Where education should be focused - a proposal
Written on Sunday, October 5th, 2008 at 7:47 am | by benign0A while back, The Jester in Exile issued out a call to revamp education system of the Philippines. When a call such as this is issued out, what usually separates the men from the boys (or the truly insightful from the Madcats 
) is the ability to actually come up with a proposal.
Interestingly enough, I happened to stumble upon this gem taken from a slideshow I built way back that aimed to give my site’s visitors an easy walkthru about what “getrealism” is all about:
Though the above was originally intended — true to my usual form — to illustrate in living colour the intricate structural elegance of the lattice of dysfunction that underpins our inability to prosper in the last 100 years, it also provides a brilliant roadmap for where our efforts to radically change the toilet fodder that our system of upbringing pumps into the minds of the Filipino Youth should be focused.
The following outlines the details behind the framework (which could also be found if the slideshow is followed). Note that each smiley corresponds to a slide.
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Resolve emanates from a clear understanding of what is and what needs to be done.
Insight. Filipinos cannot grasp fundamental principles that underpin the ability to achieve most of their aspirations – freedom, democracy, and prosperity.
Foresight. Filipinos don’t anticipate. They react. They don’t lay the groundwork for the future. They’d rather hack their way through the jungle of what is to be.
Vision. Filipinos are not dreamers. They cannot see a place for the Philippines in the world order beyond its role as a resource pool for warm bodies.
Confidence flows from recognising that one possesses the means to achieve.
Innovation. Filipinos will do the same thing again and again while continuously expecting different results. A perfect recipe for the no-results society we see today.
Enterprise. Filipinos cannot harvest the commercial value of the few great ideas they come up with. They have picked their low-hanging resources clean and are hopeless at capitalising on their remaining – but dwindling – natural assets.
Commitment. Filipinos are great at starting things but utterly lack follow-through. This trait is so well-recognised that it has been encapsulated in a well-known Tagalog phrase – ningas cogon.
Consistency is exhibited when discipline and rigour is practiced.
Language. Filipinos are becoming less and less proficient at the only language that unites them – English. Tagalog has proven to be a victim of its own history and an intellectual dead-end.
Structure. The only kind of robust structure that characterises Filipino society is its rigid social class hierarchy and the omnipresent tyranny of Catholic dogma. Chaos is the Filipino’s comfort zone.
Quality. Pwede na yan (“that’ll do”) is the mantra of Filipino design undertaking. A lack of investment in systems thinking results in chronically inconsistent and unreliable results in most Filipino operations.
=======
And the bottom line is this:
Time is running out. Competition is way ahead and widening the gap. The Philippines is turning into a low-added-value human cesspool with every year that passes that sees another 2 million Filipinos added to humanity.
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and so where should education be focused, then?
No, really: what’s the education proposal again??
I can’t find it in your Powerpoint PsychoBabble…
Tsk tsk.
It’s a framework guys. It’s a basis for the focus. The weaknesses are shown which therefore implies the focus.
fine.
(i was hoping for the action plan, though. heh heh.)
Yeah, instead of discussing implementing rules and regulations a framework is needed.
Without framework,all we get are laundry lists,Oh Wish lists are the in thing nowadays.
going back to the framework.
so you have the problem statement,but the problems were based from your framework.
isn’t it that in all situations you should know what the problem is, then have a framework or models that can address the problem. usually the problem statement comes after a backgrounder.
What I see here is a not just framework but also a scorecard to see if we pass each criteria.
metrics and measuring the capacity of anything is fine, but what if the scorecard lacks a vital metric that is overlooked the you discover that the metric is so vital that would make past results go to the garbage bin. I am not saying that your scorecard above needs another metric.
So I humbly suggest that before coming up with a map, circumnavigate first like the rest of the explorers.
Maybe you did just that,but it was not presented that way.
I can’t find the proposal.
