Sacramento Unified Goes to the Philippines for Its Teachers

“Raise your hand if you think that the United States can match the performance of the countries with the world’s highest student performance by outsourcing its teaching to lower wage countries. If your hand is still down, then raise it if you think that the United States can even maintain its mediocre position in the world’s league table of student academic performance if it were to hire more and more of its teachers from the Philippines or countries like it. Your hand is still down? If it is, then we need to have an honest conversation about what it would take to develop and hire teachers with skills comparable to those found everywhere in the top-performing countries. We need to have a conversation about how we develop and retain those teachers instead of contracting that effort out to the lowest international bidder.”  These are the questions from the article of Marc Tucker last July27, 2017 entitled:  Migrant Labor: Sacramento Unified Goes to the Philippines for Its Teachers,

In a globalizing world, outsourcing is inevitable.  Just take a look at your stuff at home, and they are not all made in the US.  Call a hotline or book a flight, and a representative from the Philippines, India or other countries will answer your call.  It’s not just about importation, but exportation and immigrant workers made the US economically stable.   With the exponential growth and advancement of technology, we can no longer control getting diversified.  We have no choice but to accept the changes, adapt and survive to the fast changing world.

The US has been outsourcing teachers from the Philippines since 2004.   Despite the challenges that the Filipinos encountered in the US, they are patient, determined and have proven their professionalism and their quality of work. They just need to be properly deployed in a safe and healthy environment and they’ll be great assets.  That’s why Sacramento Unified will  continue to outsource in the Philippines.  That’s why a lot of employers hire them.  That’s why Filipino dedicated workers deserve equal rights and respect.

The education system in the US is the same as the Philippines because of the Thomasites.  Just check out the books of the major subjects in the Philippines and they are all in English to the point that some students could hardly translate it in their native tongue.  The difference is just the culture, accent and idioms, but with English refresher courses, Filipinos can easily adapt to the language and culture.

In the US, Filipinos are not just professional teachers, they are professional nurses, caregivers, nannies, housekeepers, doctors, lawyers, engineers,  corporate executives, entrepreneurs and artists.   The influx of Filipinos  in the US is inevitable, same as the influx of British, Irish, Italians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans, Armenians and other nationalities trying to live and survive in the new world  that made America a great nation known to mankind.

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The New Philippines

To our new President Duterte and Vice President Leni  congratulations!  May you be guided by God to do what is best for our country.  May your term change the lives of our countrymen for the betterment of the nation.

Eradicate Monopoly, Bureaucracy and Poverty.

Promote Democracy, Diplomacy, Peace and Order of the Country.

May your authority be used to:

1. Form strong alliance with other nations.
2. Diplomatically solve problems.
3. Raise funds from the elite thru different programs, events and activities to benefit the underserved communities.
4. Conduct training to educate the youth and provide deployment that will be beneficial for themselves and their families.
5. Develop policies that will lead to order and peace of the country.

I hope that you would take into consideration the following:

1. Trade Agreement with the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, Australia and with other Asian Countries.

• • “For a more stable and transparent trading and investment environment”.
  • “For easier and cheaper exporting and importing of goods”.
  • “For citizens to enjoy trade surplus of manufactured goods”.

2. Better Healthcare System

• • Tax free for pharmaceutical products will help reduce the cost of pharmaceutical products to make it affordable to everyone.
  • Free medical and healthcare to senior citizens and reach out to the impoverished communities.
  • Davao’s emergency response like 911 is exemplary which I am optimistic that it can be done nationwide.
  • To monitor all the poultry and agricultural products in the market and make sure that they are safe for consumption. The Department of Agriculture and The Department of Trade and Industry can work together to make sure that all the food in the markets are safe.  An annual surprise visit shall be done in the markets and if there are food that are unsafe, the company should no longer operate and should pay corresponding penalty fee for non-compliance.
  • Provide product certification and comply with the standards to assure the quality of food.

3. Better Education System

• • To improve the school facilities by making it self sustainable, thru:
    • • Maximizing the space and cultivate the soil, which means, using the space for commercial use to generate income and cultivate the soil thru gardening or planting fruits and vegetables for profit and sustainable ecosystem.
      • Improve the buildings and security to attract investors for weekend paid events.
  • To partner with companies for their marketing purposes, but will help develop the libraries and classrooms in return or supply personal hygienic products to the students or provide free meal to students.
  • To develop and implement a policy that will require the government officials to send their children to public school.  This will enforce the improvement of the facility and quality of education of the public schools to compete in a globalized world.  As well as to invite more international students to study in public schools to promote tourism.

4. Advocate on Climate Change

• • • Educate everyone about climate change.
    • Strictly enforce proper segregation disposal like:
      • Schedule of Pickup: Monday & Friday – biodegradable products, Wednesday – Recycled Products (separate containers for bottles, papers, cans & plastics), Thursday – electrical, gadgets, and hazardous waste. The most organized family will get monthly prizes like (Example: free movie tickets – the government can collaborate with the entertainment industry for sponsorship with regards to this program)
    • Strictly enforce “No Littering in Public” policy – with corresponding penalty fee or community service for non-compliance.
    • Strictly enforce SMOG Check – with penalty fee for smoke belching.
    • Strictly enforce “Drainage Compliance” policy. To make sure all buildings and houses comply with proper drainage system to prevent flood – with corresponding penalty fee for non-compliance.

