Voters Education? We Can Do Better Than That!

I am dismayed by the kind of (some) candidates we have. Since amendments to raise the qualification for candidates is not possible at this time, the least that could be done is provide an orientation or some kind of briefing for the aspiring candidates. I think that educating them is more doable compared to educating millions of voters. Perform some realization check on how serious it is to hold a public office. I recently read an editorial by professor Randy David which I think is a good material for this purpose.

The following link will take you to INQUIRER.net :
To run or not to run: an ethical question

In the above link, professor David quotes Max Weber, “What kind of a man must one be if he is to be allowed to put his hand on the wheel of history?” He also stressed three traits that are essential to a political vocation—“passion, a feeling of responsibility, and a sense of proportion.”

However, I know that there are candidates who will stop at nothing in order to grab a public office, whose calloused hearts rendered their conscience to become insensitive. With that, nothing will match the value of an educated voters.

Formal Education Against Voters Education
Though voters education may help, government should seriously improve the quality of education in the Philippines and make it accessible for it’s citizens. Only then could the government come up with wise people that can vote wisely. Only then can we have voters who will have an independent mind to vote based on needs and platform rather than based on popularity and personality.

A study by IBON Foundation showed that the government’s neglect of education, coupled with worsening economic and social conditions, means that millions of children are unable to obtain a decent schooling. Out of every 100 children who enter Grade 1, only 66% will finish elementary school, 43% high school and only 14% will graduate from college.

With that predicament, will Rizal’s famous words that “the youth is the hope of our nation” still holds true if only 4 out of 100 children who enters Grade 1 manages to finish college?

BREAKING NEWS!
10% Cap Tuition Fee Increase, Inalis Na Ng CHED;
Matrikula, Tataas Sa Pasukan.