Are the rest of the slides missing. Upload now so we can read.
benigno,
see benigno, even the brightest minds can not understand your gobbledygook.
i had the same observation when i saw this in your website long time ago.
so when i said that you are an abstract painter with your graphs, slideshows and a wannabe analysis, i was not kidding…i was insulting you. mwehehe
benign0,
Sure not all has heard about getrealism,but for some of us who did, allow me to give a constructive criticism of getrealism,unlike before all I can come up with are ad hominems(as you said yourself).
You presented a backgrounder full of flaws then come up with a conceptual framework, man a conceptual framework is not a proposal, the proposal lies in your thesis, and your thesis came after the so called weaknesses to focus on to turn into strengths and your thesis is we failed in everything as a society and there is no time left so better hurry up and focus on those weaknesses and turn them into strengths.
The thing is you completely ignored the cliche that there are two sides in a coin. Your backgrounder was full of flaws and none of the inherent strengths.
For example in boxing,we a have a boxer who unknown to many has a strong left handed punch,if we follow your getrealism mantra that boxer will be presented as a boxer with no righthand strength ,instead of a boxer with a powerful left hand.
so you just presented to them the boxer’s weakness without presenting his inherent strength. so you come up by grading him by giving him a failing marks on right hook right straight,right hand uppercut and right hand jab and then prescribe to that boxer that he must strenghthen them or else he will end up as a nobody or just an ordinary schmoe.
We completely ignored that he already has inherent strength like a strong and powerful left hand,with that prescription he will completely unlearn his strenghts and force the issue on his inherent weakness. Instead of producing a complete boxer who can do combinations he could end up as a mediocre boxer.
If it is really getrealism,then the backgrounder will include the inherent stengths,not just the flaws to come up with all the strenghths to improve on and sustain rather than just having weaknesses to improve on.
So that is my take on getrealism.
maybe its time for getrealism to have a paradigm shift to the real getrealism.
Now what about our education where do we focus on,what strong points do we need to improve on and sustain,aside from the weakpoints you mentioned?
anyways, i have a proposal
1. Cut classroom numbers to 35 students per class.
How can we fund this? Can we take off 20% from the Pork Barrel and add it to the nationale education budget primarily for the salaries of teachers? There is a big disparity in primary education quality across da pelepens…
i believe the teacher-student ratio is important…more important than having computers in the classroom.
benigno,
too bad, all commenters here do not possess ” the details behind the framework ”
if we help you come up with the idea, who is going to implement? our politicians? or this will be your lonely journey? do we have money? nothing is for free. those details behind the framework are the results of poor governance not the other way around. i will suggest to take this “details behind the framework” to Department of Education to remind them of the negative results- ”
This department has failed not the people.
the people have suffered enough. they don’t need to hear those “details behind the framework”.
but i do admire you for bringing it up.
Sure, Ms. Madcat. But that might simply mean that these brightest minds may not be as bright as you thought they were after all. And besides, any schmoe can easily dismiss things they do not understand as “gobbledygook” or “psycho-babble”.
Karl, first of all, you say my “backgrounder” (whatever that may be in your mind) is full of “flaws”. What then are these flaws? I don’t think it is wise to build a judgment of my framework around a claim that these “flaws” exist without you describing the nature of said “flaws” first.
Second, referring to your two-sides-to-a-coin “cliche” you could have, instead of using that boxer example, showed us examples of these “strengths” that you imagine Pinoys to collectively possess. If you say I am a glass-is-half-empty kinda guy, then by all means, demonstrate to us a glass-is-half-full framework to challenge in precise and structured terms the glass-is-half-empty framework that I present here. You say I am unfair in presenting a picture of Da Pinoy in an overly negative light, then why don’t you come to the rescue and present the positive light then (that is of course if such a positive light exists as far as Pinoys are concerned).
Third, the framework I show here implies this:
Filipinos lack the virtues of resolve, confidence, and consistency (which I further detail in three points for each of these virtues). Therefore I propose that we aim to see the products of our hypothetical education system be as having a more robust upbringing around these.
