Interesting ASEAN Reads:
1. Understanding PH Chairmanship and the ASEAN Community
2. Celebrating ASEAN 50th Anniversary in the Philippines
3. ASEAN 2017: Covering History and Blogging the Story
I’m browsing the morning news when I chanced upon this report from ABS CBN. Despite the Philippines’ robust economic growth, it has failed to lift the labor market where many are trapped in low-paying and unstable jobs.
This reminded me of the press briefer held by the Philippine Marketing Association for their 47th National Marketing Conference, dubbed Hello ASEAN.
What caught my attention is how Vietnam has progressed, 50 years since ASEAN was founded, and managed to have the lowest poverty rate. Compare with the Philippines, PH is only better than Myanmar.
Furthermore, Vietnam successfully increased the IQ level of her citizens, and became 2nd only to Singapore. While Filipinos was reported to have the lowest IQ in ASEAN
In a business forum I attended three years ago, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said that the greatest asset of the Philippines is her young population. A younger population can mean higher productivity, with more wealth created to support senior citizens. Sec. Purisima further said the government will pour more funds to education to make it accessible to the underprivileged. This can lead to a higher IQ which can open opportunities to high quality and high paying jobs.
With the K to 12 program rolling out this year, the quality of education is being addressed (crossed fingers). Unfortunately, free quality education for all is still a dream. And with NEDA alarmed with the high percentage of youth inactivity, we have a serious problem ahead.
If the survey result is reflective of reality, then stakeholders on education, maternal and child health should get its acts together to address this alarming report. Pointing fingers and bashing will bring no good.
credit: images lifted from the powerpoint presentation of Wilfrido V.E. Arcilla, Program Advisor of 47th National Marketing Conference.
Founder of LODI Inc. (Learning and Organization Development Institute, Inc.) and Co-Founder of Blogwatch. Mentor and Dad of 2 Gen Z Professionals.
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I think the K to 12 program is a good move, we are just one of the 3 or 4 countries which have yet to put it into place. We have a lot of good talent her locally but it is not just harnessed well. Aside from development in our education system best as well if our local TV will bring back educationally friendly shows as replacement for drama ones.
When I was young, I watched Sesame Street, Pambata ATBP and later Batibot. I read Archie Comic book, my dad’s Reader’s Digest and answer the kiddie section of Manila Bulletin’s Sunday edition. Nowadays, kids watch telenovelas and tagalized movies/cartoons. Children are not into reading anymore. They rather play on their iPads.
Sad to hear but not entirely surprising. I hope education in the country will improve in the current administration. Moreover, a lot of young people nowadays have access to the Internet but mostly use it for entertainment purposes such as Facebook. I also noticed that there seems to be lack of discernment on where to get proper information or news.