Economics of Education

1. Effect of Increased Spending or School Choice on Student Achievement

School choice must consider if you are about to enter a school or if you are a parent who's about to enroll a child. In the case of the majority of families we have here in the Philippines, their only choice is either to enroll their child to a public school or to enroll their child to another public school. To those parents who cannot afford to send their child to a private school, does it affect the child's learning? Does it mean that if we send our children to private school it will make an assurance that will get the best quality of education? And on the other hand, those children who are in the public school do not experience the best learning that a child could get? I will never agree on that, not because I am a public school teacher but because I am a product of public/ government school. And as far as I know, I am taking the right path toward success. I achieved what I supposed to accomplish, and still not contented of what I am right now. Very open to new things to improve myself and to be a part of the transformation of our education. I think that is already a proof of wherever you spent your school years whether in public or private school doesn't affect the students' achievement.

2. Should our government really need to invest to the provision of public K - 12 schools, additional years of schooling?

Additional year in school will cost a lot from both parties, from parents and from the government. The parents will be obliged to spend more for their children. And the government will need additional budget for this K-12, because additional school year will require additional teachers. And actually it's been starting since last year (I guess). The government spends money even during summer. They appoint teachers who can teach to kindergarten to be able to accommodate this pupil for grade one. The government also spends money in construction of test to be given to those who are concern in the implementation of this K-12. Last February 12, 2012, teachers in grades one and two were given a test called Teachers English Proficiency Test (TEPT) and I am one of them. This test were given to us to let them know how much do teachers and in grades one and two know, remember and if they are still competent to the youth we have today. And whatever the result of the test may be, the government will be responsible to improve their teachers, to help them to be competitive and to be able to help them to relate in modern times that we have. They will provide us seminars and trainings.

But with these entire budget involve, is it worth spending? Should our government continue with K-12? In my opinion, yes, definitely yes! According to what I have read, it says there that we are the only country in Asia still with 10-year basic education. Meaning we're left behind of our neighbor countries. We need to do something about that. And that is to implement K-12 curriculum. This will be the first step towards success. A strong foundation is what our children need. An additional two years in high school will be a great start to have a career. The two years addition will be spend in the form of vocational course. So, if ever the student can't manage to pay for college, still they will have a job for them to survive. And in this case the number of college students who switches course from time to time will be reduces. They will have a clear mind of what they really want because training and vocational courses were already been given during their senior year which is the additional 2 years in high school. Let's take the idea of businessmen; less investment is equal to less profit, but large investment is equal to more profit. Just like in education, when we spend more time in studying then there would be a great chance to be successful in life.

3. Do smaller classes raise achievement?

Class