget of allocating 6% of a country’s GDP come with basis, that is
to ensure that high standard of quality in education is met.

Outcome of the shortages in education’s budget is clearly manifested in

different aspects. Effectiveness in learning is affected as we witness our
students fare low on diagnostic test in comparison with our neighbors countries.

Aggravating factors such as the exodus of teachers because of low

salaries, the student to teacher ratio, lack of facilities and other matters
continue to take its toll on our most valuable product: the Filipino.

It is true that the Arroyo administration inherited problems in education.

However, the government has the power to inflict change and not to worsen the
status quo. As Babe Ruth used to say, “You can pay now and play later, or play
now and pay later. But either way, you will have to pay”.
 REFERENCES:

2007 DepEd Fact Sheet

Education for All – 2000 Assessment Country Reports

IBON Facts and Figures

PROCEEDINGS – Policy Dialogue Series 2004 : Academe Meets the

Government on the Philippine Economy .

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/sep/12/yehey/metro/20080912met1.ht
ml

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/121226/Solon-reiterates-call-for-higher-teachers-
salary

http://www.adb.org/Education/philippines-country-analysis.pdf

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view_article.php?article_id=1433
32

http://www.worldsalaries.org/teacher.shtml

http://www.abcte.org/how-we-help.
http://pinoyteachersnetwork.blogcity.com/brain_gain_not_brain_drain.htm

http://philippines.usaid.gov/documents/oed/education.pdf

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/97955/Philippine-education-still-in-crisis