EDUCATION ON THE MOVE WITH INCREASED FUNDING AND NEW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 003991 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR PEACE CORPS, USAID FOR ECA, EAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EPET PGOV EAID SCUL RP SUBJECT: EDUCATION ON THE MOVE WITH INCREASED FUNDING AND NEW INITIATIVES REF: MANILA 03561, MANILA 03656 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) As interest in education reform and English language training continues to make headlines, the Ambassador called on Secretary of Education Jesli Lapus September 15. The Secretary reported on his ambitious plans to revitalize the deteriorating education system by taking advantage of increased national budgets, partnerships with the private sector, and U.S. assistance, especially in English language education. End Summary. -------------- Decline in Quality of Education -------------- ¶2. (U) In a meeting with Ambassador, USAID Director, Peace Corps Director, and Public Affairs Officer on September 15, Jesli Lapus, Secretary of Education, discussed factors contributing to the SIPDIS current problems in the Philippine education system. He stated that the education system was strong until the last decade, when the government discontinued the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE). As a result, many students enter the tertiary education system eager to obtain a college degree but ill-prepared for the academic requirements. Only two percent of fourth year high school students are prepared to enter college. Diploma mills have proliferated, some with abysmal passing rates on professional licensure examinations. The increased status of college degrees has created a growing bias against technical and vocational education and 600,000 technical jobs are currently unfilled. Fourteen percent of all students are without classrooms and twenty percent are without desks. ¶3. (SBU) Secretary Lapus cited mismatches in teacher competencies, as many teachers do not hold degrees in the subjects they are teaching. Consequently massive re-training of teachers is needed. Secretary Lapus also expressed concern about the number of long-term SIPDIS civil service tenured employees in the Department of Education, particularly on his staff. He has brought in key staff from Land Bank of the Philippines, where he was CEO during the 1990s. -------------- -------------- Initiatives to Improve the Philippine Education System -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) Secretary Lapus reiterated his previous request for USG assistance with the school feeding programs and electrification (Reftel). Ambassador noted that the USDA PL-480 program is providing limited support for school feeding and would look into expanding this support. USAID Director also noted that USAID is providing extensive support for rural electrification. Ambassador recommended that Peace Corps Volunteers be permitted to work in full-time teaching and teacher training jobs. The Secretary identified a point of contact in the Department of Education from which Peace Corps can receive information and guidance. Ambassador also highlighted USAID programs in Mindanao, which include providing television, radio, and computers for teaching science math and English; pre-employment skills training; providing audiotapes and books for English language teaching and learning; and supplying textbooks to schools. Public Affairs Officer also noted that there are currently two English Language Fellows in the Philippines during 2006-2007, one based at the Department of Education providing teacher training and curriculum development and one at the Philippine Normal University teaching future English teachers. ¶5. (U) Lapus said his Department is pursuing private sector support by revitalizing its "Adopt-a-School" program, originally established in 1998. This program allows private firms to donate funds and receive tax incentives of up to 150 percent. The Department has established packages with price lists, including school buildings, teacher scholarships, school supplies, computer and science laboratory equipment, and school feeding programs. Secretary Lapus secured 600,000 pesos (USD 11,970) from the Rotary Club of Manila and will be asking the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines to help match companies with schools. Ambassador said the Embassy would work with the American Chamber of Commerce to enhance awareness of this program. ¶6. (U) In an innovative effort to improve mastery of the English language, Secretary Lapus is working with Philippine radio stations to broadcast the British Broadcasting Company's "English by Radio" program. The program teaches English grammar and the Department intends to provide radios to all schools so students and teachers can listen to the program. Secretary Lapus also seeks to overcome MANILA 00003991 002 OF 002 the bias against technical and vocational education by incorporating dual academic and technical curricula in schools and conferring technical certificates to graduates. -------------- Recent Successes -------------- ¶7. (U) Secretary Lapus successfully lobbied the House of Representatives to add 9.5 billion pesos (USD 183 million) to the 2006 supplemental budget for the Department of Education. Secretary Lapus reported that the Department's 2007 budget will include a ten percent increase. The Chinese government has promised to extend loans for the construction of 10,000 classrooms, and Secretary Lapus said he was traveling to China this weekend to attend meetings on education. -------------- Comment: A Mover in a Key Department -------------- ¶8. (U) On the heels of his successes as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Secretary Lapus has managed to increase funding for the Department's budget after less than two months on the job. He is aggressively pursuing additional private support. Secretary Lapus still faces the challenges of managing his unwieldy organization but his actions thus far demonstrate that he has the potential to make a valuable contribution in education. KENNEY