Education

Bam: Trabaho Centers in Schools Act to address unemployment and jobs mismatch, up for plenary discussions

A measure establishing job placement centers in high schools and state colleges and universities (SUCs) has hurdled the committee level and will be up for plenary discussions, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

 In his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, said the bill, if enacted into law, will help ensure that suitable jobs await both high school and college graduates.

 By institutionalizing job placement offices in public schools and SUCs, Sen. Bam said it will help create employment opportunities and address the prevalent jobs mismatch in the country by serving as bridge between the job market and supply of graduates.

 “Nag-aral at nagtapos. Nagtrabaho at umasenso. Iyan ang pangarap natin para sa bawat Pilipino. Siguraduhin natin na may trabahong naghihintay para sa bawat graduate,” said Sen. Bam, also the author of the measure.

 “Siguraduhin rin natin na may sapat na kaalaman at kakayahan ang mga bagong graduate na punuin ang mga job vacancies,” he added.

 Based on latest data from the Philippine Statistics Office, the country’s unemployment rate is 4.7 percent with over 2 million jobless Filipinos. The number of underemployed Filipinos is pegged at 7.51 million.

“Clearly, there is a need, not only to generate employment opportunities, but also to address the jobs mismatch in the country,” Sen. Bam said.

 The measure mandates the establishment of a Trabaho Center in every public high school and SUC with main services that include: 1) Industry Matching, 2) Career Counseling, and 3) Employment Facilitation.

The Trabaho Center must maintain an updated database of employers, contacts, and job opportunities in the locality and utilize this to provide students counseling on lucrative field of study and what specific jobs they can expect to apply for upon graduation.

  “The key to the success of each Trabaho Center is its relationship with potential employers and industries in their area,” Sen. Bam said.

 The Trabaho Centers can address the skills mismatch by giving feedback for teaching modules and working with TESDA to better develop the skills of graduates and ensure employability upon graduation.

 “This simple intervention can strengthen the link between education and employment and can build a steady bridge for our graduates to cross over to stable jobs and sustainable livelihood,” said Sen. Bam.

Aquino, Poe push for approval of feeding program in public schools

A senator urged colleagues to hasten passage of the proposal seeking to address hunger of students in public schools and provide additional livelihood for farmers and fisherfolk.

Sen. Bam Aquino made the call during his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1279 or the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act, that institutionalizes an effective feeding program for students of basic education.

 ​​​Being a staunch advocate of addressing hunger, ​Sen. Grace Poe co-sponsored the measure​.

 According to Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, these feeding programs will be sustained by local gardens, farmers and fishermen, and powered by community engagement and volunteerism.

 “Through this policy, infants and school children in the basic education will enjoy free regular access to nutritious food,” said Sen. Bam, author of Senate Bill No. 694, which was consolidated in Senate Bill No. 1279 together with Senate Bill Nos. 23, 123, 160 and 548.

 If enacted into law, Sen. Bam said Department of Education will be mandated to ensure that students from basic education are provided with proper meals.

 “Through this policy, school children in the basic education will enjoy free regular access to nutritious food with the Department of Education ensuring that students are provided with proper meals,” he said.

 The proposal will utilize locally sourced and locally produced food products to support local farmers and fishermen, providing them with regular income and livelihood.

 “Sa Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy Act, lalaki nang malakas, matalino at malusog ang kabataang Pilipino habang umaasenso ang buhay ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” said Sen. Bam.

 Based on 2012 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 16 million Filipino children are considered undernourished.

 Studies also show that the average age of the 11 million Filipino farmers and fishermen is 57 years old while the average annual income of a farmer is only about 20,000 pesos.

 “The Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act can be that link between hungry young Filipinos and anxious farmers and fishermen,” said Sen. Bam.

 The measure also pushes for the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program to promote gardening in schools and households, which will help augment the food needs of the program and instill a sense of appreciation for food production within the community.

 After sponsoring the measure, Sen. Poe thanked Sen. Bam for his speedy action on the bill and several other senators also lauded his efforts. In turn, Sen. Bam thanked his colleagues for their support behind the enactment of the measure into law.

