MARCH 24- The delegates were off to Asturias to volunteer in a RAFI Project: School Rehabilitation Project or SRP. (for more info, click here)
The delegates, together with the adult leaders and other volunteers were divided into four groups to volunteer in the restoration of four schools in Asturias. As for me, I was assigned in Tubigang Manok Elem. School. Our tasks was to fill soil into plastic pots for cultivation of seedlings.
 |
| Filling soil into the black plastic pots |
 |
| I was tasked to receive the seedling pots and arranged them. |
From the trip, I discovered the huge disparity between the private and public high schools. In some private schools, rooms are air-conditioned; most rooms are equipped with computers and LCD projectors; books are even barely read. In the public schools, especially those located far from the city, rooms are dilapidated, chairs, books, chalks are insufficient. The environment is not conducive for learning at all nor is it conducive for teaching.
As I’ve learned from before, the definition of poverty is the unequal distribution of wealth. There is a great disproportion of wealth, of faculty competence, of books and other facilities. Most developments are centered on the city, without taking into consideration the other thousands of public schools in the province and in more remote areas.
I remembered on the Dutch culture orientation held weeks ago that the Dutch pay very high taxes. But the taxes they paid are justified by the efficiency of their public services like their public education. In the Philippines, we pay taxes also, but we never realize the fruits of the taxes. I wonder where the people’s money goes. To the pockets of our public servants? Maybe. The rich are becoming richer while the poor are deprived of what they should have.
 |
| Me and Some of the Delegates and Ms. Reeve (Rightmost in green), the head of the volunteer committee. |
0 comments:
Post a Comment