Articles filed under "Campaigns"


‘Say it in English, please’

Jun 13th, 2008 • Categories: Campaigns

By Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The pleas posted on the walls of the school lobby spell out the name of the game in the age of globalization: “Say it in English, please.”

A chat with a student on the STI (Systems Technology Institute) College campus at Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City shows that the campaign is working.

“It is an advantage because I know that when I work, I will encounter foreigners,” says Christy Cardines, 16, speaking in flawless English, the language of global commerce.

“Most of our students are graduates of public schools and incoming first year college students have communication skills of a Grade 4 student,” says Peter Fernandez, STI chief operating officer.

“We help them adapt to the courses. What we want to do is improve their communication skills and raise their confidence level … Even the simple thing of teaching them how to use chopsticks raises their confidence,” says Elbert de Guzman, an STI vice president.

Jobs-skills mismatch

Philippine colleges have been attempting to cope with a global demand for skilled workers, mostly in healthcare and information technology (IT) amid a crisis in the basic education system.

This demand requires proficiency in English, Science and Math—something that private businesses and government are trying to raise in a basic education system that has deteriorated through the years.

Few of the graduates of the public school system are able to proceed and complete a college degree and for them facilities that offer skills training that will land them jobs are the preferred alternatives.

Today, there is a so-called jobs-skills mismatch, a phenomenon of thousands of work available with few qualified workers—nurses, caregivers, call center agents, medical transcriptionists and IT workers.

“Right now, healthcare-related courses are really big because we are looking at the potential for employment abroad. And, of course, you have the demand for engineering and technology because of changes brought about by industrialization,” says Julito Vitriolo, a deputy executive director at the Commission on Higher Education.

He also points to the rapid changes in technology that colleges barely able to keep up with.

“There is a lag time between industry development and the capabilities [developed by] the curricula. When you implement a course that was based on technology three years ago, there is already new technology. That’s why schools should have enhancement programs to bridge that difference,” said the official.

Unpatriotic policy

But for student leader Vencer Crisostomo, such market-oriented education policy—served mainly by vocational-technical schools—is unpatriotic.

“The direction of that education policy is colonialist. We are becoming slaves of the world. There’s no more sense of history, no more sense of national dignity,” says Crisostomo, national chair of the League of Filipino Students.

It’s not enough for Philippine schools to produce students who “can read, write and speak English with a twang,” he says.



(PDI) College students urge: Freeze our tuition, too

Jun 8th, 2008 • Categories: Campaigns, In The News

MANILA, Philippines—A militant student group on Sunday asked why private colleges were not covered by the tuition moratorium announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The League of Filipino Students said tuition in private tertiary learning institutions should be regulated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the governmen



UMAKSYON (Ugnayan ng Mag-aaral laban sa Komersyalisasyon)- UP DILIMAN

Jun 3rd, 2008 • Categories: Campaigns, In Campus

Download UMAKSYON concept paper and manifesto here. Please disseminate.



YOUTH ACT NOW: Vacation over, full strength anew for youth power

May 28th, 2008 • Categories: Campaigns

www.youthactnow.com

YOUTH ACT NOW! (Youth for Accountability and Truth Now!) announced in a press conference today that it would be holding a National Youth Assembly at the UP Diliman tomorrow, May 30, to kick off the opening of classes.



Arroyo’s statements on tuition “only for show,” meaningless if they will not lead to education system reform

May 25th, 2008 • Categories: Campaigns, In Campus, News

As President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to make a statement on tuition fees and other education woes today, members of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) led a protest action today calling for meaningful reforms in the education system.



Missing the Point in the Rice Crisis

Apr 7th, 2008 • Categories: Campaigns, Top Post

“The root of the problem that led to the rice crisis, rural backwardness, cannot be solved by sporadic solutions and releases of funds. It would necessitate a reversal of the economic programs and priorities of the government.”


KMP Primer and Powerpoint Presentation prepared by BAYAN downloadable here.



Youth ACT Now: Summer ‘08 Beat the Break!

Mar 28th, 2008 • Categories: Campaigns, News, Top Post

YOUTH ACT NOW! kicks off nationwide summer campaign

YOUTH ACT NOW! (Youth for Accountability and Truth Now!) launched its summer campaign and program of action today.



Youth ACT Now! in the news

Mar 14th, 2008 • Categories: Campaigns, In The News

News and video links from Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN, and GMA News.


Read more…



All set for March 14 rally, No summer vacation for anti-Arroyo groups

Mar 12th, 2008 • Categories: Campaigns, News, Top Post

The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today announced that it is all set to join the March 14 rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio organized by groups just before the Lenten break.



Sumigaw para sa Katotohanan at Katarungan!

Mar 10th, 2008 • Categories: Campaigns

mar14psd.jpg
Download and print this teaser-invitation. Be part of the youth-led mobilization on March14!