One who has dug knowledge and has let himself be indulged and inclined with such principles, facts and theories are the same person who has achieved to overcome the call of ignorance – which contemporarily seems to be a contagious disease which penetrates the minds of most people. Notably, Philippines has succeeded in expanding its education in quantitative terms over its currently held population of 98M. With the 7.4 illiteracy rate, shows that Philippines’ literacy rate is quite high even when compassed to other Asian countries.
But, even with this seemingly tiny number, 7.4, it does not tell us that all Filipinos are able to read, write and comprehend. Indeed, there are about 15 million and counting who are still unaware of ABC’s, 123’s, basic skills and other must-be-possessed skills, knowledge and abilities. Perhaps, they had no chance of having undergone education or they had preferred to settle for less and keep hanging on the cliff of ignorance. This entails that several heads are entombed under ignorance over education, and their reasons really vary.
We can’t deny that we have the highest poverty incidence rate and we are shackled on to it since time immemorial. We have a lot of poor people who can’t afford to pay for education. Yes, ”pay for education,” the phrase that stings all ears. For only those who can afford to pay has the right to an education, the more you can pay, the better education you can get which is undeniably true and against the Philippine policy written on our constitution stating ” the right of every child (regardless of any matter) to an education.”
One more thing is that, there are people living in remote areas who also do not and can’t have access to schools. For most remote areas have no electricity, schools, hospitals and other establishments. Thus, they end up knowing nothing. Further is the willingness on the part of the individual to acknowledge that they have a problem. But unfortunately, most ignore this must-have state. They often prefer to subdue themselves on work and labor than to learn. Not knowing the perennial effect of ignorance unto them.
To conclude, ignorance is not a part of human nature but why is it continuously being hand-held? No man is a beneficiary of ignorance, no one.
By: Florinda L. Bantog | Teacher II | Limay Elementary School | Limay, Bataan
