Education

Bam to lead probe on sex, drugs and trolls education in schools

The Senate Committee on Education will look into how public schools educate students about reproductive health, responsible use of social media and the dangers of illegal drugs.
 
Education committee chairman Sen. Bam Aquino will conduct a hearing together with the Committees on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs and Health and Demography on Tuesday (Oct. 18).
 
Sen. Bam has filed three separate resolutions calling for an investigation into drug prevention and education in schools, reproductive health education and responsible use of social media in schools — Senate Resolution Nos. 168, 169 and 173, respectively.
 
“These three issues are crucial to today’s students as they face the problems of illegal drugs, teenage pregnancies, and cyber-bullying and misinformation in social media,” said Sen. Bam.
 
In Senate Resolution No. 173, Sen. Bam wants to be enlightened on how schools are educating and developing students regarding the responsible social media use.
 
“Our schools can play a critical role in guiding students to become productive digital citizens and to communicate respectfully online,” said Sen. Bam.
 
The move is aimed at guiding and developing students on responsible and proper social media use, considering the prevalence of misinformation and use of abusive language in social media, especially by so-called “paid trolls”.
 
With the alarming rise in number of teen pregnancies in the country, Sen. Bam filed a resolution calling for an inquiry on the status of the implementation of reproductive health education in schools.
 
Senate Resolution No. 169 seeks to clarify the status of the implementation of reproductive health education in schools amid the alarming rise in number of teen pregnancies in the country.
 
Based on 2011 to 2014 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, teenage pregnancy in the country is on the rise, with one in every ten women of child-bearing age is a teenager and 24 babies are born every hour from teenage mothers.
 
In Senate Resolution No. 168, Sen. Bam aims to determine the status of drug education and prevention programs in schools and alternative learning systems (ALS) to help keep the youth away from the drug menace.

Bam pushes for ideal, effective feeding program in public schools

Senator Bam Aquino urged concerned government agencies and other stakeholders to help craft an ideal measure on the proposed feeding programs in all public schools to make it effective in addressing malnutrition and hunger among poor students.

“Let’s aim for the ideal and put together a bill with all of our collective knowledge, collective experiences, and best practices,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Education on several measures pushing for feeding programs in public schools.

Different government agencies and private organizations, led by the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, all expressed support for the passage of Senate Bill Nos. 23, 123, 160, 694 and 548.

During the hearing, Sen. Bam also underscored the crucial role of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in the success of the proposed feeding program.

“We will make sure that DBM is there to help us compute how much this would cost. The government’s budget is indicative of its priority. If indeed this is our priority, we should be able to budget it better,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 694 or the “Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy” bill, which seeks to alleviate childhood malnutrition in the country through a feeding program for infants, public kindergarten and elementary school children.

“It will promote the health of children who are most in need, by providing regular and free access to nutritious food within a safe and clean school and community environment,” said Sen. Bam.

To enhance the social value of the measure, the proposal will utilize locally sourced and locally produced food products to support local farmers and farming communities, providing them with regular income and livelihood.

“This feeding program will help address not only child malnutrition but also poverty in the countryside,” said Sen. Bam.

Bam: Provide support for public school teachers

Senator Bam Aquino wants to make teaching in public schools attractive by providing teachers with additional support and incentives.

“We have enough budget to hire additional teachers but many of them find teaching in public schools unattractive because of inadequate pay, lack of benefits, and a poor working environment,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement for World Teachers Day, capping off National Teachers Month.

 The senator is currently working on a bill that will provide teachers relocation allowance, hazard pay and health care insurance.

 “This is especially relevant for teachers in far flung areas,” said Sen. Bam.

As key to the success of our education reforms and national development, Sen. Bam said teachers should be given additional support and proper compensation for our teachers while they shape the country’s future.

 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.

 Recently, Sen. Bam 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.

According to the measure, the full subsidy program shall cover 100 percent of the tuition fee and other miscellaneous expenses necessary upon the enrollment of the student in a state college or university.

Sen. Bam also filed the Nurse in Every Public School Act or Senate Bill No. 663 to support our public school teachers that are burdened with duties on top of teaching, such as administrative work and even caring for sick students.

