Raymond
Q. Datuon, MEM
New Perspective
The topic I have
discussed was close to my heart and not new to me. The historical and legal
foundations of education are very interesting but this time to create a paradigm
in presenting the topic has tremendously added more color. The said task has
challenged me to come up with an outline paradigm showing the four major
institutions that shaped the educational system of the country.
Paradigm of Philippine Educational System
Based on Four Major Institutions
The
paradigm I have created explains the historical foundations of education based
on the four major institutions of the society. For me, the institution that has
served as my first teacher was my family. It is considered as the smallest
social and political unit of the society and played an important role for
laying the foundation or core of a progressive nation. It was in family that I
have learned the basics for my survival and existence. The values of love,
respect, and loyalty were taught by my parents and my other relatives through
indoctrination and imitation.
When
I have reached the right age for schooling, my family sent me to school for
formal education. It was the second important institution that molded and
shaped me as a person. I have learned a lot and received diplomas to certify
that I have completed the course of my studies. I am a teacher today because I
had finished a bachelor course in secondary education and passed the licensure
exam. The school was my second home for it nurtured my intellectual dimension
as a person.
On
the other hand, the Church as an institution served as an equalizer with what I
have learned at home and school. My family was my domestic church because it is
where I got my first idea about God. The Church takes good care of my spiritual
dimension as a person and taught me to be of service to others. The values of
brotherhood, equality, faith, hope, and charity served as its main core.
Likewise,
the government dictates the curriculum and educational programs it wishes to
implement based from the needs of the society as well as the global trends. The
kind of educational systems they will pursue set the mood and pace of economic
progress and development. For me, it is the most powerful institution in the
society because it can direct the whole educational systems of the country for
the given mandate to oversee and manage the education.
Perhaps,
the four major institutions should not compete with one another but work
harmoniously. They can be associated to a table with four legs that should have
equal length of foot to make the table stand firm and strong. Besides, the
goals of education is to make a person capable member of the society for
nation-building. I thank Dr. Gomez for challenging me to create a paradigm that
can illustrate the outline of my report. And with her help I had developed
another paradigm which was more comprehensive in discussing the educational
systems of the country.
Comprehensive Paradigm of Philippine Educational Systems
