Education
From The Report: The Philippines 2017
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The Philippines has embarked on education reforms that it considers crucial to its economic development, bringing its school system into line with international standards and seeking to open up its higher education sector to more people, while supporting research and development activities that will raise its academic profile and bring lasting benefits to the country. The government had to overcome substantial opposition to introduce a K-12 structure, a sign of its determination to bring lasting change, but sustained funding to support the increased demand on resources will be crucial if these bold reforms are to be a success.

This chapter contains an interview with Jikyeong Kang, President and Dean, Asian Institute of Management.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

A thorough examination: Substantial reform has brought with it a variety of challenges
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The Philippine education system has evolved over hundreds of years of colonial occupation, first by Spain and then by the US, through martial law and the people’s power revolution that brought democracy to the sprawling archipelago. The education sector’s development has mirrored the changes in the country’s administration. Today the focus is on expanding access and ensuring more Filipinos receive a decent basic education, as a means of reducing poverty and improving national competitiveness.…

Interview

Accreditation where it’s due: Jikyeong Kang, President and Dean, Asian Institute of Management (AIM), on higher education, the economy and ASEAN integration
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Interview: Jikyeong Kang How can an accreditation system help strengthen the quality of higher education in the Philippines? JIKYEONG KANG: In the Philippines, the transition period from K-12 to higher education is crucial for ensuring that students are prepared for college. Only so much can be taught at the higher education level unless incoming students are prepared for academic life. As a country, accreditations have not been widely embraced. Accreditations are not meant to be bureaucratic…

Analysis

Quantum leap: The country has extended compulsory schooling by two years
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As the most far-reaching reform of the Philippine education system in decades, the introduction of K-12 was highly controversial. Opposition to extending compulsory schooling by two years was triggered by concerns about whether the infrastructure could cope, whether there were enough teachers and what the impact would be on private colleges. Government Commitment At the government-convened Education Summit in November 2016, the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), Leonor Briones,…

Analysis

Practical magic: Equipping young people with workplace skills is a high priority
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The changes taking place across the education sector are designed to better equip Filipinos for jobs that require critical thinking skills and an understanding of technology. There is also a pressing need to address the country’s skills gap, with graduates often left either unemployed or underemployed, and industries unable to find the workers they need to operate effectively. A Crucial Role The government has taken its cue from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the fourth of…