THE FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION STARTS

IN BASIC EDUCATION
The implementation of the Free Tertiary Education will pave the way for a lot of
students who are financially challenge to pursue their dreams to finished a degree in
college. But while the fundamental law of the land clearly states the goal of education
accessible to all, it also points out another key phrase quality education at all levels.
Lovelaine Basillote , executive director of Philippine Business for Education
(PBED) said in an interview with DZMM teleradyo program Sagot Ko Yan, most were
entering college with only Grade IV to V reading and math competencies. Overall mean
percentage score of fourth year high school students in DepEds 2011-2012 National
Achievement Tests was 48.9, when the goal was a score of 75. The scores were 46.37 and
40.53 for mathematics and science, respectively. These are all evidence of a weak basic
education system, PBED said.
She also disclosed that in the overall assessment of education, the Philippines now
ranks 48th out of 50 Asian countries. PBED Exec. Dir. Basillote stated the reasons for this,
i.e. 1) weak basic education system, and 2) weak Teaching Standards due to lack of
teachers and lack of classrooms. And instead of solving these, the 2018 budget of DepEds
school building program with an original allocation of P122.99 Billion was deducted an
amount of P30 Billion to reached the P40 Billion budget for the Free Education.
This is why Governor Antonio H. Cerilles wants the government to focus on
strengthening the basic education. According to him, even with a free tertiary education
it will not grant students access to quality education. The starting point should be to
improve the quality of basic and secondary education, he said.
The country has too few teachers and classrooms. Based on the Department of
Education National Data the country has 47,000 Classroom shortage and 81,000
Teacher shortage. Teacher to pupil ratios are extremely high that many public schools
particularly those in rural areas implements Multigrade system. This is true even in the
province of Zamboanga del Sur.

The Governor is worried that the students who will eventually manage to enter
university education are might be ill-equipped to handle the complex nature of
knowledge construction at a tertiary level. He believes that the foundation of education
starts in the basic education especially in kindergarten up to grade 3. In support to this is
a statement from PBED Exec. Dir. Basillote that Grade 3 is a crucial stage of a students
life and the role of teacher is also crucial. If after Grade 3 a student still fails to
comprehend lessons, the inability could last a Lifetime.

Thus, ultimate change must happen in the basic education sector. Governor
Cerilles clarified that he is not against the Free Education for students in public tertiary
and vocational schools nationwide but for him its no use making higher education free
for all if those entering the system are not able to cope with its demands.