Philippines as the Academic Mecca

The Philippines as the Academic Mecca It is quite ironic that countless Filipinos are financially deprived to finish even the basic education, while thousands of foreign students who fly into the Philippines claim that with the same education quality, the costs are significantly cheaper. For example, a four-year degree course in the Philippines costs around $1,000 to $2,500 per year; this is remarkably cheaper in comparison with the United States’ educational costs, where students are estimated to spend more than $30,000 annually. An interesting fact is due to the increasing number of foreign enrollees each school year, the Philippine educational system’s confidence is growing. One reason is foreign students do not find it difficult to socialize and interact with Filipinos, who are reportedly warm and hospitable. Needless to say, foreigners experience the Filipinos’ bayanihan like no other country can provide; thus, it is common to see Filipino and foreign students working together in many activities in several campuses. Second, since the Philippines is an English-speaking nation, students who wish to learn and speak the language flock into the country. In addition, over 19,000 foreigners enrolled in various Philippine colleges and universities as of March 2011; South Koreans were leading with 6,000 enrollees, followed by the Chinese, Iranians, and Americans. With these having been said, foreigners find it easy to adapt to the country’s culture, environment, and norms. Going back to the 1980s, the government began luring foreign students to study in the Philippines. The following decade, institutions offering short-term courses in hotel and restaurant management, aviation, English, and maritime-related classes rapidly rose. In 2000, the government thought of a smart tactic to promote the Philippines as Asia’s academic mecca–making visa applications for students who desire to study in the Philippines easier. Another strategy was the government initiated student exchange programs between Philippine universities and institutions of many other countries such as Canada, South Korea, the United States, Australia, and several European countries. Another important factor to consider is that a handful of native and foreign college students prefer to study in the Philippines, mainly because of the teaching quality, skilled professors, and solid curriculum. Also, numerous foreigners stay and work here after graduation; some marry Filipinos and raise a family in the Philippines, while others start a business in the country. Some Filipinos, however, prefer to work abroad due to some financial difficulties that cannot be resolved by working in the country only. On the other hand, because of the Filipinos’ ingenious works and profound skills, different countries recruit others to work for them. Although it is unfortunate for the country to be exporting its own people for the sake of sending money to their loved ones and increasing the country’s remittances, at least the Philippines can be proud of its education–only people who have attained quality education are worthy to be sent and work abroad. The bottom line is Philippine education proves not only to be of quality, but to be a pleasant experience for both foreigners and natives, and to be more cost-effective in comparison with other countries’ as well. Without a doubt, the Philippines triumphs against other nations in the academic world.

Bibliography:
“Foreigners Find PH Education Cheap.” Philippine Daily Inquirer. Accessed on 16 November 2012.
“Improved Quality of Education in Philippine Schools.” Manila Bulletin. Accessed on 16 November 2012.
“Study in the Philippines.” Slide Share. Accessed on 16 November 2012.

Bibliography: “Foreigners Find PH Education Cheap.” Philippine Daily Inquirer. Accessed on 16 November 2012. “Improved Quality of Education in Philippine Schools.” Manila Bulletin. Accessed on 16 November 2012. “Study in the Philippines.” Slide Share. Accessed on 16 November 2012.