THE Philippines continued to grapple with learning gaps, causing many Filipino students and educators to fall behind their peers in neighboring countries.

Esteemed leaders and individuals from the private and public sector addressed this education crisis during The Manila Times student empowerment forum 2024, titled "Straightening out the learning curve," co-presented by BDO Unibank Inc., Mondelez Philippines and PwC.

Carmela Oracion, chairman of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Paascu), stated that to elevate the Philippine education system, it would be crucial first to acknowledge the existence of the learning crisis; then, come up with a solution, and implement it systematically.

Alvin Santos, an English coach and educational content creator on TikTok as pepe_word_smith, delved into the roots of the crisis, pointing to a cycle that needed to be broken.

He asserted, "Why are we uneducated? It's because we're poor. Why are we poor? It's because we're corrupt as a nation. Why are we corrupt? It's because we're uneducated. It's a cycle."

Now, to help improve the education system, Santos said the answer would be to break this pattern.

"What can we do? By fighting corruption in our own ways. It's easier said than done. If we can all realize that and start thinking that way, we can get out of this vicious cycle," added the content creator.

In straightening out the learning curve in this age, harnessing the power of technology was also highlighted by the speakers.

Popularly known on TikTok as dr.lyienho, Lyien Patricia Pascual, a medical doctor and also an educational content creator, stressed that while technology has been an essential part of today's living, students needed to be discerning about the information they consume on social media to avoid its negative impact on their mental health.

Meanwhile, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) also posed risks; hence, responsible use of this technology would be vital.

Pascual added that while AI could aid students in enhancing their learning, she reiterated that it it could not effectively teach them essential skills.

"As consumers of AI, we should be responsible on how we consume it. It's up to [the user] if it will be advantageous or disadvantageous [to them]," she said.

Speakers also pointed out that the youth should set boundaries between their online persona and their real-life identity, avoiding the tendency to measure their self-worth on likes, views or followers.

In line with this, Yochika "Ika" Nakagawa, PwC Philippines Human Capital senior manager, offered practical guidance on building a personal brand to support students in developing their self-esteem.

This included (1) defining the brand that would align to one's values, skills, goals and purpose, (2) embodying a brand that was unique, had promise and value, and(3) lastly, would build a brand not just to improve personal life but also to build society.

Creating a growth mindset culture

In an era of technology that allowed for instant access to information, embracing a mindset that remained open to growth was sometimes difficult to cultivate.

In order to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, Oracion suggested that schools should promote the value of effort and hard work rather than focusing solely on abilities.

"Acknowledge not just those with natural skills but also those who persevere," said the Paascu Commission on Secondary Education chairman.

Oracion explained that when students received a perfect score, they were always rewarded with stars or smiley faces. However, when a student made significant improvement yet was unable to attain a high score, nothing was written on the test paper..

"We often fail to recognize improvements that happen on the count of effort," said Oracion.

Oracion then reminded students to delight in the product of their efforts.

Santos also mentioned the role of guidance counselors, noting that regular sessions with them would help establish a culture where seeking help or advice is the norm in school.

Pascual agreed, saying that for those who find it difficult to share their problems or concerns with a guidance counselor, turning to friends, loved ones or teachers for support might be beneficial.

Meanwhile, Maria Teresa "Matec" Villanueva, a lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University John Gokongwei School of Management Marketing-Communications, discussed five empowerment tools during her talk, which included creativity, critical thinking, open-mindedness, communication and collaboration.

Villanueva told the students: "Do not be afraid to fail. It's part of the process. You need to fall down in order to stand up. You need to fail in order to learn and appreciate success."

Jed Velarde, Junior Achievement of the Philippines Inc. board member, also shared opportunities for students and young professionals to get certifications and upskill themselves through the organization's programs on work readiness, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and more.

Meanwhile, Sally Lopez, National Council for Children's Television member, shared an insightful talk on children's television with a goal "to make the Filipino children media literate, meaning not just a consumer but a smart consumer at that."

Her talk was especially helpful for the audience, who would be interested in creating child-friendly content.

In the end, when a student asked who was to blame for the learning crisis, the speakers echoed the same answer: the solution to the learning crisis lay in the hands of all of us.