Fetalvero: Priority factor

“WHAT goes up must come down” is an adage but it is very applicable to the Philippine scenario.

How are we supposed to reconcile high unemployment rate and jobs that are available, which our graduates are unable to fill? Even if the government keeps reporting a decrease in unemployment rate, the decrease is insignificant considering the number of jobless Filipinos who are in fact college graduates, if not holders of high school diplomas.

We have to take note that some domestic helpers and caregivers working abroad are holders of bachelor's degrees. What does that say of our competitiveness? There are physicians who migrate abroad who are unable to pass the licensing exams in the United States. Failing that, they work as nurses—and there are nurses working as caregivers.

Given this information, I think there is a need to upgrade our quality of education.

I used to admonish my son, who was then a fresh graduate of computer engineering, when he was seeking for a job: “If you cannot make it in the Philippines, you cannot make it abroad.” This admonition must have pushed him to learn more about the trade. My son is now gainfully employed abroad and earning well.

No matter how often we conduct job fairs, only a percentage of applicants are able to get a job. The overlying reason is a significant relation between the overflow of graduates and our population explosion. The primary factor to contend with is our quality of education and the operation of diploma mills.

In this age of competition, I am sorry to receive reports that diplomas can be bought if the price is right. We are unable to compete with our Asian neighbors because of the lack of proper nutrition. The situation is compounded by the fact that there are pupils who go to school on empty stomachs.

The Aquino administration believes the K-12 educational program, which is aimed to enhance the quality of education, will resolve some of the issues of unemployment.

To implement this program, the government will need P60 billion. Education Secretary Armin Luistro said: ”It is not a matter of lack of budget; it is a matter of prioritizing education in the national budget.”