I’ll be the first to say that coming up with some examples of Pinoy “strengths” is a MONUMENTAL headscratcher for me. So why don’t you help me out here so that you and I can achieve this “paradigm shift to the real getrealism” that you say it is time for.
Up to the challenge?
leytenian, yes it’s too bad indeed — a failure in lateral thinking and a continued validation of our intellectual bankruptcy conjecture of Pinoy society.
There are some logistical suggestions like thenashman’s student-to-teacher ratio thing. But as to the content and substance behind our education system, I believe — even if I do say so myself — that mine is the only coherent framework I know of to start with.
In case you haven’t noticed, using systemic-, framework-based approaches is, in fact, a lonely business in a world where one-dimensional thinking is the popular choice. In this regard I agree with Karl’s observation that wish-list style solutioneering is the thing not only nowadays, but over the last 50 years of Pinoy history.
benigno,
you have the best framework. i think we need to take this framework to local government leaders also. to follow up education at the lowest possible level- to remind them that time running is out. the negative results is paralyzing the system. this needs teamwork from our leaders. i think you can educate our leaders thru seminars and continuing education.
more power…you will not be alone.. i’m here with humor.
The generalizations about Filipinos are so general as to be meaningless at best, and racist drivel at worst. Even applied to the half million teachers and bureaucrats that make up DepEd, this is a framework of logical fiddlesticks. Enough of the self-loathing already, Benign0. Nothing personal, but readers will think you’ve got a problem with self-esteem that you are projecting to the entire Filipino people. Shame on you!
…but shouldn’t we all aspire to be like benigno who has found the resolve, confidence, and consistency that the rest of us filipinos lack?
i want to know more how benigno despite being the product of this dysfunctional filipino upbringing managed to become so enlightened. we get the powerpoint, and the philosophical ek-ek, now what actions do we need to do? please save us oh enlightened one.
“where’s the beef?”
I will agree with KG on this.
Benign0, for all the supposed intellect put forward, fails .
In the framework presentation, its really one-sided. If its a S-W-O-T, where are the Filipinos’ strengths? Surely, it couldn’t be all weaknesses. No people couldn’t be such losers(?) as the author would want as to believe.
I would have believed you if you were still in the Philippines calling th shots in the ground. But no, you’re in the comfort of a foreign country, trying to matter in the land you have decided to leave. Really, you are really much more of a loser.
You’re a trying hard loser!!! Get real yourself.
Here’s what we have so far:
DJB “so general as to be meaningless at best”. Nice. And to boot, a bit of his own psycho-babble as well: “readers will think you’ve got a problem with self-esteem that you are projecting to the entire Filipino people”.
But of course I do.
Philman takes issue about my being abroad: “you’re in the comfort of a foreign country, trying to matter in the land you have decided to leave”. Now that is an original one.
And wait, here’s an even more insightful one: Apparently I’m a “trying hard loser” and that I should “Get real” myself.
Classy.
Yet here’s the thing. The framework is indeed “one-sided”.
But the question is this:
Why can’t anybody here come up with the other side?
Maybe it’s about time a bit of this brilliance that FV has supposedly become “famous” for should be exhibited?
benigs,
the other side , the positive side are civilized filipinos who don’t dwell with the negative sides but understand the consequences of the actions of our leaders. that’s why for me, your framework is brilliant to be forwarded to the Department of Education. The department should start from your framework. People paid them salary to perform their jobs as public servants. Let them eat your cake.
“Up to the challenge?”
btw ;what I meant by backgrounder are the first few slides of your slideshow.
FV contributors, I need help on this,but I will give it my best shot.But if it would topsy turvy,we could correct it. This would be a work in progress.
Filipinos lack RESOLVE.(a work in progress)
= have to agree,that every new year,same resolution. to solve this commitment is not enough,distractions must also be removed.
They must Know when to begin and where to go.
Individually this is done by having a dream,ambitions like promising to there parents. that they will finish school and will try my best to be the best doctor in the world.
