𝑬𝑫𝑼𝑪𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑯𝑨𝑫𝑶𝑾 𝑶𝑭 𝑾𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑯: 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑳𝑬𝑵𝑮𝑬 𝑶𝑭 𝑷𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑻𝒀 𝑰𝑵 𝑨𝑭𝑭𝑳𝑼𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝑺𝑶𝑪𝑰𝑬𝑻𝑰𝑬𝑺

 

𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐌 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄

    According to B.B King, education is one thing no one can take away from you. It emphasizes the timeless worth of education. You make an investment in yourself that will pay off for the rest of your life. However, education is a privilege to people who can afford it. Additionally, Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. It is indeed a power and it is giving yourself the tools you need to live a fulfilling and stable life, have a positive impact on society, and realize your full potential. However, how can you achieve these if you cannot afford education? In the Philippines, nearly 11 million children and young Filipinos are not attending formal school or education, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). World Bank classifies countries based on income levels. According to their system, Philippines is under Developing Economy, it is an emerging nation with a booming economy. The Philippines offers an intriguing case study of how wealth and poverty may coexist, resulting in a challenging environment for education. It is challenging to guarantee that every child has equitable access to high-quality education in the Philippines due to the complicated interplay between wealth and poverty. 

The Philippines offers a fascinating illustration of the complex connection between wealth and poverty and how it affects the education. This is the way various forces that appear to be at odds combine: limited opportunities for the poor, education as a ladder to poverty, and the paradox of affluence. Each forces was discussed below.

• LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE POOR

Picture form: Lacson’s “Edukasyon Plus” Program to Break Cycle of Poverty. (2021, November 14). PING LACSON. https://pinglacson.net/2021/11/14/lacsons-edukasyon-plus-program-to-break-cycle-of-poverty/

There is unequal access among impoverished people. Philippines is a growing economy but wealth is not evenly distributed. Sending children to public schools, which may be overcrowded and underfunded, is a challenge for many families in the country. It is also challenging for teachers and other educational staffs to provide each student particular attention in large class sizes. Since it implies more students in each class, there will be inexperienced teachers because of lower pay or reduced salary, and a shortage of necessary educational resources. Learning and engagement may be hampered, particularly for children who require more assistance. 

Picture from: Geronimo, J. (2014, June 1). Back to school for 20.9M public school students. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/philippines/59417-school-opening-2014/

    Public schools especially those schools from remote or far-flung areas may lack essential resources like qualified and competent teachers, updated learning textbooks, digital technology, and proper facilities. Multigrade schools or classrooms is one schools who really need funds, resources and teachers. It is a school where students of two or more grade levels learn together in the same classroom under one teacher. It is often found in rural areas or in communities. As a result, learning options are restricted in comparison to well-funded private institutions. 

Additionally, there is a cycle of poverty that we need to break. Most of the families in the Philippines faced this barrier, poverty prevents their children to go to school and have education. They don’t have stable job and income, and the privilege to support the education of their children consistently. This results to out-of-school-youth and high drop out rates in the country. Given that education is a prerequisite for social mobility, this keeps people in a cycle of poverty. As we said a while ago, education is a privilege. Many studies explained that there is a big factor of allowance and employment of parents in the academic status of the students. Students whose parents were from low-income and have unstable job received low grades and some of them can’t attend school regularly because they don’t have allowance. This situation will fall under poverty. Therefore, there is a limited opportunities for the poor.

• EDUCATION AS A LADDER TO ESCAPE POVERTY

             Picture from: Education ladder leading to future life success Stock Vector. (n.d.). Adobe Stock. Retrieved June 19, 2024, from https://stock.adobe.com/ph/images/education-ladder-leading-to-future-life-success/246192061

Education is still a vital tool for Filipinos to escape poverty, despite these obstacles. A quality education gives people the information and abilities they need to land better jobs and make more money. Families who are trapped in a cycle of poverty frequently find it difficult to afford a quality education, which restricts employment options and maintains low-income levels. Education may break this cycle by giving people the skills, knowledge and abilities required to land better-paying jobs, which will increase their well-being and financial stability.

• THE PARADOX OF AFFLUENCE

Picture from: Unequal wealth distribution. (n.d.). Equitable Growth. Retrieved June 19, 2024, from https://equitablegrowth.org/why-its-important-to-pay-attention-to-distributional-consequences-of-economic-policies/unequal-wealth-distribution/

    We all know that there is unequal distribution of wealth in the world .Philippines has a growing economy, but wealth isn't distributed equally. While some Filipinos enjoy a high standard of living, many Filipinos struggle to satisfy their basic necessities. The chances for individuals living in poverty to receive high-quality education are restricted by this economic disparity. Additionally, these disparities exist based on the location, between urban and rural areas. Students in impoverished rural regions may have fewer educational options rather than urban schools that have more resources than those in isolated locations.

    On the other hand, how can we bridge the gap between education and inequality? Possible solutions can be made to provide quality education for all.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN POVERTY AND EDUCATION

Picture from: Unknown, I. ni. (n.d.). Multiculturalpedia (Philippines-France).

