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Building a Nation through Education

Research · August 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2974.3840

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Nagoya University
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Dacumos Rory Jay Sta. Catalina 6/20/2014

Building a Nation through Education

“Countrymen: I have given proofs, as well as the best of you, of desiring liberty for our
country, and I continue to desire it. But I place as a premise the education of the people, so
that by means of instruction and work they may have a personality of their own and that they
may make themselves worthy of that same liberty. In my writings I have recommended the
study of the civic virtues, without which there can be no redemption . . . "
The Social Cancer1 by Dr. Jose P. Rizal

More than a hundred years ago, when the Philippine Islands started aspirations for
nationhood to end the centuries of Spanish abuse, Dr. Jose P. Rizal cautioned his countrymen
about the responsibility that comes with liberty. He put special emphasis on the importance
of education as a tool to acquire national identity of a people who deserve freedom to govern
themselves. Rizal's dream of a modern education system did not materialized, however, as
bloody revolution broke out and the Filipinos effectively kicked out the Spanish colonizers.
Only that, after a few years, they found themselves under the control of a new colonial master
 the Americans, who deemed them unfit for self-rule.
Fast forward to this day, while colonialism is no longer present, the continuing
domination by the rich class mirrors the social injustice suffered by the masses during
colonial times. The same patterns of inequality and discrimination are still very much part of
the system, This time, it is even worse: the subjugators were no longer foreign colonial
masters, rather fellow Filipinos from the well-entrenched elite. It is precisely what Rizal has
feared when he quipped: “What is the use of independence if the slaves of today will be the
tyrants of tomorrow?” With an uneducated and unprepared population, the colonial masters
were just replaced by a new class of dominating Filipinos, who commit the same injustices to
the poor masses.
Years after Rizal's death, his message for the importance of education in nation-
building still resonate today. I completely subscribe to his idea, thus, if I would be an
education policy maker, I would reform the Philippine education system to become more
deeply rooted historically and that it should prioritize the formation of values that promote
unity and multi-ethnic harmony.

1
An English translation of Dr. Rizal's original novel written in Spanish, entitled "Noli Me Tangere" (translated as
"Touch Me Not") which was published in 1887. The English translation was authored by Charles Derbyshire
and was first published in 1912.
Dacumos Rory Jay Sta. Catalina 6/20/2014

One Nation, One Identity

Promoting historical rootedness will be one of the primary objective of education, and
the end goal will be to achieve a homogenous Filipino national identity. Note that the lack of
historical rootedness in the current system can be blamed for the continuing ethno-graphic
divisiveness in the archipelago, leading to socio-political instability. A case in point is the
unrest in Muslim areas of the Philippines. Philippine history, as it is written today, failed to
acknowledge the historical facts on the abuses committed against the Muslims, from Spanish
times up to the present. It should be taught in schools that the present Philippine nation
recognizes the wrongdoings committed against Muslims in the past, and that sincere
apologies must be offered as the right step towards recognizing them as 'brothers' and fellow
countrymen of the present nation.
In addition, a Filipino national identity could also be achieved by teaching in schools a
national language that is not heavily biased on the Tagalog dialect, rather, an expanded
vocabulary that considers various dialects. The modern Filipino language to be created and
used in schools must be a concoction of various dialects used throughout the archipelago, as a
testament to the historical and cultural diversity of the peoples who call themselves Filipino.

Values Education

More importantly, values formation would be made an integral part of curricula at all
levels. In particular, values such as social justice, equality, equity and respect (for others and
the rule of law) should be taught at schools. This is in accordance to Rizal's call for civic
virtues, without which freedom and civil liberties will be put to naught in as far as building a
harmonious society is concerned.
With civic virtues permeating at all levels of society, we may expect to see an end to
the tyranny of the rent-seeking elite, who continue to deprive the masses of economic
opportunities for a better quality of life. Education is the most powerful tool that could
destroy the foundation of informal institutions (e.g. rent-seeking, corruption, dynasty, etc.)
that the well-entrenched elite has built.

Revolution of Sorts?

The above-mentioned policies are not intended to be a revolution of sorts in as far as

what the current education system has already attained. In fact, it does not seek to destroy the
gains that has been achieved throughout the years. For example, the English language
proficiency in the Philippine education system should be preserved, especially in today's era
 Dacumos Rory Jay Sta. Catalina 6/20/2014

of globalization where international communication is important. What the two policies

intend to achieve is to balance the educational system's competitiveness and compliance to
global standards with a sense of national uniqueness that gives meaning to 'what is' and 'who
is' a Filipino. This would be a fulfillment of Rizal's dream of an education system that defines
the true Filipino nation, worthy of the liberty its people have fought for with blood, sweat and
tears.

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