QUALITY of EDUCATION

I: Introduction

The study entitle “Quality Education for Native Filipinos: A Phenomenological Case Study
of Indigenous Learners” was written by Safary Wa-Mbaleka from the Adventist International
Institute of Advanced Studies in Silang, Cavite, Philippines. The researcher used the design of a
phenomenological case study. His study reported on the best practices of a private school system
of indigenous students in Mindoro, Philippines. Data obtained from interviewed administrators,
teachers, indigenous students, observed school settings and lesson presentation, and analyzed
instructional artifacts, helped him understand the factors that contributed to the successful
education of indigenous students and the importance that education is playing in their lives in
general. According to him, to be successful in educating the Katutubo learners, the schools must
use a holistic approach of human development and community development. They must set high
standards and provide assistance and support to achieve them. There were actually many positive
and recommendable practices which were enumerated by his respondents such as the Promotion
of Spiritual Values, the Inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge, the Facilitation of Learning, the
Strong School-Community Relationship and the Setting of High Standards and Sticking to Them.
The alarming issue here is the manner on how the respondents carry out the enumerated practices.
The punishment of expulsion for consecutive absences does not seem commensurate to the
violation. Hence I strongly believe it is unjust to the student concerned.

II: Discussion

I was impressed yet alarmed by the ways on how the respondents carried out the Setting of
High Standards and Sticking to Them in order to achieve quality education. As revealed by his
study, all the interviewees mentioned this as the major factor for success in the education of
Katutubo learners. In their school system, no student can pass a class with less than a B. If a student
has more than three subjects with less than a B, he or she repeats the whole grade. If a student gets
married, he or she is expelled from the school. In addition, more than three unjustified absences
result in school expulsion. The Bureau of Private Schools, A Manual of Regulations for Private
Schools, 7th edition, defined expulsion as an extreme form of administrative sanction which
debars the student from all public and private schools. This may be imposed on students
“instigating, leading or participating in concerted activities leading to a stoppage of classes". This
does not entitle the student to his diploma, transfer credential or other official school records unless
the Secretary lifts his expulsion order. For me, the expulsion here as a mode to achieve quality
education is too much since the only violation made by the student is three unjustifiable absences.
The student did not infringe any of the aforementioned violations. In a similar case, an official of
the Department of Education (DepEd) has condemned the expulsion of three students from a
private high school for speaking in Ilocano on campus last July 2013. It was reported by Adriano
(2013) of the Philippine Daily Inquirer that three students were expelled just because they cuss
in Ilocano which is against the English only policy of the school. Cecilia Aribuabo,(2013) DepEd
supervisor in Ilocos Norte, said while the Saviour’s Christian Academy (SCA) has a strict
“English only” policy, the expulsion of the students was not appropriate.

In Paragraph 1.2, Section 1, Chapter III, Part IV of 2000 DECS Service Manual, the
following guidelines in attendance and punctuality shall be observed. Regularity of attendance and
punctuality are required in all classes. A student who has been absent or has cut classes is required
to present a letter of explanation from his/her parents or guardians or to bring them to school for a
short conference with the section adviser or guidance counselor as the case may be. A student who
incurs absences of more than twenty percent (20%) of the prescribed number of class or laboratory
periods during the school year or term should be given a failing grade and given no credits for the
course or subject. It is very clear here that students who will incur twenty percent of absences will
not be expelled but rather they will either have a failing grade or perhaps an incomplete grade.

The problem on the quality of education in the country is undeniably a major issue to be
addressed since reports would claim that there is indeed a decline in the quality of Philippine
education at the elementary and secondary levels. I am a living witness to the deterioration of the
quality of education among our students nowadays. There are some senior high school students
who could hardly express themselves in simple English or even Filipino. Most students would
prefer to use their mother tongue in expressing their thoughts and views which is ironic because
not all people could understand them. Results of NAT among elementary and high school students
and NCAE were way below the target mean score.(Pagadian, n.d) In 2016, Trends in
International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS), the longest running, large scale
international assessment of mathematics and science education in the world, released the result
showing that Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Korea, Chinese Taipei, and Japan continue
outperforming all participating countries in mathematics at the fourth and eighth grades,
maintaining a 20 year edge. In 2003, Philippines ranked no. 43 out of 46 countries for Math no.
42 for Science. These, together with the hindrances faced by Filipino students in gaining good
education, begin at the early childhood stage which could be possibly addressed by any means not
detrimental to the learners. Yet, despite our eagerness to improve the quality of education, it does
not warrant us to take away the right of the child to education. We should always remember that
the offenses punishable by suspension or expulsion depends on the seriousness of the offense
stated in Paragraph 1.1.2, Section 1, Chapter III, Part IV of 2000 DECS Service Manual
which are considered grave offenses. Hence, I strongly believe that expulsion should not be a
remedy to achieve high quality of education.

III: Recommendation

The Department of Education Officials should check on how the teachers carry out the
school rules and regulations as well as Classroom Rules and Regulation to avoid the imposition of
sanctions and penalties which are not commensurate to violations made by the student. The
department should also make sure that the necessities for the basic education such as books,
computers, classrooms with complete facilities and sufficient number of teachers must be provided
and should be in high quality.

The officers and members of the Child Protection Policy Committee should check the
school manual or student handbook to make sure the disciplinary actions stipulated there are in
accordance to existing laws protecting the rights of the children.