MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) has rejected the proposal to relax the foreign investment limits in basic education in the Philippines.

A DepEd official issued the department's stand in the hearing Monday of the House Committee of the Whole on Resolution of Both Houses No. 7, which seeks to amend the economic provisions of the Charter.

"The Department is of the view that the proposed amendments by both houses to par 2 section 4 article 14 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution have far reaching consequences and serious implications with respect to the mandate of the Department and the exercise of its functions," DepEd Undersecretary Omar Alexander Romero said during his presentation to the panel. 

Urgent solution sought for PH education crisis

"The phrase 'unless otherwise provided by law' and and its underlying rational could potentially serve as a gateway to expand the scope of control and administration over educational institutions not solely by citizens of the Philippines but by other entities as well."

He said the department objects to allowing foreign entities to teach.

"Moreover, expanding the scope and administration over educational institutions, to foreign entities may affect the programs and commitments of the department specifically with respect to the implementation of the curriculum," Romero said. 

"During the foundational years of basic education, learners undergo crucial development across  various areas including physical social emotional, cognitive and values as this phase lays the foundation for future learning."

Romero said it is essential it that the Philippine curriculum is exclusively implemented by Filipino citizens.  

"This ensures alignment with the specific needs and context of the country. It is stressed that one of the key thrusts Matatag basic Education Agenda is the cultivation of the learners' sense of nationality, and identity as Filipinos through the Makabansa subject," Romero said.

Romero also said that Article 14 section 3-1  provides that all educational institutions shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism. 

"Having foreign entities control and administer basic education in the Philippines may run contrary to this undertaking.This begs the question how can foreign entities who are not citizens of the Philippines and therefore may lack first hand experience with Filipino culture and values effectively impart a sense of patriotism and nationalism to learners," Romero said. 

"Consequently this may result in the possible dilution of the fundamental aspects of Filipino identity culture and values to be taught and worse endanger national security."

The DepEd also said the removal of the 3rd paragraph on the limits on the number of foreign nationals studying in an educational institution and the prohibition on the establishment of educational institutions solely for foreigners except for those created for foreign dignitaries and their dependents and for other foreign temporary residents.

He said it poses great risks on national security due to the lack of provisions for proper supervision and control over aliens in Philippine territory.

"This susceptibility to external and foreign influence raises concerns regarding national security as it may expose these educational institutions to infiltration and compromise," Romero added.

The agency is led by Vice President Sara Duterte, who has rejected Charter change.

The DepEd supervises the basic education sector in the country. Its counterpart in higher education, however, differed and expressed openness to back Charter change.

CHED FAVORS CHA-CHA

"The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) does not object to the constitutional amendment that will open up control and administration of educational institutions to foreign nationals as a general principle what we have observed in the other ASEAN countries  over the past years is that opening up ownership and control of educational institutions in higher education has made them more competitive in their internationalization efforts," CHED Chair Prospero de Vera told lawmakers.

"The Philippines is one of the very few countries in the region that has restrictions on foreign ownership and participation in higher education. There are various models in the region like those of Malaysia and Singapore where the country has not only amended their laws, to allow foreign companies to participate in their higher education structure but more important incentives have been put together by government to encourage foreign schools to set up and participate in higher education," De Vera added.

Kimbery de Asa of the Technical Educational Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said the agency acknowledges the necessity of reframing the nation's economic policy to keep up with the demands of our increasingly globalized  age while considering and protecting the Filipino first policy that guides the economic provisions of the Constitution.

The University of the Philippines (UP) through its president Angelo Jimenez did not object.

"This position that we are going to take is founded and can only be founded on the statutory mandate of the University of the Philippines as well as the constitutional mandate for all higher educational institutions to inculcate patriotism and nationalism. We submit that these mandates are not in conflict instead they reinforce each other into an educational research that is both nationalistic and globalized and this is the UP example," Jimenez said.

"In keeping with its mandate, the university expresses its readiness to support informed interdisciplinary discussions on constitutional reform," Jimenez added.

The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Institutions meantime rejected Charter amendments.

"COCOPEA expresses its opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment especially paragraph 2, section 4 of article 14. Respectfully there is no compelling or urgent reason to amend our constitution allowing full foreign ownership, control and administration over our educational institutions  does not address the issues plaguing the Philippine educational system. If any this will exacerbate existing issues especially in the socio economic inequality and access to education among others, and it will endanger the viability of our private educational institutions," COCOPEA Legal Counsel Christina Manaog.

"Moreover we believe that the increase or full foreign ownership of our educational institution will lead to a more heightened if not inequitable competition this is because foreign institutions will have more resources as opposed to our local private schools. And our local private educational institutions especially our smaller schools will struggle to compete with larger well funded foreign counterparts," Manaog explained.

"Allowing full foreign fully owned institutions to operate in the Philippines will create an even greater disparity uneven playing field ultimately placing our private education institutions at a distinct disadvantage," Manaog added.

RBH 7 seeks to empower Congress to pass laws to regulate foreign investments in education, public utilities and advertising. 

The panel tackled public utilities last week and will tackle advertising Tuesday.