Is Adding a Year to College Really a Solution?

Lawmakers are debating. College students are complaining. Parents are protesting. Is it really a solution to improve the quality of education in the Philippines? I hope CHED will use their common sense as for me answer is NO!

This is just a waste of time and resources. If they want to improve the quality of education here, here's a one difficult but surely more effective alternative though:

STOP CORRUPTION and instead get those billions out of the corrupt officials' bank accounts and add them to the budget for basic education which would include:

>> RETRAINING OF TEACHERS especially those handling basic education (primary to high school).

>> IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF TEACHERS by raising their SALARY. This will attract more qualified teachers. Good teachers are a few to find as most of them had shifted to more rewarding careers or had gone abroad for better pay. I am one of them.

The list could go on and adding additional year to college wouldn't be necessary anymore if the problem that lies in the lower level of education is addressed. The best quality of education should be given to children and not adult.

I once taught a group of college students in STI and was disgusted to find out several students who do not even know how to spell simple words correctly nor read properly. Disgusting, isn't it? Those kids were suppose to become computer engineers. Will adding one more year in college help them? No, right?

Again, the list of factors affecting the poor quality of education could go on. This couldn't be addresssed by sacrificing the already worn budget of parents.

Desiderata

When I was in high school, a copy of this poem once hung in our living room. I used to memorize them word for word but never understood its meaning. Just moments ago I was listening to RJ radio on my phone and they had it as their parting song and somehow realized how beautiful it is. I am posting this so I will always be reminded of the things that I should desire.

Desiderata means “desired things” in Latin.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.


If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.


Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.


Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.