Collectively Filipinos, should learn that there is nothing wrong with being called ambisyoso at ambisyosa. Filipinos should learn that having an opinion is not wrong as long as it is not the kwentong barbero at kwentong inuman type.If they want their opinion to matter;writing columnists,and calling radio announcers and even blogging is not enough. We should begin writing our mayors,our congressmen,our senators,and even our president.
On lack of foresight, we should be active in questioning our policy makers, what is there way of ensuring the best for us. If it is military policies, we should ask them what there policy is if it is counter insurgency ,internal security or external threats.If it is about monetary policies we should ask the monetary board to explain their gobbledygook to the ordinary citizen.
This can happen by attending congressional hearings ,etc. just to keep us in the loop.
We should not just rely on media and our policy makers.
I am for active involvement of citizens.
For the confidence and consistency.
If you are a person and agroup of persons with resolve you can be sure to complete the task and continue by routinely checking on its progress.
Benign0 kindly check on what I did… and guys, the challenge is not just for me, lets continue this as we travel along and voice out the Filipino Voices.
Sorry for the wrong grammar and sentence construction and of course my wrong spelling.
minadali ko eh.
through the years i thought benign0 is such a cocky and arrogant guy.
I started thinking positively about him,he is not so bad afterall, and when he says pinoy he includes himself,unless when it comes to vacuity, he always says he has a brilliant insight,which is already written and its inside a time capsule burried in GetrealPhilippines.(joke only)but he is not that bad ,and he does not have the monopoly of pretending to be arrogant,sometimes pag na pinch ang nerve natin,we could even show more arrogance.
Leytenian sez:
“The department should start from your framework. People paid them salary to perform their jobs as public servants. Let them eat your cake.”
Have you ever attended any sort of Deped conference or seminar? Producing reams and oodles of these kind of frameworks, plans, analyses, strategy papers, is the central industry and enterprise of the half million strong bureaucracy of that department. There isn’t anything unique or even deep about this stuff. You could drown in this kind of stuff over there in Pasig and its regional branches.
It’s like that character in the Fili, a journalist named Ybanez, who kept folder upon folder of plans, frameworks, studies of all sorts of issues, problems and projects, which amounted to nothing because of sheer inapplicable generality, despite his narcissistic self-admiration for the brillance and wisdom of each.
Ybanez always saw things with the crystal clarity of his own mind, as being simple and obvious to him, but wondered why no one else ever did. He thought them all inferior human beings who could be improved if only they would listen to him and absorb his great intelligence and omniscience.
Oh in the El Filibusterismo, Ybanez is presented as the character, Ben Zayb, an anagram for his real name. Many Filipino character types are there as literary characters, already portrayed and psycho-analyzed by Jose Rizal in the 1880s. The novels were uncanny that way, you know..that we are all there in one recognizable form or another.
Karl, great effort. One should at least table a proposal. Everything for that matter is a work-in-progress. We’ve seen the outcome of doctrine that is pitched to people as de facto set in stone and “infallible”. It’s called religion.
You are spot on here:
I think the summary of what you say above is what I said before.
We are a society that finds comfort in mutually-assured mediocrity and frowns on — no, is threatened by — audacity.
DJB, the existence of frameworks that never get used does not necessarily mean said frameworks are of no use. Like most projects, failure lies in execution.
One cannot escape having to generalise. Otherwise you end up accounting for every trivial detail. That’s what happens when we take that one-dimensional wish-list approach that Karl mentioned a while ago.
It’s no surprise that the two societies that are extreme in their use of frameworks are among the most robust industrial powers on the planet — The Japanese and Germans. If anyone here has ever experienced working on an SAP implementation or regarded the elegant beauty of a Japanese industrial cluster, it becomes easy to appreciate the power of instances where design (frameworks/architecture) and execution (implementation) come together coherently.
Our system of jeepneys and public buses are a classic example of an execution that lacked a framework, among many other things.
And lest we forget, being world-class in our penchant for framework-less execution, we actually have an elegant two-word Tagalog phrase that just about encapsulates EVERYTHING I’ve written in this comment post:
Bahala na.
Ain’t it nice when things come together neatly?