Retrieved June 19, 2024, from https://philppines-france.blogspot.com/2013_02_01_archive.html

a.      Government Investment. According to 1987 Constitution, education has the highest budget among all sectors in the Philippines. However, increased government funding for schools especially in impoverished areas is crucial. They can provide focus on the public schools in rural areas where there are limited resources to provide enough resources for teaching and learning process and to give quality education among children. Therefore, this 1can assist in providing the required learning resources, enhancing facilities, and attracting and keeping qualified teachers.

Picture from: Davao, S. C. (2010, November 19). iLoveSMdavao: SM Foundation opens Scholarship. ILoveSMdavao. https://smcitydavao.blogspot.com/2010/11/sm-foundation-opens-scholarship.html

b.  Scholarship Programs. Scholarships and financial assistance can target students from underprivileged backgrounds. This can make attending school less expensive and provide access to higher education. Students who’s from low-income households, scholarships serve as a lifeline, bridging the gap between their potential and the prohibitive expense of an education. There are a lot of scholarships from the government and from non-government organizations that students can apply for.

c.    Reduced Educational Costs. To lessen the financial strain on low-income families, take into account programs like providing free or significantly discounted textbooks and educational resources. 

Additionally, as a teacher, we need to be resourceful to our instructional materials and resources in school. Easily accessible materials may be creatively transformed into effective teaching tools by resourceful and indigenous educators. Teachers can use recycled materials like cardboard boxes or plastic bottles to create models, turning everyday objects into counting tools for math lessons, or even using the classroom environment itself as a teaching aid. This will help both the learners and the teacher. As you can see in the picture, that was my demonstration teaching when I was in college. I used recycled materials for my instructional materials such as newspapers, plastic bottles and magazines. 

  

Pictures from: PERCEIVED MENTAL HEALTH AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT OF STUDENTS IN NEPAL DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK. (2021, February 11). SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/perceived-mental-health-and-learning-environment-of-students-in-nepal-during-covid19-outbreak/242581641

d. Wrap-around Services. Organize social services such as mental health resources,     healthcare, and access to wholesome food in order to treat the underlying issues that may be impeding a child's learning.

                                

Picture from: Skills-Based Learning - When, Where, How and Why - Credentialate Guide. (2021, March 23). Www.edalex.com. https://www.edalex.com/guides/skills-based-learning-when-where-how-why/

e.  Skills-Based Education. It is possible to modify the educational system to provide students abilities that are in demand to the job market. This equips graduate students with the qualifications needed to secure good jobs and improve their earning potential.

Pictures from: Lumina. (2022, April 30). Social Welfare Programs in the Philippines. Lumina Homes. https://www.lumina.com.ph/news-and-blogs/blogs/social-welfare-programs-in-the-philippine

f.  Parental Engagement and Community Outreach Programs. There must be a strong Community-School Partnership. Parents should be encouraged to participate in their children's education and should be given the resources necessary to do so. Collaborate with organization, community groups, and volunteers to offer extra resources and assistance to low-income schools and children. You can also volunteer your time. Many organizations offer tutoring or literacy programs for adults and children. You can share your knowledge and help bridge the educational gap.

In conclusion, bridging the gap between poverty and education in the Philippines requires a multi-pronged approach. Building a better future for everyone is the goal of bridging the achievement gap between poverty and education. It's an investment with far-reaching positive consequences. No one should be left behind; it is a powerful sentiment that perfectly encapsulates the goal of bridging the gap between education and poverty. It highlights how crucial it is to provide inclusive education that benefits all students, regardless of their circumstances. It includes equity in education that emphasizes how important it is that everyone have equitable access to educational opportunities, breaking down barriers that highlights how crucial it is to remove barriers that stand in the way of individuals receiving high-quality education, and investing in the future that underscores the belief that in order to create a better future for everyone in society, education is essential. By addressing unequal access, promoting education as a tool for social mobility, and investing in under resourced schools, the Philippines can work towards a more equitable education system that empowers all Filipinos to reach their full potential.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/BLOGGER:

    Good day, everyone! I am teacher Janna Elaine F. Pagarigan and I welcome you to my blog. I am 22 years old and currently living at Bacabac, Camiling, Tarlac. I took up my secondary education at Tarlac Agricultural University with an award of with high honors. I graduated as magna cum laude at Tarlac State University under the program of BEED or Bachelor of Elementary Education. During my college internship, I was assigned at Camiling Central Elementary School – Special Science Class. This experiential teaching and learning taught me different strategies, approaches and methods in teaching and learning and how to handle a real classroom and children. I also passed the LEPT or Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers last March 2024. I do accept some tutorial services in elementary level. As of the moment, I am taking up my master’s degree at the same school (TSU) under the program of Early Childhood Education. I am confident that this new journey will make me a more competent and qualified teacher who can provide quality and conducive learning for the children, and it will also take me to my goals in the future. Again, I welcome you to my blog and I am very excited to share what my blog has to offer.

To visit my blog, click here: 

https://jannaelainefpagarigan.blogspot.com/2024/06/blog-post.html