RP NEEDS TO REORIENT THE THRUSTS OF ITS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
To meet the growing needs and demands of a highly competitive world market

Given the rapid changes and developments in the field of information technology and emergence of knowledge-based society Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that there is a need to institute a comprehensive and sustainable modernization program for all public elementary and secondary schools to improve effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of basic education.

"The era of globalization has placed extreme pressure on our government to produce highly specialized and technical personnel in a relatively short period of time. Given the rapid changes and developments in the field of information technology and emergence of knowledge-based society, the Philippines has to reorient the thrusts of its educational system to meet the growing needs and demands of a highly competitive world market," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

He added, "To achieve this arduous task, there is a need to formulate a viable, comprehensive and sustainable long-term modernization plan for schools primarily at the elementary and secondary levels."

Angara, former chairman of the Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM), said that students in public schools have been left behind by their counterparts in the private schools.

"Given the scarce resources of the national government, there is a need to be more cost-effective and innovative in our approach to finance school modernization programs. This can be achieved through active partnership with local government units and private sector such as foundations private corporations and business groups," said Angara.

He then outlined the objectives of the School Modernization and Innovation bill:

a) Provide a broad framework for the institutionalization of a comprehensive and sustainable modernization program for the public schools;

b) Encourage the schools to become more innovative and resourceful in developing and implementing programs geared towards modernization;

c) Develop mechanisms that will define the roles and responsibilities of the officials from the regional, division down to the school levels in the implementation of school modernization programs;

d) Provide mechanism on how the private sector can participate in the program;

e) Define regional and school modernization plans responsive to the needs of the students in the area.

SB 915 also seeks to establish the School Modernization and Innovation Trust Fund which will augment the regular appropriations that will be provided under the annual General Appropriations Act to finance the priority programs for school modernization and improvement of public elementary and secondary schools.

"This is the most opportune time for the government to seriously consider ways of increasing the share of budget devoted to computerization of schools, upgrading of libraries and science laboratories. Moreover the application of information technology in classroom instruction would increase efficiency in teaching and learning process and enhance competencies of students," added Angara.