 “With the full support of fellow lawmakers, we can definitely pass this measure quickly and, finally, feed our poor and hungry students across the country,” said Sen. Bam.

Bam: P8B budget for college tuition, good sign for free higher ed law

The additional P8 billion budget for free tuition in colleges and universities is a good sign that we will pass the Free Higher Education for All bill, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

  “The Senate initiative to make colleges and universities tuition-free is a major reform that will greatly benefit Filipino families and the approved 8-billion peso budget for SUCs is a good sign that our bill will pass,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

During Tuesday’s bicameral conference committee, lawmakers approved the additional P8 billion budget to be distributed to different SUCs in 2017.

As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 177 or the Free Higher Education for All Act giving free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 Earlier, Sen. Bam expressed confidence that the measure will be enacted into law next year due to the Senate’s overwhelming support for its passage.

 “Mahalaga na mabigyan ng tulong ang ating mahihirap na estudyante at pati ang kanilang mga magulang. Marami sa amin ang talagang tinutulak ito,” said Sen. Bam.

 During a recent hearing, several sectors pushed different methods to implement the measure. Some groups want to focus on specific courses while others believe that it should be based on the student’s capacity to pay.

 Different groups also raised the possibility of expanding the measure’s coverage by providing poor students with miscellaneous expenses, transportation expenses and living expenses, in addition to a free tuition fee.

 Aside from improving access to tertiary education, Sen. Bam said he will also work to improve the quality of public education in the Philippines and address underemployment and jobs mismatch through Trabaho Centers.

 

Bam to DepEd: Ensure payment of teachers before Christmas

Sen. Bam Aquino called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that it will be a merry Christmas for thousands of public school teachers by expediting the release of their unpaid salaries and other benefits.
 
“Nais ko pong ipakiusap na madaliin sana ang paglabas ng suweldo, bonus at iba pang benepisyo na nakalaan para sa ating mga guro upang maging maligaya ang pagdiriwang nila ng Pasko, kasama ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, in his letter to DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones dated December 2, 2016.
 
The senator made the move after receiving information that some teachers have yet to receive their salaries and bonuses. 
 
“Batid ko na ang iba ay kulang pa ng requirements ngunit marami sa kanila ay kumpleto na ang mga dokumento at naghihintay na lang sa paglabas ng suweldo,” said Sen. Bam, whose office has already helped some teachers obtain their salaries and bonuses.
 
“Lahat tayo ay naghahangad ng magandang Pasko para sa ating pamilya at mahal sa buhay. Wala nang gaganda pa kung maipagdiriwang natin ito nang walang anumang alalahanin sa ating isipan,” he added.
 
As chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam is pushing for the enactment of laws that will provide teachers with additional support and incentives.
 
According to Sen. Bam, these support and incentives will make teaching in public schools attractive for teachers.
 
The senator is currently working on a bill that will provide teachers relocation allowance, hazard pay and health care insurance.
 
Sen. Bam also filed Senate Bill No. 173 or the Free Education for Children of Public School Teachers Act.
 
If passed into law, free education in state universities nationwide will be given to children of public school teachers in all levels, whether they want to pursue baccalaureate degrees or short-term training course.
 
The measure will provide full subsidy program that covers 100 percent of the tuition fee and other miscellaneous expenses necessary upon the enrollment of the student in a state college or university.
 
Aside from additional benefits for teachers, Sen. Bam also wants to improve the working environment of public school teachers by addressing backlogs in classrooms, improving facilities, and giving all public schools access to the internet and online educational materials.

Bam wants to prohibit ‘No Permit, No Exam’ policy

A senator seeks to prohibit the discriminatory “No permit, No exam” policy in schools by making it illegal for any educational institution to prevent a student from taking examinations due to unpaid tuition and other fees.

 “Why should the student be barred from taking their tests and completing their requirements when there’s still a chance their family can settle payment of fees later,” asked Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Education.

Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1235 prohibits schools from disallowing students with due and unpaid tuition and other school fees from taking examinations or providing a different schedule of exam from the rest of the student body.

The measure also bars schools from requiring a student to secure a special permit to take the examinations from the school authorities prior to the administration of examinations, according to Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

A fine of P20,000 but not more than P50,000 will be imposed on any educational institution official or employee.

 This includes deans, coordinators, advisers, professors, instructors, principals, teachers and other concerned individuals found guilty of violating any of the aforementioned acts.

 However, the parents or legal guardian of the student must provide a promissory note, addressed to the school, indicating the amount and the date of payment as protection to the school’s right to fair payment.

 The measure covers private elementary schools, private secondary schools, public and private post-secondary technical-vocational institutes and public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including local colleges and universities.

  “By penalizing this unlawful practice, Filipino families stand to gain by ensuring that students unable to settle educational fees on-time, may still benefit from the continuity of their education once outstanding balances are fully paid,” Sen. Bam said.

“Tulungan po natin ang pamilyang Pilipino na umasenso sa tulong ng edukasyon,” he added.

By protecting the welfare of students, Sen. Bam pointed out that they will have a fair opportunity to complete their education.

Bam: Truth about Martial Law must still be taught in schools

Sen. Bam Aquino’s push for truthful and objective Martial Law education in schools is one of the ways to move forward after the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“It’s really disappointing but we will continue to work with DepEd on truthful and accurate Martial Law education. That’s how we can move forward,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

The senator pointed out that the young people have to be informed about the human rights abuses committed during the Marcos’ reign.

 Sen. Bam stressed that only way the country can move on from this is if the Marcos family apologizes for their wrongdoings and return the money they have stolen from the country’s coffers during the late dictator’s rule.

“Moving on is fine pero kung titingnan mo, wala naman silang perang binalik. Wala namang pagpapapatawad na hiningi,” said Sen. Bam.

 Earlier, Sen. Bam denounced the SC decision, saying it focused only on technicalities and did not give weight on historical facts about what happened during the Martial Law era.

 “Technically correct, pero historically wrong ang nangyaring desisyon,” the senator said.

Bam to gov’t, stakeholders: Join forces to take education to next level

Come together to take our education systems to the next level!
 
This was the challenge issued by Sen. Bam Aquino to concerned government agencies and private stakeholders during the 2016 Philippine Education Summit held Thursday at the SMX Convention Center.
 
“I am hopeful that all stakeholders are willing to work together and focus on producing quality education,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture in the 17th Congress.
 
In the 2017 budget, P650 billion has been earmarked for education, or equivalent to 19 percent of the total budget.
 
Out of this, P567 billion will go to the Department of Education, P75 billion to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and P6.87 billion to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
 
“Now that we have the resources to make a quantum leap in our education sector, let’s come together to take our educational systems to the next level,” Sen. Bam pointed out.
 
However, Sen. Bam said the challenge is to make sure that the budget for education is felt by the public, especially the students in public schools and state colleges and universities (SUCs).
 
During the summit, Sen. Bam also reiterated the Senate’s commitment to support the government’s pursuit to further improve quality of education in the country. 
 
As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam is pushing for the passage of a measure that will give free tertiary education in all SUCs.
 
Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 177 or the Free Higher Education for All Act giving free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.
 
Sen. Bam has also submitted Senate Bill No. 170 or the Trabaho Center in Schools Act that creates an employment office in every senior high school, giving SHS graduates access to available job opportunities.
 
The senator also wants to give out of school youth (OSY) in the country access to education through his Senate Bill No. 171 or the Abot Alam Bill, which seeks to institutionalize alternative learning system (ALS).

Bam urges stakeholders to join forces vs trolls, misinformation on social media

Sen. Bam Aquino called on different stakeholders, led by the Department of Education (DepEd), to join forces in combating rampant trolling and spread of misinformation on social media.

 “We need to address the volume and frequency issues with the same volume and frequency,” Sen. Bam pointed out during the Committee on Education hearing on the responsible use of social media in schools.