I am not a contributor in FV, but as an observer and commenter,let me say that when the main proponent of FV was requesting for a vision statement , benign0 was the one of the first to step up the accelerator on the vision statement. Maybe just by being at Filipino Voices is Benign0’s way of saying he is still Filipino after all.(after all what is said and written).
More power to Filipino Voices!
bwahaha, it is time for you to stop copying and pasting articles about US politics to support your not original ideas …it is time for you to read more about Filipino culture and values so that you will realize that the framework you are recommending to be sent to the DepEd is plain and simple Filipino culture bashing…
covering only three of these filipino negative values….
Fatalistic
Crab mentality
Ningas kugon (procrastination)
Mañana habit
Always relying on padrinos
Hiya (shame)
People who talk about education system with focus on curricular offerings only are like a horse with blinders.
The educational system is made up of the following:
Curriculum
Teachers
Classroom Facilities
Books
And Politicians…
Yes politicians… the people who make money from commissions from overpriced
building schools in their districts/ regions on the strength of oodles of these framework-analyses-class-size-justification-
so-let-us-build-more-schools-and-name –them-after-my-wife-my-mother-my-father-do
-not-include-me-for-delicadeza- papers prepared by scholars/PhDs in the academe in exchange of certificates of appreciation to be included in their resumes for rank promotion purposes. Oops did I mention pork barrel?
Yes politicians who would migrate people to their district/ regions before election
causing increase in student population without corresponding increase in the school
facilities. Did I mention about mushrooming of squatters?
Yes politicians who make the public schools their employment agencies for unqualified teachers who get the plantilla not on the strength of their civil service eligibility but
because of strong recommendation of the politicians. Did I say padrino system?
Yes politicians whose relatives are engaged in some payday sort of providing loans-before-payday to teachers who received their checks late except for some regions where
the late senator Roco made it possible for teachers to get their salaries thru ATM.
Did I say subtle 5-6 operation?
Many of these politicians are also graduates of foreign universities.
Now let us work on revamping the education system. Where shall we begin?
And people who choose to focus on the politics may as well join the rest of the rabble.
Ms Madcat, with every word you speak you validate the assertions I make about Pinoys.
Pinoy politcians derive their power to turn everything into pulitika from people like you.
Typical.
Benigno,
Your college education did not improve your vocabulary and debating skills. the moment you are proven wrong you resort to namecalling. It’s good you haven’t call your back-ups and your other handles. mwehehe
Everyone is asking what is your proposal. For the sake of argument, am i right if i say that you are for the incorporation of a subject or subjects that would change the Filipino values from negative to positive?
A core curriculum is a part of the education system.
A subject is just a course unit in a core curriculum.
Compare education system to a tree, the course unit is just a leaf.
And we are talking about SYSTEM. We better change it to redesigning the core curriculum of the basic education system. Haven’t you heard about scope and delimitations, benigno?
I think no…because even your theoretical framework does not stand to one of the requirements for it to be a framework. WELL THOUGHT out and devoid of preconceived opinions… at least.
Arrows`in graphs express direction of influence, cause or result.
Your arrows do not fall on any of the three, that’s why I call your graphs abstract.
The Cat that you call mad is not even mad yet. Just laughing at your simple thoughts and dysfunctional framework. mwehehe
Tsk tsk, Madcat. Another comment that makes no sense at all.
Let’s see…
And there’s more!
I feel smarter already.
benign0,
okay, i really am missing out on the discussion.
i can’t quite see, exactly, how your program of action (proposal?) will be executed, but the above looks to me like the “scientific, nationalist, mass-based” anecdote i related in the call for ideas.
i’m looking for the how — say, for instance, some mention of the number of years, the curricula, entrance examinations, merit recognition, and whatnot; i think i can agree with you on the goals you’ve presented and as i understand them, but i want to know your proposal on how to get there.
The problem is that Benigno’s arguments are muddled: there is no metric for measuring lack of resolve or consistency. The same goes for nearly every argument he raises in his website.