"Quality Education: It all lies on the beholder"

 Name: Ciloy, Ira Jodi C. 

Grade 11- BL. Peter of Gubbio

“Quality Education: it all lies on the beholder” 

Quality education, what is quality education? Is it just a term in which learners will receive works and lessons that will further expand as they walk through the stairs of life? Is it just the statement of public opinion that ‘if you are in a prestigious school, you will receive such quality education’? A back-to-back spiral of views and opinions that people argue, as it has many advantages and disadvantages of receiving such the so-called ‘quality education’. In this case, I will share my insights, experiences, and struggles that I walked through my life journey while receiving such a ‘quality education’. 

Throughout my life, I thought I received such quality education as I was in a school that encourages its students to receive' advanced' lessons. Further expanding our knowledge brick-by-brick, weighting our shoulders with lessons and extracurricular activities that not only will expand our knowledge but also make us prepared for what will we face further on our journey of life. My head was on the clouds, thinking that if I were to be in an institution that was popular in some states, I would be able to receive that quality education. As the saying goes, I thought that the grass was greener on the other side as I was then faced with several struggles in handling the lessons. It was an awakening point for me that the beholder of such quality education is within ourselves. If we are driven by our self-force of trying to understand the lessons, driven by force and determination to understand thoroughly we can achieve such information and be knowledgable of any certain topic. 

It starts with interest, followed by persistence, and further continues with consistency. However, that may not be the case for everyone, as we all have different backgrounds and experiences with receiving quality education. For instance, those students who are in areas that are far away from the mainland, as they lack the equipment and materials to further expand their knowledge of any certain topics they may encounter. Morley focuses on the surface area of the lesson rather than deepening the topics their teachers discussed. Moreover, the teacher also takes part in this struggle, as they would have to station to that particular area, and let us put into context that they are in the mountainous area. They would have to travel to the school by foot, thus putting another brick on their shoulders, as they then lack the equipment or materials to teach their students, so they have to thrive in ways to make their lessons interesting for the students to engage and understand the topic. 

This not only merely focuses on the distribution of lessons but also the environmental infrastructure, as some schools don’t have the proper space for students to receive education, often that being the reason for students to receive proper education, aswell as teachers to fully expand their potential in teaching their students but was held back to such circumstances. The priority of living circumstances over the priority of learning is also one of the examples of hindering the students from receiving quality education. Some children ranging as early as 8 years old would rather work in jobs such as collecting plants and so on than sitting in school receiving the education that they need. The reason for this is that they do not have any financial support to continue expanding their knowledge, as they have to work to be able to eat and survive. Thus their having to choose to work at such early ages leads to the topic of child labor, rather than them sitting down in their classrooms and understanding the fundamentals of education. Thus they face hardships in keeping their education intact and receiving the quality education that they need.

Promoting quality education has several advantages and disadvantages, an example is waste management. Those who have received ‘quality education’ are knowledgeable enough to follow the concept of waste management. Properly separating their waste and throwing it into the proper bins as it will soon be disposed of or recycled in their perspective waste areas. However, that may not all be the case, as even if people had been educated to properly separate their trashes, they are ignorant to not follow these rules as they see it as a ‘suggestion’ rather than a ‘need’ to follow. As they too follow the influence of others, believing that ‘if they do not do it, then I won’t too’, thus they implement that action and cause a further crisis to the people who are advocating citizens to properly separate their waste. Another example is when it comes to politics, mainly in the upcoming elections. Those individuals who lack the knowledge to try to separate the good and bad politicians, often them being blinded and led by the politician they so admire, just because that certain politician has received such ‘quality education’ in thinking that they would lead our country for the better. A vote from a person can make a difference for the future of our country, whether it be in a political aspect or economically.

Unemployment or the lack of job offers is another case that affects our country in an economic aspect just because of ‘quality education’. The company or a certain job the citizens want to enquire about has such set such high standards that some are unable to achieve, often leading our people to work on unsustainable jobs or even worse be unemployed. Those who are luckily accepted to the job are then bombarded with such standards that are placed among their higher peers, often leading them to be burnt out and stressed, making their work underperformed. Underperformed works are also one of the reasons why our economy is collapsing, aside from those who rule over each aspect of our economy. However, those people who unfortunately did not get the job they wanted are often ridiculed and pressured as they lack the ‘quality education’ they so were supposed to receive, making not only them physically by working on unstable jobs but also mentally, often bringing their self-esteem down which leads to a darker path in our society.

We cannot deny the fact that technology has also an impact on our education system, as they have their advantages and drawbacks. On the positive side, technology has made students' work more profound and enhanced. I can confirm that I can perform my work with no difficulties, as technology is the guide for me to further expand my knowledge and coherence of any given topic, as information is all around the internet. Aswell as such physical technologies, as they often help teachers discuss further the topic they are assigned with and engage their students with the lessons, making them eager to learn and understand the topic more. Such technologies can also be helpful with research, further expanding professional workers in their jobs that can be beneficial to the future of our country, they can also use current technology to help with matters and cut off some of the hardships of their jobs, an example is this is some hospitals in our country has adapted in using technology for our birth certificates, as they can store it in data, and can be easily accessible and searched whenever a citizen wants to see their birth certificate. 

However they may also have some drawbacks, an example of this is when the pandemic struck and students were forced to adapt online or module lessons. As younger generations, such as mine, are then exposed to the internet, a making curious individuals search the endless web without any supervision and boundaries, leading them to darker sights and truths of the internet. It also affects the ‘quality education’ we so need to receive, as students have a hard time focusing on the lessons that the teachers are discussing and thinning their attention spam as they are then lured with another topic they find interesting, drawing back their education they once were supposed to be receiving. This also plays a hard role for teachers adapting to their way of teaching, as they are limited on resources and ways to make the students more involved and encourage them to learn. Technology has also influenced students to commit vices, such as cheating on tests or using any websites and apps rather than independently doing their work. Thus students and teachers face such difficulties in teaching and learning, as the students then are hindered from further expanding their knowledge blocking the ‘quality education’ they so need to receive. 

Practical ways for me to contribute to promoting quality education have to be the diversity of knowing the unknown. Aswell as being open to new environments and new lessons, as quality education for me lies in the beholder, with persistence, determination, and consistency we can know and expand our knowledge of any given lesson or topic. Especially those who can access any form of technology, with interest and consistency in trying to learn new lessons or even deepen their understanding of quality education can expand their knowledge and not be ignorant to changes or encountering difficulties. However, we should also know that not everyone is accessible to these aspects, as we should not judge but rather guide them to knowing the topics, leading them into understanding the good side and be well knowledgable of a certain topic, whether it be in politics in separating and picking our rightful leaders that will further develop our country. Let it also be those who face such financial difficulties that they are unable to understand what is truly right and only focused on the surface level of their educational years. 

In conclusion, there are several branches on why students and teachers have difficulties in sustaining ‘quality education’, as they are hindered by many aspects and difficulties in life circumstances. As Education is a huge fundamental aspect of why our country is still standing, it is the source of all people's understanding, including mine. It is limited to individuals who are in places that are far away from the mainland, thus scarring them from receiving quality education, yet it is also accessible to those individuals who are blessed to receive quality education. However, it all lies in the beholder of receiving ‘quality education’ and in their actions and morals on how they do with it. It is complex and it is difficult for all individuals, including myself, yet it can be attainable if our country and ourselves further pursue the knowledge we currently have or what we want to know.