Education in the country is one deplorable aspect in dire need of transformation.

There are not enough classrooms and supply of textbooks for students. There is a massive shortage of teachers and principals. Statistically, there are about 80 students per teacher; two students per textbook; and about 50 students with two shifts per classroom. These are results of re-channeling the budget allocation that supposedly should go to improving the public school system in the country.

South Korea’s public education spending, on the hand, is one of the highest in the world, even higher than in Canada and the United States. That is South Korea’s commitment to human development through the provision of high-standard education. This is the reason why South Korea is highly-developed as a nation, producing highly-competent human resources. Education is accessible to all, creating favorable environment for economic growth.

As part of its thrust towards helping its neighboring Asian countries, South Korea is also assisting the Philippines in promoting quality basic education particularly in the public education sector where more than 90 percent of Filipino children study. Korea University (KU) through its partnership with the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government and the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance & Ethical Leadership donated 15 computer sets to selected public high schools in Metro Manila through Quezon City Councilor Bolet Banal and the province of Ifugao.

Juan Sumulong High School of District III Quezon City received four computer sets from KU, a timely event to replace the computers that were wiped out at the height of Typhoon Ondoy last year.

Ifugao Governor Teddy Baguilat Jr. received 10 which will tremendously help students who are taught the proper use of computers only via drawings on the blackboard.

KU students also donated instructional manuals. Last year, some KU students shared time and talent by volunteering for non-profit organizations in the Philippines namely Gawad Kalinga, Pathways to Higher Education, and Ateneo Center for Educational Development last year.

The partnership between the two universities has opened doors to many opportunities to help upgrade education in the country.

The reality of education in the country must be given outright attention to and long-term solutions. This can only be done when the government takes the lead in institutionalizing reforms in education and ensuring that the system works even for the underprivileged ones.

By the time our Korean partners come back, perhaps five years from now they will see a different Philippines, a progressive one where there are enough classrooms and textbooks in public schools, enough school teachers teaching and molding a new generation of young Filipinos, and an education we can claim to be truly amongst the best in the world.

(The author is the acting director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government. For comments, mail cristylsenajon@yahoo.com.)