Equity and Excellence

Aloha my colleagues!

 My friends from the Philippines were very excited to hear about our blog exchange. They were very curious to know if the information they have given me were very helpful in our course. I told them that I am thankful and very fortunate to have them as resource persons. They gave the website where I can find additional information and updates on the Philippines’ educational system because they will be very busy in the coming weeks because their schools have lots of program for the fall.

Last time, I have mentioned the implementation of the universal kindergarten in the Philippines and the dilemma that they are facing due to the lack of classroom and teachers in early childhood. The intention is positive because they want equity and excellence in education no matter what the status of the people. They want early childhood curriculum be accessible not just for the wealthy and middle class family but even to the poorest community. The concerns are the following: need to build schools and educate and train teachers in the field of early childhood field. The main goal of this program is to improve the quality of education for young children which will help them in the future. They also believed that education is the key to solve the problems of poverty in the country by helping children prepare for primary grade school and compete in the global market.

 This week I saw some positive news about some communities helping out to build classroom and or use of their facilities to accommodate these children. One of the non-governmental organizations that offer help to the program is the Gawad Kalinga.  Gawad Kalinga’s foundation was laid on December 26, 1995 the Catholic community Couples for Christ gave birth to GK which was held for Youth Camp for gang members and juvenile delinquents in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, the largest slum area in the Philippines. The said program was organized by CFC – Youth for Christ.

In 1999, the first GK house was built for the Adduru family, also from Bagong Silang.^[2] The name "Gawad Kalinga", which translates in the Filipino language either as "to give care" or "to award care", was coined in 2000. The GK Child and Youth Development program aims to develop the skills and talents of the children and youth in the GK communities by inculcating values that bring out their full potential. SIBOL, which means “to grow,” provides value-based education to pre-school children, aged 3 to 6 years old. SAGIP, which means “to save a life”, is a support program for children aged 7 to 13 years old, which consists of free academic tutorials, sports and creative workshops and values formation classes. SIGA, which means “to light”, empowers teens to become productive citizens through sports, creative activities and mentoring sessions.

As part of their commitment to help families and children of poor communities to have access to quality life and education, they offer to build schools and use 300 of their facilities to use as school for children ages 3 to 5 year old. This is in support of the universal kindergarten program of the government. These facilities may not be enough but at least it will be able to cater to children in these communities. It will take time for the Philippines to meet equity and excellence in education in the Philippines but a small step will make a lot of difference. I just hope that they will continue to support the field of early childhood education and make laws that will help families and children have access to quality education in order to make their life better in the future.

Other countries look up to America on programs that promote equity and achieve overall quality yet these answers are found in other countries. We have the answers but it will be up to us to continue to advocate and let our legislature know the importance of early childhood programs in the lives of our children and their future.

                                                                                                                

Unless we reconceptualize American early childhood education research and policy and unless we counter centuries of history to create an early childhood system for all children, our strategies, as promising as they appear, will perpetuate, not prevent, inequity and inequality. America owes its children, and the world, far better (Kagan, 2009).

Reference:

http://www.deped.gov.ph/updates/default.asp

Kagan, S. L. (2009). American early childhood education: Preventing or perpetuating inequity? (Equity Matters: Research Review No. 3). Retrieved from Campaign for Educational Equity website: http://www.equitycampaign.org/i/a/document/9833_EquityMatters_Kagan_Final.pdf
"American Early Childhood Education: Preventing or Perpetuating Inequity?" by S.L. Kagan. Copyright 2009 by Campaign for Educational Equity. Equity Matters: Research Review No.3, Victoria University of Technology, Equity and Social Justice Branch. Reprinted by permission of CAL, COPYRIGHT AGENCY LIMITED via the Copyright Clearance Center. http://www.equitycampaign.org/i/a/document/9833_EquityMatters_Kagan_Final.pd

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gawad_Kalinga