Towards A Holistic Educational System

While most people are now moving from conventional medicine to alternative medicine and now to complementary alternative medicine or CAM (a combination of both conventional and alternative practices), education focus in the Philippines must likewise move towards its holistic form.

This was the challenge presented by Senator Edgardo J. Angara in a speech during the People Competitiveness Summit 2007.

From left to right to whole brain

According to the Senator, the Conceptual Age (A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink) emphasizes the need to use the right side of the brain to be able to create new things.

He added that in this Age, we need a change in perspective and value the right side or the creative side of the brain, along side the left or the logical side.

This new age and new economy will call for skills and talents that, historically, have been largely discounted in the workplace—creativity, empathy, intuition, and the ability to link seemingly unrelated objects and events into something new and different. Doors now are opening to the artists, inventors, designers, storytellers, caregivers, consolers, and the big picture thinkers.

Technical-Vocational schooling, which highlights the use of creativity and craftsmanship, will play a great role in this shift towards the right brain and eventually to the whole-brain-conceptual age.

Other than educating those who are not in the formal system of education, "tech-voc will also help those in the creative class find their niche in the world," said Senator Angara.

At present, our colleges and universities are only producing 2.8 million graduates while there are more than 12 million out of school youth (OSY). By making tech-voc an attractive alternative, OSY will be able to take advantage of the growing demands for skilled workers.

Canadian government is now recruiting welders, bartenders and waitresses. In Subic, they need about 3,000 welders as well as in Cebu.

Indeed, this age will open doors to both the logical and creative class.

From global migration to finding jobs in the country

Information, communications and technology (ICT), business process outsourcing (BPO) and medical tourism are according to the Senator, just some of the country's market niches in the competitive globalizing economy.

He added that in 2005, the country generated US$2.1 billion from offshore service revenues, placing it third after India and China and ahead of Malaysia . Expected revenue for this year is pegged at US$4.9 billion. The number of employees likewise increased from 2,400 in year 2000 to 200,000 in 2006.

The Roadmap 2010 by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) foresees the creation of 600,000 new jobs and up to 1.5 million indirect jobs in the ICT and BPO industries in the next 3 years.

According to the Senator, the cost-effective telecommunications network and English proficiency of Filipinos is our competitive advantage in the US$3.6 billion-worth ICT industry. The ICT industry currently employs 235,000 Filipinos.

"Filipinos can also be the potential leader in software-backed-low-end technologies," said the Senator citing a study by the UP Open University. "We will continue to design and develop software packages and content delivery systems for individual users and consumers."

In the field of medical tourism, the Philippines can expect to earn $300 million per year. "This will provide opportunities for our doctors, nurses and medical practitioners right here in the country," said the Senator.

The market for medical tourism and retirement is expected to spend $2B in the next 5 years. At present, there are 25 partner hospitals offering medical tourism services and they expect 175,000 medical tourists each year.

Other than the financial benefits to the workers and remittances to the country, these three industries have cracked the problem of the global migration for jobs.

It is with great hopes that in the future; Filipinos will no longer be forced to go to other countries for greener pastures.

Scientists plus Artists

The Senator likewise highlighted the role of science and technology and the creative sectors as the "great enablers" in the global competitive economy.

These sectors will prevent the Philippines from being left behind in the competition. "Right now, our world of 6 billion people is divided into the top 1 billion, middle 4 billion and bottom 1 billion," said the Senator. "This bottom billion has remained stagnant while the rest of the developing world has enjoyed accelerating growth."

Fortunately for the Philippines, the future does not seem that bleak if we know our niche. China and India found a way out of being in the bottom billion and changed their fate through science and technology.

According to the Senator, in the US alone, there will be 2 million new jobs in computer science, math, engineering and the physical sciences by 2012. In addition, 2.4 million skilled production jobs will be available for machinists, system operators and technicians.

"Even Europe is experiencing a scarcity of skilled manpower in the scientific and technological fields and in computer skills and creativity," he added.

The move towards the creative sector is a signal that "the creative class will be the key to economic development in the future."

"The number of graphic designers has increased tenfold in a decade. More Americans today work in arts, entertainment and design and they are being paid more. Writers and musicians are now earning 30-50% more than they did in the 1970s," the Senator added.

Filipinos will not be left out with its pool of digital animators, graphic artists and artisans. "We can also tap the garment, jewelry and fashion industry, as well as the furniture industry," said the Senator.

For years, the country has showcased its pool of talents in the performing stage (from Broadway to musical competitions) and the classrooms in some of the best universities in the world. It is time that we further expand the reach of our knowledge and talent.

As the Senator puts it, "knowledge and innovation are the world's heartbeat. The Philippines , through better education, must move to this rhythm."

The rhythm of a holistic education.