As mentioned, one of the ten points on the Philippine Education Agenda aims to address improved or shall I say better books.
Improved textbooks that are carefully written, professionally edited and tested, offering not merely factual information but also interactive spaces for children are important.
A good textbook is not merely a well-designed collection of facts with exercise that review those facts. A good textbook is filled with words that are worth remembering. Those words need to demand interpretation and choice. In other words, a good textbook is a series of discussions that have impact, that allow for self-clarification and self-actualization, that build connection and which can provide multiple active possibilities.
It is not an exaggeration to treat textbook as an assistant teacher for the child. The dependence of the child on textbook is as important as that of the teacher. Therefore, quality textbooks can provide the needed support for the children in all dimensions of learning. That is why the current administration, converge on facilitating learning through improved textbooks for young Filipinos.
Value development in children is like a growing a plant. In this process, the society, parents, public officials, textbooks, media, and teachers play their respective roles. Among various entities, the teacher becomes the facilitator to ensure that the value development takes place as per norms. The teacher should always play a proactive role in cultivating the minds of children and developing strong values in them. In this process, let textbooks provide the needed support to the teachers to inspire the young Filipinos.
In the end, getting the students’ interest to study hard is what matters most and improved textbooks will contribute to all the possible means for achieving this high quality learning. Let us all give this notion of the administration a guaranteed bright future for young Filipinos.
By: Florenda C. Fabico | Teacher I | Mariveles National High School – Poblacion | Mariveles, Bataan