5. Promote Peace and Order

• • • Strictly enforce “No Drink & Drive” policy.  Driving under the influence of alcohol should be strictly prohibited that will suspend the driver’s license for certain number of months.
    • Improve the transportation system to improve the traffic and security on the road.
    • Centralized First Aid Stations and Police stations in all crowded areas. This can be funded or sponsored by business establishments within the vicinity which can help sustain the cost.
    • Proper Monitoring System by installing clear security cameras in public areas.  This can be funded or sponsored by business establishments within the area which can help sustain the cost.
    • Strictly enforce “Drug Free” environment” – with corresponding penalty fee or community service for non-compliance.
      • Accurate and Efficient Annual Drug Test to all drivers, students, employees and business owners – included in annual medical check-up.
      • Dog sniffers in all airports, hotels, check points and toll gates.
    • Community service for policy breakers will be:
      • Minimum Offense: Farming and gardening in government owned lands to develop the government owned properties for profit and sustainability.
      • Major Offense: Cleaning the public comfort rooms, public offices, public schools.

When I studied Public Administration in a public university, I realized that there are a lot to learn and how essential it is for all government officials to take the course.  I hope that all government officials, including the employees will be required to take Public Administration and Law or a comprehensive certificate program that will provide literacy to everyone involved in community service.

I was once a community  leader, and being a community leader is being a community servant.  It taught me how to to provide quality service without expecting anything in return.  There’s no monetary reward but the experience of making a difference in your own simple way is priceless.

I’ve witnessed that the less fortunate citizens in the impoverished communities have the potential to improve their lives.  It is thru the right policies, right education and guidance that can change them.

I know that it takes a firm and strong leader to implement the policies and programs.  But with proper communication, collaboration and diplomacy, any policies, programs and political platforms can be implemented smoothly.

With the right policies in place and proper implementation.   I can vividly see the NEW Philippines, that our motherland will be back to her economic power, and most of all, contribute to our mother earth’s sustainable ecosystem.

Is the K12 program worth the Php150 billion investment?

A compilation of 7 short video clips on The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2011 for the Implementation of the K12 Program, and previous researches and articles on school bureaucracy.  The videos were made for the  Public Administration class.

The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2011 Part 1/7

Task Force for the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2011 Part 2/7

Why is there so much school bureaucracy? Part3/7

Brief History on Public Education in the Philippines Part 4/7

Is Philippine education being governed properly? Part 5/7

Why does Philippine Education Perform Poorly? Part 6/7

Finale & Reflection on the K12 Program Part 7/7

Can the K12 program lead to global competitiveness or will it just add burden to the parents and students?  Is the K12 program worth the P150 billion investment or will it be better to use it to solve the current problems in public schools and feed the people below poverty line?  What’s the use of the highly paid consultants and expensive infrastructure if students are malnourished and stressed due to work?

The problem in the country is poverty, especially in rural and depressed areas, even if the country is newly industrialized as of 2011.   People in poverty would prefer to feed their stomach first than their brain.   Schooling is just an option because they have to work at an early age to help the family.  They prefer to survive and live before they would get the luxury of going to school, because these people consider education as luxury than a necessity.  Not unless the government will provide training to the parents, and sponsorship to the children.

I think it would be better to simply retain the same number of years, redesign the curriculum and continuously train the teachers so that all the essential facts would be covered, necessary skills would be developed and healthy environment would be attained.

 

REFERENCES:

1. “Why is there so much school bureaucracy and what can we do about it?”.  New Talk.   November 2008. 6 March 2012. <http://newtalk.org/2008/11/why-is-there-so-much-school-bu.php&gt;.
2. Chua, Yvonne T.  “Robbed: An Investigation of Corruption in the Philippine Education.” 1999. 6 March 2012. <http://pcij.org/bookshop/robbed.html&gt;.
3. Department of Education. (2010, October 5). Discussion Paper on the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program. DepEd discussion paper.
4. Luz, Juan Miguel.  “THE CHALLENGE OF GOVERNANCE IN A LARGE BUREAUCRACY (DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION): Linking governance to performance in an under -performing sector”.  PHDR ISSUE: 2008/2009 NO. 1.
5. Pressman, J. & Wildavsky, A.  “Implementation: How Great Expectations in Washington are Dashed in Oakland.”  University of California Press. 1984.
6. Tabora, Fr. Joel S.J.  “Proposed Bill Implementing K+12 as approved by key COCOPEA Committees.”  18 January 2011.  6 March 2012.  <http://taborasj.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/proposed-bill-implementing-k12-as-ap…&gt;.

The First Grader

The true story of an 84 year-old Kenyan villager and ex Mau Mau freedom fighter who fights for his right to go to school for the first time to get the education he could never afford.

Director:  Justin Chadwick

Writer:  Ann Peacock

Stars:  Naomie Harris, Sam Feuer and Tony Kgoroge

Lego Museum

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While searching for pictures, I found out these old pictures which will somehow be helpful for the next field trip, to the Lego Museum.

Last October 2010, out of disappointment for not being allowed to take pictures in the National Museum, me and my sister just walked around and took pictures outside the museum.  What a blessing in disguise when we found out a hidden Lego Museum just beside the National Museum.  And it was for free to take pictures inside.  There was an area for kids where they can play with Lego blocks and build objects.  Kids will surely enjoy learning there.

It seemed that the museum has been supported by Lego.  I just hope that there will also be Lego Mindstorm exhibit and eventually have a competition which will surely be fascinating not only to kids but to adults as well.   Lego Mindstorm has been used productively in Asia for 7 years.  Isn’t it a good marketing strategy for Lego Mindstorm to sponsor an exhibit in the Lego Museum?  I’ll just keep my fingers crossed.