Angara to clarify RBH 6’s proposed amendments on education

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sonny Angara said there was a need to clarify specific provisions in Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, specifically on proposed educational amendments.

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Angara, who is leading the discussions on economic Charter change in the Senate, said he, along with his colleagues, will clarify in the next hearings that they will “not open basic education,” given that the Philippines already has existing policies on it.

“Ang tinitignan natin ay yung higher education, dahil dyan parang mabigyan natin ng option ang ating mga kababayan na maaaring hindi nila kayang magpadala ng anak nila sa ibang bansa, pero gusto nila merong benefit ng college degree na accredited ng mahuhusay na unibersidad,” said Angara in a Kapihan sa Senado forum held Thursday.

(What we are looking at is higher education because through that, we can give an option to Filipinos who may not be able to send their children abroad but want them to have the benefit of a college degree accredited by a good university.)

Angara specifically noted universities in neighboring countries that offer joint degrees. In Singapore, he said, joint degrees can be given to university students.

“Merong joint degree offered by the National University of Singapore and Harvard [and] National University of Singapore and Yale — so biruin mo, two in one ang degree ng anak natin! So ang binabayad mo ay isang tuition, pero ang degree niya is accredited by two international institutions,” he explained.

(There is a joint degree offered by the National University of Singapore and Harvard [and] National University of Singapore and Yale — so think of that, our child can get a two in one degree! You’ll be paying for the tuition of one, but your child’s degree is accredited by two international institutions.)

Angara then emphasized that the government should not deny Filipinos the right to have quality education.

While this specific educational amendment seeks to open the country’s doors to foreign institutions, Angara noted that reciprocity is still needed.

“Hindi natin sila papayagang pumasok dito kung hindi nila tayo papayagang pumasok sa kanilang bansa. Yun ang palagay kong isang amyenda na isasama natin sa RBH6, hindi tayo pwedeng malugi dito,” he stressed.

(We will not allow them to enter here if they do not allow us to enter their country. That’s what I think is an amendment that we will include in RBH6, we can’t lose here.)

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