Ginalyn S. Oneza
Master Teacher II
In line with the growing needs of the youth today, teachers who can set goals and guide them not only in their academic studies but also in their extra- curricular activities are imperative. Guidance must not only be confined within the school premises but also at home and to inspire them to cope with the demands of the real world.
The primary goal of educators is to train young people to become competitive to the challenging world. But today, it is no longer as simple as that. In the face of the fast-changing world, and in advent of new ideas, technological wonders and other stimulants that bombard young people, specifically achieving quality education must be taken to step further. Educators and school administrators therefore must think fast goal and objectives, realize that the times call for more contemporary ambitions.
But how do you know what goals to set? The key is to think big.
In setting specific goals, educators and administrators must have a greater vision, not just for a particular department but for the Filipinos and the country as a whole.
Such vision must correspond with the direction we wish to take as a nation and as a people. Moreover, it should regard education not just a step or a phase in an individual’s life, but a vital component in nation building.
Teach students to maximize, or better yet, go beyond their potentials. In turn, educators should go beyond training people for menial work.
Skills training such as effective oral and written communication, accessing and analysing information, and critical thinking and problem-solving should be enhanced in such way that Filipinos gain competitive edge over graduates of other countries. For instance, Science and Technology, Mathematics and English are still weak spot in the Philippines that is why we must not be contented with producing graduates but instead, let us train them to become globally competitive graduates.
Students also need educators who can allow them to think critically. They need mentors who will give them freedom to question and to probe, even if it means you are the ones they questioning. More often than not, it is the office of the administrators that gets the bulk of complaints, request and demands from the students which indicates that they are thinking and are willing to take action. We need young people who are knowledgeable, and at the same time empowered and confident.
In the same way, educators must train students to be not just good graduates and law abiding citizens, but LEADERS, people who will be willing to take the short thick stick for an economically and socially distracted nation. Students need teachers who can modify altogether changed old strategies to adapt a new environment. They should learn from their teachers that resourcefulness and adaptability are essential in order to cope with the demands and constraints of education, and life in general.