Gov’t, private stakeholders back Trabaho Centers in Schools Act

Government agencies and private stakeholders expressed support for Sen. Bam Aquino’s measure to establish Trabaho Centers in Senior High Schools (SHS) all over the country as means to address unemployment and underemployment among youth.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Education, chaired by Sen. Bam Aquino, the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) all backed Senate Bill No. 170.

“Natutuwa naman tayo na full support ang DepEd, DOLE, TESDA. Kung pumasa po ito, magkakaroon ng job placement centers sa bawat senior high schools natin,” said Sen. Bam after the hearing on the Trabaho Center in Schools Act.

 If passed into law, Sen. Bam said it can help Senior High School (SHS) find employment that fits their skill set and the career path they have chosen.

 “Napakahalaga po iyon kasi iyong reporma ng K-12, nakasalalay po diyan iyong employability ng ating mga estudyante,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

With an estimated 50 percent of Senior High School students not going to college, Sen. Bam stressed the need to help them find employment after they graduate through Trabaho Centers.

“Maganda kung alam na agad ng estudyante kung ano ba ang job market sa lugar, ano ang opportunities na puwede nilang pasukin at kung ano ang skills na kailangan nilang makuha para qualified sila sa mga job opening sa lugar,” said Sen. Bam.

 The proposal is also aimed at addressing the prevalent jobs mismatch, which is being blamed as major cause of youth unemployment, which stands at 15.7 percent.

 “Kung wala po iyon, we will continue to have a jobs mismatch, we will continue to have roughly five percent unemployment, almost 20 percent underemployment at marami pa sa mga kababayan natin, mahihirapan on their day to day,” said Sen. Bam.

The Trabaho Center in Schools Act will help ensure that Senior High School graduates under the K to 12 program have the appropriate knowledge, values, and skills to address the needs of the job market

The Center will focus on three main things – career counseling services, employment facilitation and industry matching.

“Siguraduhin natin na hindi masasayang ang pagod ng ating mga guro, estudyante, at pati ng kanilang magulang. Pagtapos ng senior high school o ng kolehiyo ay dapat may angkop na trabahong naghihintay para sa mga graduates,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam: Let’s address the drug menace in our schools

A senator has submitted a resolution to look for ways to address prevalence of illegal drugs in public elementary and high schools in the country.

In Senate Resolution No. 168, Sen. Bam Aquino plans to conduct an inquiry on drug education and prevention programs in schools and alternative learning systems (ALS) that will help keep the youth away from the drug menace.

“All schools and alternative learning systems have a significant role to play in addressing illegal drug use and abuse among children through drug education and other prevention programs,” said Sen. Bam.

 The senator stressed the need for schools and learning institutions to apply evidence-based approaches in the development and implementation of drug education and prevention programs for Filipino children and youth.

Sen. Bam emphasized that peer counseling, after-school programs and the adoption of a drug education framework that fosters trust rather than scare tactics, have proven to be effective tools in thwarting the drug menace.

 Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 mandates that instruction on drug abuse prevention and control shall be integrated in the elementary, secondary and tertiary curricula of all public and private schools.

The law also mandates all elementary, secondary and tertiary school student councils and campus organizations to include in their activities programs for the preventions of and deterrence of drug use and referral of treatment of students for drug dependence.

In addition, Sen. Bam said the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) has identified preventive education programs as a key component of its drug demand reduction strategy to discourage users and impending abusers from experimenting with illicit substances or continuing to abuse them. 

“As part of its mandate, the DDB must implement educational programs catering to every sector of society, including the youth and their educators,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has also filed a resolution looking into the implementation of reproductive health education in our schools to address the rising number of teen pregnancy in the country.

Bam eyes probe on status of sex education in schools

Amid the alarming rise in number of teen pregnancies in the country, a senator has filed a resolution calling for an inquiry on the status of the implementation of reproductive health education in schools.

In Senate Resolution No. 169, Sen. Bam Aquino said the Department of Education (DepEd) is tasked by Republic Act 10354 or to develop a curriculum for reproductive health education that will be used by public schools and may be adopted by private schools.

