“NAGSISIMULA ang lahat sa Edukasyon,” as emphasized by President Marcos during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 24. His discourse regarding Philippine education revolved around how the 28.4 million students or learners went back to school, the Department of Education’s (DepEd) MATATAG program, strengthening school facilities, and the like. The question is, does everything really start from education when a student does not or cannot learn?

Educate, not hate. Last September 2022, the budget of P532 million for Special Education (SPED) Program was not reviewed for the National Expenditure Program (NEP). There is also a lack of access to special education as there are only 4,000 SPED teachers while there are about 126,598 students with disabilities. Moreover, indigenous schools are shutting down and students are being attacked. 

Educate, not tolerate. How can a student learn when they are not able to? As one of the concerning issues that students face today is mental health. There are students who struggle with their academic performance as they are also emotionally and mentally challenged. How can a student learn when there is no educator? Therefore, the demand for salary increase and benefits for teachers must be considered. 

On the other hand, innovation is also important as the world keeps on changing and the country needs to keep up. It promotes flexibility, resiliency, and beneficial advancements to students and educators. Although, as they keep on blabbering about innovation, they forgot about the essence of education. What would be the significance of building infrastructures or classrooms when there is no student left to teach? 

To avoid it from happening, the officials involved should make a compromise between aiming for development and restructuring without risking the health, safety, and access to education of the students. Instead of destroying schools and privileges, they must build a guarded environment and education system for students. Education is not a tool for destruction