Education as a significant Socio-economic demographic factor

Education, in general, is a key factor to economic growth and development

of a country, particularly equitable access to education of good quality has become
a crucial objective of development policy (Porta et al., 2011). It is a key to liberate
people from poverty and enable them to fully utilize their human faculties to
contribute most effectively to the economic and social development of society (PSA
Statistical Yearbook, 2018). In clarity, 2009 ADB report on Poverty in the
Philippines: causes, constraints, and opportunities, the key findings delineate that
in developing countries specifically like Philippines where poverty is a big
challenge, poverty incidence is correlated with the educational attainment of the
household in which access to education is a key pathway out of poverty. It is not
only perceived that access to education can bring people into greater future, but
the essence of complete and quality education is more significant. Particularly, it
shows that human poverty index (HDI) for developing countries measures the
proportion of people below a specified threshold in dimensions of human
development through access to education as resulted to a decent standard of
living.

Education has been one of the major sectors that continuously focusing on
by the government through reforms and policy changes. Whereas, education
reforms, policies and programs have been primarily geared toward providing
access to education for all which in the 2013 study of Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development noting the structural policy changes in the
Philippines, one of the Philippines’ medium-term policy challenges is improvement
to quality education and training where since 2013 most of the public spending
has been directed to education in order to increase human and physical capital
investment (The World Bank, Philippines Economic Update: Investing In The
Future, 2018). Over the years, the government is making efforts to realign its
budget to appropriate with Education in which proposed budgets were increased.
Whereas, in 2017, allocations for the Department of Education were increased by
25%, making education the largest item on the national budget. In 2018,
allocations for education reached P533.31 billion (US$10.26 billion), or 24% of all
government expenditures — the second largest item on the national budget. The
higher education budget, likewise, was increased by almost 45% between 2016
and 2017 (BusinessWorld, 2019). Particularly in the recent PSA Statistical
Yearbook, it shows that the appropriated budget on educational system on the
three prongs such as on primary, secondary and higher education are unceasingly
increasing in order to uphold the reforms and policy changes.
PSA Statistical Yearbook, 2018

However, despite of government efforts on this significant matter of

education, improving the access to education and enhancing quality of education
are still one of the most important challenge in the Philippines. The root cause of
this is still the socio-economic challenges and constraints that impeding students
to obtain the wide education programs implemented. One of the setbacks is the
financial problem which is considered as divulging issue why most of the Filipino
students have difficulty to enter and complete higher education. Specifically, may
underprivileged youths cannot afford to start or finish their college degree. In the
recent survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, it shows that the enrolment
rate of AY 2016-2017 decreased from AY 2015-2016. This cause number of
students to dropout or stop for couple of semesters in which another data from
Philippine Statistics shows that there are 3.6 million out of school youth in 2017.
This clearly shows that poverty keeps these youth from accessing a good
education.

With the given data, it can also be concluded that as the population
continues to grow and likewise government spending on education will get
increased or restricted in terms of budget appropriations, it will affect the poverty
index which people will still stock into poverty line. More so, it outlay on the idea
that lack of access to education specifically getting a degree perpetuates poverty.
Hence, it can be concluded that lack of Higher education perpetuates poverty. To
emphasize, the issue here is how higher education will be an effective engine to
economic mobility specially for the poor.

One of the most notable milestones in the Philippine education is that the
government actively seeks to expand access and participation in higher
education and, even more importantly, tries to improve the quality of education
(Business Mirror, 2018). Recently, R.A 10931 or also known as Universal Access to
Quality Tertiary Education Act was signed by President Duterte that aimed to give
a more accessible education to Filipino students specially to those underprivilege
because of scarcity of resources and money. It opens a door of great opportunity
for all desiring youth, especially for the poorest of the poor to get and complete
higher education. This is a great educational platform passed as this not only
provide and cater students to lead them in their future but promote and uphold
the very essence of our Constitution which is providing all citizens to quality
education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education
accessible to all (Art XIV Section 1).

R.A 10931 as key educational platform

This law provides a gateway to Filipino student but with strict limitations in
order to implement this equally and in equity. Specifically, equally and equity in a
sense that there are set of guidelines implemented by the Unified Student Financial
Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Board also signed on Monday.
Hence, education would be maintained and supported as well as it would be a free
entrance to every deserving young individuals who is dreaming of a bright future.

In drafting this law, the lawmakers had been a rational policymakers as they
clearly identified a challenging issue of education and formulated a visible goals
which caters the deserving audience or stakeholders of this law. Particularly, it
visualize the goals and declared state policies towards Education.

First is to establish a maintain a system of scholarship grants, student loan

programs, subsidies, and other incentives which shall be available to deserving
students in both public and private schools, especially to the underprivileged (Art
XIV Sec 1 (3)). In relation with the law, its provision states that all Filipinos citizens
have free higher education in the SUCs and LUCs. In this sense, more students
would be encouraged to go to college and allow them to focus on their education
without any worry of huge finances. In addition the law itself is a Student Loan
Program for Tertiary Education in which would help parents to reduce amount of
debts from loans because most of the Filipino families with children studying are
holding their finances from loan shark or other type of loans making them run out
of debt. Thus is a win-win solution both for the government in assuring accessible
education and the parents in mitigating and reducing their costs of finances.

Second, the State also encourage non-formal, informal, and indigenous

learning systems, as well as self-learning, independent and out-of-school study
programs particularly that respond to community needs and provide adult citizens,
the disabled, and out-of-school youth with training in civics, vocational efficiency,
and other skills. In relation with provision of the law, it also provides a skilled type
of education through technical-vocational education and training in which would
help students with fewer opportunities to pursue relevant information on the path
they desire and passionate about particularly on whether on the academe or formal
education or on the technical side. Thus, it would lead them to new levels of
innovation that could change the country or the world.

Lastly, as both the State and the law pursue an accessible and free education
to every Filipino, it would help open opportunities to not only those lower to middle
income sector but to those marginalized sector (indigenous community) who have
disparity and unequal educational system because of the environmental and
financial constraints. Education for all would be equalized and lead marginalized
sector to contribute to the systemic change of the country through the power of
education.

Hence, the intent of the law is not just only providing accessible and free
education to deserving students but as well it is a platform in mitigating the causes
of poverty. Indeed, higher education is an effective engine of social and economic
mobility to all status from lower, middle and even higher class. A more diversified
and equipped young individuals will be produced and would be significant leaders
that could help to stabilize economic status in terms of their contribution in tax
revenues and positive wealth accumulation. Furthermore, if all young individuals
would be able to get a quality education, obtain a college diploma and get a stable
job, income generation would increase, underemployment and unemployment
would decrease and crimes would reduce which all of these factors will have a
great impact on social and economic mobility of the country.

Reference:

Asian Development Bank. 2009. Poverty in the Philippines: causes, constraints,

and opportunities. Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Business World. 2019. Education reform and the Philippine economy. Retrieved
from https://www.bworldonline.com/education-reform-and-the-philippine-
economy/
Business Mirror. 2018. Philippine Education System in 2018: Are We Moving
Forward?. Retrieved from https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/09/02/philippine-
education-system-in-2018-are-we-moving-forward/
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2013. Structural Policy
Notes Philippines
Philippine Statistical Yearbook. 2018
1987 Constitution
Republic Act No. 10931 retrieved from
https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2017/ra_10931_2017.html
Porta, et. 2011. Assessing Sector Performance and Inequality in Education.
Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1596/9780821384589_CH05

The World Bank. 2018. Philippines Economic Update: Investing in the Future.
Retrieved from
http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/280741523838376587/Philippines-Economic-
Update-April-15-2018