In 2013, the DepEd released the K to 12 Curriculum Guide for Health, which incorporates lessons on Reproductive Health and Responsible Parenthood.

“Ngayong tumataas ang bilang ng mga kabataang nabubuntis, nais nating malaman kung ano nga ba ang estado ng nasabing curriculum at kung paano ito itinuturo sa ating mga paaralan,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

Based on 2011 to 2014 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Sen. Bam said teenage pregnancy in the country is on the rise, with one in every ten women of child-bearing age is a teenager and 24 babies are born every hour from teenage mothers.

 “The youth are faced with critical decisions involving sexual and reproductive health that could have a major impact on their lives,” said Sen. Bam.

The senator added that research by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) shows that majority of adolescents still lack the knowledge to make responsible decisions.

 “UNFPA Country Representative Klaus Beck highlighted the importance of including sexuality education in our Philippine education system to help ensure young girls and boys make responsible choices based on accurate information,” said Sen. Bam. 

Without adequate information, Sen. Bam said teenagers are left vulnerable to coercion, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.

Bam: ‘Historical revisionism’ of Martial Law slap in face of victims

Sen. Bam Aquino expressed alarm over the “historical revisionism” efforts to make it appear that the Martial Law era was the golden years in our country’s history saying, “it’s a slap in the face of the thousands who were unjustly tortured and killed during that period”.
 
“Hindi lang siya nakakalimutan, binabago na ang ating kasaysayan. Iyon iyong mas nakakabahala, na tila sinasabi na sa panahon ng Martial Law, walang namatay, walang kinulong, walang tinorture,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“It’s a disservice and a slap in the face for those victims na parang kinakalimutan natin ang masamang nangyari noong panahon na iyon,” added Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.
 
According to historical records, 3,257 were killed, around 35,000 were tortured while 70,000 were incarcerated during the Martial Law rule, which ran from 1972 to 1981.
 
In addition to the rampant human rights violation, an estimated $10 billion in government money was stolen, according to Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) records.
 
As part of his advocacy to educate today’s youth about the horrors of Martial Law, Sen. Bam recently conducted an investigation to determine how it is being taught in public elementary, high schools and colleges.
 
During the hearing, the Department of Education, through Sec. Leonor Briones, revealed that the agency would introduce a new curriculum and new textbooks in the next few months that will provide accurate details about the dark side of the Martial Law era.
 
“We’re happy that DepEd is undergoing the change in curriculum at sabi nga nila, ipapakita nila ang mas kumpletong larawan ng Martial Law. Palagay ko kasi, ang lumang textbook natin, ayaw ipakita iyong mga masamang nangyari sa ating bansa,” Sen. Bam said.
 
“Secretary Briones herself said na itong curriculum change, makikita ng mga kabataan natin iyong kasamaan ng Martial Law, which is, of course, the corruption and human rights abuses,” he added.
 
Sen. Bam is confident that if the youth are properly informed about what really occurred during the Martial Law era, they can scrutinize what they see online.
 
“Kung mayroon silang pundasyon kung ano ang tama at ano ang mali, ano iyong nangyari at ano iyong hindi nangyari, pag online na sila ay mas may kakayahan silang suriin kung ano talaga ang katotohanan,” Sen. Bam said.

Senate to probe Martial Law education in basic, tertiary education

One day before the country commemorates one of the darkest chapters in its history, the Senate is set to conduct an inquiry to determine the status of Martial Law education in basic and tertiary education.
 
Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Education, will lead the probe jointly with the Committee on Youth on Tuesday (September 20) at 9 a.m..
 
The Senate set the inquiry after Sen. Aquino filed Senate Resolution No. 29 to look into how the Martial Law era is being taught in high school and colleges all over the country. 
 
Expected to attend the hearing are Department of Education (DepEd) Sec.  Leonor Briones,  National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) chairperson Maria Serena Diokno and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairman Chito Gascon.
 
Sen. Bam saw the need to look into the matter, especially with the propagation of erroneous information on the Internet regarding the Martial Law, declared by former President Ferdinand Marcos on Sept. 21, 1972.
 
