KABATAAN Party-list Representative Raoul Manuel reminded his colleagues in the House of Representatives that education quality is not dependent on years in school but in instruction, facilities and budget.

The lawmaker said that basing students’ competitiveness on the numbers of years they spend in school is limiting.

“Hindi nakasalalay ang de kalidad na edukasyon sa haba ng required na taon. Kung di mapapatunayan na may ambag ang Senior High School sa kalidad at sa kahandaan ng high school graduates papuntang college o trabaho, mainam nang ibasura ito para di na mapahirapan, mapagkakitaan, mapaasa at mapag-eksperimentuhan pa ang kabataang Pilipino,” Manuel said.

“Right now 13 years ang compulsory sa atin. Pero sa ibang bansa, mayroong 12 years or below pa nga ang compulsory for basic education,” he added.

During the technical working group meeting, resource persons pointed out problems in the K to 12 program and the entire education system, including teaching load and class size.

“Ang mas bigyan nating pansin ay paano ang pondo para sa mas maraming classroom at teachers na maha-hire. Para sa training din ng ating mga guro at maayos na pasahod,” Manuel said.

“Kailangan ng curriculum na nakatuon sa pangangailangan ng bawat Pilipino at pambansang pag-unlad, hindi sa standards at interes ng dayuhan at malalaking kumpanya. It’s not all about making sure graduates are readily employable, but ensuring they are critical and active citizens,” he further said.