Photo by: LB Times
CHED OIC explains education prospects in federal gov’t

Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, commissioner and officer-in-charge of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), led a discussion at UPLB about the proposed charter change and shift to a federalist government in the country. The symposium, entitled “Prospects of education in a federal government,” was held on Mar. 12 at the NCAS Auditorium.

Dr. De Vera, who is also a professor at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, said that Federalism is a covenant and a partnership between two equal political entities: first is the Federal government; second is the state, regional and local government. The two, according to him, are committed to retaining their own identities while also placing equal importance in their partnership.

“The interest of one is just as important as the interest of all. These are the critical elements of Federalism,” he said.

In creating a federal constitution, Dr. De Vera emphasized the need to answer the questions “Who gets what power and why?” and “Who gets what (resources) and why?” He also underscored the importance of determining if a power is exclusive to either the central or local government or shared between them.

Dr. De Vera also contextualized the education sector under the Federal government set-up. According to him, giving more power in education to the local government could mean creating more responsive curricula that are modified according to the needs and history of each region.

This, he said, could lead to more awareness about one’s local history and culture and a stronger sense of identity. He added, however, that it could also develop more ethnicity than national character among citizens and could raise the issue of having no national standard, which could affect global competitiveness.

With this issue, Dr. De Vera proposed that licensure and national standards remain with the national government while allowing state schools and colleges to shape their curriculum according to the needs of their region. He cited, for example, that state colleges in agricultural regions could concentrate more on developing agricultural programs to produce more and better manpower for their agriculture industry. These students, then, would take the licensure examination at the national level.

In the open forum, Dr. De Vera addressed the fear that regions might go their own way if given power. With this, he emphasized the need for inclusiveness in Federalism.

“Are we inclusive as a people? Do we reach out to the minority groups or do we consciously push them away? Because if [we do], and you go Federal, the chances are they will feel pushed away and they might really go away. Are we as a people, culture-wise very inclusive? Do we reach out to our partners in Cordillera and Mindanao? Do we consciously bring them to our national life? Or do we look at them differently? Do we look at them with suspicion? And do we intentionally push them away? These are the questions that every Filipino should answer, because Federalism requires inclusiveness.”

The symposium was organized by the Center for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies (CSPPS) of the College of Public Affairs and Development, in cooperation with the UPLB Graduate School.

Dr. Serlie Barroga-Jamias, vice chancellor for community affairs, in her message delivered on behalf of Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., commended the organizers’ effort in staging the event, where students and the youth can learn more about the subject matter.

Students and faculty members of state universities and colleges in Region IV attended the symposium. (Jessa Jael S. Arana)

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