“Kailangan nating malaman kung paano tinuturo ng Martial Law sa ating kabataan at siguraduhin na ang katotohanan ang nananaig sa ating mga paaralan,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Napansin natin na mukhang nagkaroon na ng pagbabago sa kasaysayan. Nakakalungkot ang pangyayaring ito dahil tila kinalimutan na ang mga nagsakripisyo ng buhay noong panahon ng diktarudya,” he added.
 
According to historical records, 3,257 were killed, while an estimated 35,000 were tortured, and 70,000 incarcerated during the Martial Law rule, which ran from 1972 to 1981.
 
Aside from the rampant human rights violation during that time, an estimated $10 billion in government money was stolen, according to Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) records.

Bam to solve jobs mismatch through Trabaho Centers in schools

Sen. Bam Aquino wants to solve the jobs mismatch problem in the country by establishing strategic employment centers in our senior high schools and ensuring SUCs offer courses that cater to the needs of their local industries.

​“To address the jobs mismatch, we need to​ ​bridge the gap between the private sector and schools ​so we can make sure graduates are well suited for job openings in the area,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

​Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 170 or the Trabaho Center in Schools Act will help ensure that Senior High School graduates under the K to 12 program have the appropriate knowledge, values, and skills to address the needs of the job market

​According to Sen. Bam, the Trabaho Center will focus on three main things – career counseling services, employment facilitation and industry matching.

​Sen. Bam also enjoined SUCs to reassess the courses they are offering to match the needs of the region’s private sector, thus increasing chances that college graduates will be employed in their locality.

​​In a 2014 study, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) revealed that job skills mismatch is a major cause of youth unemployment, which stands at 15.7 percent.

 ​The number of jobless youth, aging from 15 to 24, accounts for 49.8 percent of all unemployed in the Philippines.

​”Siguraduhin natin na hindi masasayang ang pagod ng ating mga guro, estudyante, at pati ng kanilang magulang. Pagtapos ng senior high school o ng kolehiyo ay dapat may angkop na trabahong naghihintay para sa mga graduates,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam: Unacceptable that only 26 percent of public schools have Internet connection

Only 26 percent of public schools in the country have Internet access, which is detrimental to students’ competitiveness, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

 DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua made this revelation during the Committee on Education hearing on the status of Internet connectivity in public schools all over the country.

 According to Pascua, the data is worrisome since DepEd considers connectivity as one of the important tools in learning.

 “Nakakabahala sa akin na sa report ng Department of Education (DepEd) na 26 percent ng ating eskuwelahan ay may Internet connectivity,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 “And to think, may bilyun-bilyong piso silang budget para i-connect ang ating mga eskuwelahan sa Internet, only about one-fourth lang ang may kakayahang mag-connect dahil sa kakulangan sa infrastructure at Internet signal,” Sen. Bam added.

 With this, Sen. Bam urged the DepEd, Department of Information and Communications (DICT) and telecommunication companies to map out a plan that will address the problem.

 This way, public schools and state colleges and universities will be included in the roll-out of the government’s free Wi-Fi project all over the country in the next two years.

 “Kung ang mga eskuwelahan natin hindi maka-connect sa Internet, kaagad-agad, hindi na sila competitive gaya ng ibang eskuwelahan dito at sa buong mundo,” said Sen. Bam.

 By allowing Internet connectivity in schools, Sen. Bam stressed that it will pave the way for our public educational system to be taken to the future.

 “Gusto naming makita ang roadmap kung paano ang 26 percent, magiging 100 at kung ilang taon bago ma-fulfill ang ating goal,” the senator explained.

 Sen. Bam pointed out that public schools need reliable Internet connection to support and enhance the learning capabilities of students by giving them access to learning materials and online information.

 As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam also discussed several bills seeking to establish free Wi-Fi to public places in different parts of the country.

 The DICT said it is planning to put up free Wi-Fi in 12,841 public areas in different parts of the country by November 2017.

 However, the DICT and telecommunication companies difficulty in acquiring permits from local government units (LGUs) are hampering their infrastructure development efforts.

 “We want to make sure na ang mga balakid na ito, matanggal na para magkaroon tayo ng free Wi-Fi,” said Sen. Bam.

Scroll to top