It goes without saying that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the Philippine education system dramatically. For over a year, students all over the country have adapted to modern learning methods for everyone’s safety. Instead of having face-to-face classes, most students have pivoted to online learning, while those with no access to mobile devices and stable internet connection have resolved to alternative methods to pursue their education.
While the ongoing inoculation of COVID-19 vaccines does provide hope that people will get to enjoy a sense of normalcy in the future, the truth is that things will never be the same again. In order for students to continue their studies in an efficient and effective manner, education in the country has to evolve as well. Here are some predictions on what the future of Philippine education will look like:
1. Formal education will be replaced by training programs for employability.
In the next normal, Philippine society will not view tertiary degrees as one of the main requirements for employability. Companies will look at training programs that certify people are equipped with the right set of skills to perform their jobs well. Even before the onset of the pandemic, there have been a lot of short-term skills boot camp programs that fast-track the employability of young people. This trend is seen to spread not just in the country, but throughout the region. According to Holon IQ, workforce startups outnumber formal tertiary education institutions in southwest Asia.
2. Better internet penetration will accelerate online learning.
One of the biggest challenges of blended learning currently being implemented in the country is internet penetration. A lot of Filipinos do not have access to the gadgets and stable internet connection required for online learning. However, things are improving. According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Philippines has moved up to the 86th spot in the global mobile internet speed rankings as of January 2021. This is a huge leap from the 111th spot it occupied the year before.
3. A lot of startups will venture into education.
The ongoing blended learning setup is far from perfect, and there is a lot of room for improvement in Philippine education. Even those with access to technology tools have a lot of reservations about the current system. Thus, there are a lot of opportunities for startups to mitigate the pain points of studying in the country. This includes access to fast and reliable internet connections and affordable certification courses that help with the employability of the youth.
4. There will be a shift to ‘smart’ classrooms.
Technology will play a vital role in the evolution of Philippine education. According to LG, one of the global leaders in technology innovation, there will be a shift to transformative learning. As cities and households embrace smart technology, so too will Philippine education. A great example of this is the use of interactive screens, which paves the way towards making the physical and virtual classrooms active learning spaces. Smart classrooms are not only technologically advanced but environment-friendly as well, a great step in the direction of a more progressive and sustainable education system.
Change is inevitable and constant. In order to remain relevant in the post-COVID world, the Philippine education system will have to adapt to the times. There is a need to shake things up for the youth to be employable and globally competitive. Technology will play a key role in this dramatic change.
That’s why if you’re looking to pursue a career that will help reshape the future of Philippine education, you should consider studying in CIIT Philippines. An academic institution that promotes high-quality, industry-based teaching, we will help equip you to face the challenges of the future, and help drive the change the country and its education system needs in the next normal.