UP Ibalon Bicol: Students

Showing posts with label Students. Show all posts

UP Ibalon of yesteryears

11/10/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

"All photographs are there to remind us of what we forget. In this - as in other ways - they are the opposite of paintings. Paintings record what the painter remembers. Because each one of us forgets different things, a photo more than a painting may change its meaning according to who is looking at it." ---John Berger

Here are three faded photos that exactly tell what John Berger wants us to know. What meaning can you find in the young innocent faces which you barely recognize? Whether they are touched by the breeze in an exciting afternoon in a park or bathed with salty water of the sea or seen with other faces in a comfy chair of unity and togetherness. Ah! somewhere in our recollections, there are spritely days of UP Ibalon that excite the senses and edify the soul. =0=

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Labels: Bicolanos, fellowship, organization, pictures, Students, Totie Mesia, Unity, UP Ibalon

Shortened learning hours: an obstacle to education in RP's crowded schools

9/16/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

A setback in the thrust to improve teaching and make better students, the Department of Education (DepEd) was forced to cut down on the teaching hours for elementary students because of overcrowding and safety concerns. The revised program was an answer to the worrisome increase in the number of students that hadn't provided a good environment to learning.

Under the revised program, Grades 1 and 2 will have four hours; Grade 3--- four hours and 30 minutes, and Grades 4, 5, and 6---5 hours.

“Grades 1 and 2 pupils will have 90 minutes each for English and Filipino, Sibika at Kultura and 70 minutes each for mathematics for a total of 240 minutes on a daily basis. Grade 3 pupils will have 90 minutes for English, 70 minutes for Filipino, Sibika at Kultura, 70 minutes for math and 40 minutes for science for a total of 240 minutes. Grades 4, 5 and 6, they will have 60 minutes each for English, 40 minutes for Heograpiya, Kasaysayan at Sibika, 60 minutes for math, 60 minutes for science, 40 minutes for Filipino and 40 minutes for Edukasyon Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan for a total of 300 minutes for each grade.

To compensate for the revised program, Lapus said science and health will be integrated into the English subject for Grades 1 and 2 while Sibika and Kultura will be integrated into Filipino in Grades 1, 2I and 3. For Grades 4, 5 and 6, Musika, Sining at Edukasyong Pampalakas ng Katawan will be integrated into Heograpiya, Kasaysayan at Sibika while Edukasyong Pagpapakatao will be integrated into all subjects.” ---Jesli Lapus, Education Secretary. Daily Tribune (09/15/09, Faustino, J.)

Student-Class Ratio

Country-------------------Number of Students per Class
===============Elementary=========High School
Philippines------------43.9----------------------56.1
Thailand---------------22.9--------------------- 41,5
India--------------------40------------------------39
Malaysia--------------31.7-----------------------34
Japan------------------28.6----------------------33.9

Alhough Lapus assures that the quality of education will not suffer with the shortening of study hours, integrating subjects in a shortened hours of learning poses significant obstacle. This is more true when one sees the overpopulatinn in Philippine schools compared to those of its Asian neighbors. The crowding is worse in the high school than elementary as shown above.(Photo Credit: unesco.net.) =0=

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Labels: Department of Education, DepEd, Jesli Lapus, overpopulation, public school, safety, Students, Totie Mesia

DOH’s plan to spend P90 million for random drug testing

1/30/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

The Department of Health (DOH) plans to spend P90 million on random drug testing for high school and college students. Supposedly, the money is earmarked to develop manpower and laboratory resources for the test which is expected to give teeth to the fight against drugs in the country.

On the basis of trying to find out the prevalence of drug abuse the Commission of Higher Education (CHED,) DOH and its secretary Dr. Francisco Duque believe the testing is justified. They chorused it is needed in setting up strategies in controlling the problem as Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo steps up her campaign against illegal drugs.

According to Inquirer (01/29/09 Pazzibugan, D,) the test will be done in the next 7 to 9 months on 87,000 students from 8,750 high schools and 2,000 colleges nationwide. Based on past random drug testing, about 0.8% of 8,670 high school students and 0.5% of 7,499 college students tested positive for drugs. Notably, those who tested positive (majority use marijuana) aren’t a lot compared to many Filipinos who are sick and in need of urgent medical attention.

Does it mean that the government is willing to spend P1,034.48 for every student in order to track down about 696 students, the 0.8% who are expected to be positive in the test? If they find out who are positive, do the authorities have additional money to “treat & rehabilitate” them? Will the money for drug testing be better used for other serious health problems that involve a larger number of people who may need more medical attention----i.e. tuberculosis, malaria, dengue? Or can funds be used to improve the facilities of schools?

Why is testing being planned for the teachers and not for other professionals? Why doesn’t the government directly run after the drug dealers? How come only the students and teachers are being singled out to undergo the test? Why can’t they not include the regular workers, unemployed, drivers, military personnel etc.? What are the safeguards that medical information culled from the testing will be handled confidentially and not be used or abused for other purpose? Isn’t privacy violated and civil liberties invaded when this testing is done?

The above questions may help in deciding if the controversial drug testing plan is worthwhile to pursue. At this time of economic crisis, wise spending can go a long way in helping the neediest. If a law on drug testing is to be applied fairly, it must cover the entire population and not single out a particular group. Organizations like the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) have valid reasons to oppose the rationale and legality of this plan. (Photo Credit: Mooosh; Suntoksabwan; Latin Snake) =0=

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Labels: Alliance of Concerned Teachers, CHED, civil liberties, DOH, drug test, drug war, drugs, National Union of Students in the Philippines, NUSP, Students, Totie Mesia

UP Ibalon Bicol

UP Ibalon of yesteryears

Shortened learning hours: an obstacle to education in RP's crowded schools

DOH’s plan to spend P90 million for random drug testing

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