By Anthony A. Araos
True to form, civil society organization leader Victor Sampayan made young learners jubilant at the just-concluded Christmas and New Year party of the Malalupa Elementary School in Barangay Caragasan at Alfonso Lista, Ifugao.
Civic leader and environmental advocate Sampayan gave them packages of much-needed school supplies during the festive occasion.
“They certainly needed these school items when classes resume early next month after the Christmas season and so I decided to make this donation,” he uttered in a recent conversation.
The packages consist of ball pens, pencils, pads, notebooks and erasers.
Easily, said items are in the wish list of their cash-strapped parents as high inflation rates continue to cause untold sufferings in their daily lives.
The school is situated in an underserved sitio of this quiet village of about 1,200 inhabitants. Most folks are still engaged in farming. Sadly, into subsistence farming for survival.
Scenes of the turnover of these school supplies are touching and memorable. It easily underscores the vitality of providing poor school children for their physical and emotional needs, and to form them in faith.
In that vein, I imagine the happiness felt by the mentors in a fan-filled gathering set in austere conditions, where I am completely familiar with many other places across the Philippines. For no doubt, notwithstanding the grandiose “New Philippines” slogan, the Philippines is still a poor country pretending to be rich.
Indeed, it is incredibly meaningful and I’m honored to commend the school principal and teachers of Malalupa Elementary School for their outstanding contributions to the education sector. Its school head Maricel Benigno is a hardworking and refined woman who would not hesitate to exert his utmost to promote the best interest of teachers and pupils. Henceforth, teachers Dasylyn Banham, Anita Bumaeon, Jocelyn Lechon and Julie Cablin are truly fortunate.
This is against the backdrop of student’s typical conditions to content with the countryside for overworked but underpaid public school teachers. There are, but not limited to insufficient learning materials, overloaded academic activities, poor and inadequate learning environment, conflict with household chores, psychological stress pressure and poor internet connectivity. Hence financial problem. Above all, financial problems. Needless to point, teachers are heavily indebted, when 80 percent of your monthly paycheck has been allotted to debt payments. You’re in psychological/stress when the “Bombay” (Indian) and other “loan sharks” knock at the door, you’re really in big trouble.
The blunder of the government in really taking care of the education sector lies in many other aspects. For one, the lack of basic amenities places teachers and students at a significant disadvantage thus, affecting the quality of education they receive. Likewise, schools lack adequate classrooms, textbooks and teaching materials, making it challenging for students to learn effectively. The lack of textbooks reference books and teachings hinders the learning process, since students may not have access to the necessary information to understand the concepts taught in class.
There are times in my life I’m strongly holding to my heart the assertion that according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution that education should be given the highest budgetary allocation. It’s just a big joke!
The right and duty of teachers to educate the young are primordial and inalienable. In fact, they prepare young learners to be productive members of society.
Educators are still grappling with the fact that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget that was proposed at Php 288.6 billion but ballooned to Php 113 trillion. This is unbelievable, truly unbelievable. Where can you find a country where lawmakers bow to the whims and caprices of moneyed contractors while teachers are struggling to make both ends meet because prices of goods and services are sky high and the purchasing power of the peso is too, too low.
It’s high time to send the right message to our educators. Increase the country’s budget from the current 3 percent to 6 percent of the GDP. If not, things are likely to deteriorate at the education department. Teachers’ works are to step down, stop and they’ll give up because of unbearable conditions. More are expected to work in other countries.
I see the need for the education sector to make a turnaround. A better deal for them shall also empower many others (in the non-teaching category such as utility) to protect themselves.
I also see the need for teachers to engage more with knowledgeable men and women in the private sector. Of the 25 candidates for councilor in Alfonso Lista, only a few of them can be considered to be worthy of the electorate’s backing. If we view the situation then from this perspective we reduce the scope of “informed” and “enlightened” choice to two choices in Alfonso Lista to Victor Sampayan of Barangay Sta. Maria. The other is Engr. Ferdinand Santiago of Barangay Potia. Indeed, we embrace the chances of putting into office competent and dedicated individuals in May 12, 2025. Both of them possess remarkable training and experience in business and other aspects of life.
As the scenes unfold, I’m reminded of the message of Christ’s birth at a manger and delighted to see a local Santa Claus. I’m not clueless why there’s inadequacy of public spending in education. I hope and fervently pray for the success of Victor Sampayan and Ferdinand Santiago who supports my call to invest money in education. End the practice of constructing waiting sheds. Are you not bothered by your conscience of wasting public funds on these useless projects? ••
