Additional 2 years in school will be good for RP- NegOr solon
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 30, 2011 (PIA) --- The 12-year educational cycle, which adds two years to the current 10-year Philippine educational system and will be implemented in June 2012, will lead to graduates with mature, employable skills.
This was the opinion expressed by Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Pryde Henry Teves, who cited the country's 10-year educational cycle as one of the reasons why Filipino graduates have a hard time landing jobs here and abroad.
"When our high school students graduate, they can't get a job because they are still minors, they're too young. If that student applies for a job abroad as a skilled worker, the overseas employers require them to submit a college diploma, whereas for workers from countries on a 12-year educational cycle, a high school diploma will do.
Our graduates are at a disadvantage," stressed Teves.
In the K-12 education system unveiled by the Department of Education (DepEd), there will be six years in elementary school, four years in junior high and two years in senior high school.
The country's current education set-up sees 16-year old Filipinos graduating from only four years of high school.
With K-12, Filipino students will graduate from high school at 18 years old, an age Teves said is "ripe enough" for them to secure jobs here and overseas.
Under the new educational cycle, explained Teves, once students reach junior high, they will take an examination to determine if they are prepared for college.
Those who qualify will take preparatory subjects for college which will be credited once they enroll in college, while those who don't will undergo vocational, specialized subjects to be administered for free by the government's Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
This set-up, he said, will make sure that schools will produce quality and skilled college graduates. "We will be strict; only those who are ready for college should go to college while those who aren't can take up two years of vocational study with TESDA."
The lawmaker stressed that it's high time for the Philippines to follow the footsteps of the more successful and progressive countries such as USA, Japan, Australia and UK, which have long been implementing the 12-year educational system.
Philippines is one of the three remaining countries worldwide and the only country in Asia that is not implementing the K-12 cycle. The other two countries are Angola and Djoubouti, a country bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea in Eastern Africa.
During his announcement of the new educational system, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the additional two years of senior high school intend to provide time for stuents to consolidate acquired academic skills and competencies while lifing the quality of Philippine education. (RMN/PIA-7 Negros Oriental)
OFWs’ death verdict draws various views in NegOr
By: Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Mar 30 (PIA) The death sentence of the three Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in China convicted for smuggling drugs elicited various reactions from local personalities in Negros Oriental.
According to Provincial Drug Abuse Prevention Council Action Officer Fernando Martinez, he rather impose the life sentence to drug convicts, however, China’s law is harsh but it is the law and this intends to deter the illegal drug syndicates in the country.
The three Filipinos are executed today (March 30) in accordance with Chinese lawsas to deter such crimes. However, last-ditch effort was made by the Philippine government to appeal to the Chinese government to commute the death sentence.
Provincial Director Col Rey Lyndon Lawas of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the cases of the three should serve as a reminder to Filipino people that drug trafficking carries a harsh punishment and in China trafficking illegal drugs is a capital offense.
“It is a pity for our OFWs if they were innocent of the crimes, but if they knew they are bringing illegal drugs, they should accept the punishment or the consequence as they want it,” Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Felix Sy said.
Col Lawas once again warned the public or the families those who have relatives and friends of OFWs and those planning to travel abroad to be extra careful and be vigilant on luggage being requested by persons to be brought outside the country in order not to meet the same fate suffered by Sally Ordinario- Villanueva, Elisabeth Batain and Ramon Credo in China.
The lady anchor of DYWC Radyo Bandilyo and president of Dumaguete Press and Radio Club Indira Requiron said it is heartbreaking that the execution is happening to our OFWs inspite of the last ditch effort of the government to postpone it, the Chinese government is firm in its decision.
However, this situation serves as a lesson to Filipinos and the people have to respect China’s rule. There is an urgent need for us to combat this drug menace, Requiron said.
For his part, Provincial Coordinator Wilfredo Magallano of NAMFREL said today is a sad day for Filipinos, it’s poverty at home that brought them there, referring to the three OFWs.
Magallano added that accusations can not be truly be certain if it’s true or not, but “as a nation let us pray for them and their families and hope none of this sort will happen again.” (PIA NegOr/JCT)