“Maybe we can work on something that can match that level of speed, exponential growth and energy that we see online,” added Sen. Bam, chairman of the said committee.

Sen. Bam filed Senate Resolution No. 173 to determine how schools are educating and developing students regarding the responsible social media use.

Sen. Bam said DepEd can lead the way by conducting a “media literacy week” or “responsible social media use week” to jumpstart the move.

“This is something we can explore further and I’m confident that everyone will be willing to volunteer,” said Sen. Bam.

Aside from DepEd, Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and Carlo Ople of Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP) also attended the event.

Both Ressa and Ople expressed willingness to help the initiative against trolling and misinformation on social media.

“Trolling is a global phenomenon. Real victims are those who believe in misinformation. We need explosive and faster solutions,” said Ople.

Ressa stressed the need to integrate responsible use of social media in schools, reiterate moral obligations and strengthen constructive debates to fight the spread of hate on social media.

 The DepEd, for its part, has established mechanisms that would guide “digital learners’” to make them responsible social media users.

“Right now, the concern is there. Na-recognize na may problema at na-recognize rin na ang solusyon dito hindi lang magagawa ng isang grupo o ahensiya. Kailangan magtulong-tulong ang iba’t ibang sektor para masolusyonan ito,” said Sen. Bam.

Ultimately, Sen. Bam said the move “aims to create a society that is more humane and compassionate towards each other and a Philippines that is more tolerant of different ideas and beliefs”.

 

Bam to work for passage of free education in SUCs

Sen. Bam Aquino expressed confidence that the measure giving free education to all students in State Colleges and Universities (SUC) will be passed within a year.
 
“We’re quite hopeful that this will pass. Mahalaga na mabigyan ng tulong ang ating mahihirap na estudyante sa SUC. Marami sa amin ang talagang tinutulak ito,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, after hearing several proposals to give free tertiary education in all SUCs. 
 
Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 177 or the Free Higher Education for All Act giving free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.
 
The senator said the committee will hold several technical working groups to iron out and consolidate provisions of the different measures and come up with a version that will truly help poor students who want to finish college.
 
“I think we owe it to our students to go through a tedious process to refine the bill. But I’m confident that we can get this done within a year,” said Sen. Bam.
 
During the hearing, several sectors pushed different methods to implement the measure. Some groups want to focus on courses that student will take while others believe that it should be based on the student’s capacity to pay.
 
Different groups also raised the possibility of expanding the measure’s coverage by providing poor students with miscellaneous expenses, transportation expenses and living expenses, in addition to a free tuition fee.
 
Aside from improving access to tertiary education, Sen. Bam said he will also work to improve the quality of education in SUCs.
 
“Just because we’re working on this bill, hindi ibig sabihin kakalimutan na natin ang kalidad. We have to ensure quality as well as access,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Kung itutulak mo ito (free tuition fee) plus magsabay ka ng intervention sa kalidad, mas gaganda ang quality ng SUCs,” he added.

 

Bam: Boost RH education in schools to combat teen pregnancies

Sen. Bam Aquino stressed the need to further strengthen sex education in schools after it was revealed that the Philippines “is the gold medalist” in Southeast Asia in terms of teen pregnancy.

 “We all agree that having sex education in schools is important,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Education on the status of the implementation of reproductive health education in schools. 

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after National Youth Commission (NYC) commissioner Percival Cendana revealed that every day, 600 girls aged 19 years and below give birth in the Philippines.

During the hearing, the Department of Education acknowledged the problem, saying the rising rate in teen pregnancy motivated the agency to implement a comprehensive sexuality education across the country.

DepEd Undersecretary Alberto Muyot said the agency has a total of 179 learning competencies for reproductive health education in the K-12 curriculum.

These learning competencies are currently undergoing a review process by the Bureau of Curriculum Development to make it attuned to present times.

Sen. Bam encouraged other groups to help the DepEd by contributing ideas that can improve the agency’s reproductive health education initiative.

 Sen. Bam filed Senate Resolution No. 169 amid the alarming rise in number of teen pregnancies in the country.