As circulated in e-mails:


Advocacy versus Arroyo's classroom sufficiency stat


In a cabinet meeting, Gloria Arroyo showed her temper when Acting Secretary Fe Hidalgo presented that public school classroom shortage is 6,832. Arroyo claimed that based on their (Malacanang's) computation, there is no classroom shortage. If ever there is, the shortage would only be less than 1,000 . The basis of the computation, according to her, is the "agreed formula" of 100 students per classroom! Which is again another Garci-style figure manipulation just to show that she is a working president and has accomplishments. (Sounds like "I won fair and square!")

I am sure many will be misled if GMA's manipulated "classroom sufficiency" figures will be released. And many, especially those who haven't been to the grassroots or entered public schools, will be proselytized to believe Arroyo's manipulated statistics.

What should we do?

In New York, there was a corrupt politician named William Marcy Tweed a.k.a., "Boss Tweed". He was a leader of the Tammany Ring, one of the notorious political groups in the US. Since 1869, accounts regarding his corrupt practices were published in New York Times but these did not make an impact. Even Boss Tweed and the Tamany Ring were not troubled by the newspaper ccounts. In 1870, Thomas Nast drew political cartoons against Boss Tweed and the Tamany Ring. These were published in Harper's Weekly. The cartoons troubled Boss Tweed which led him to exclaim: Stop them damned pictures. I don't care so much what the papers say about me. My constituents can't read. But, damn it, they can see pictures!

Now, my proposition is that the youth arm of Akbayan, or any committee or group within the party, should spearhead the collection of pictures on (GMA's) "sufficient" classrooms particularly those that portray the following scenes:

• over-crowded classrooms
• classes held under the trees
• classes held beside the dilapidated buildings, CRs, along hallways, pathways, etc.
• classrooms lacking chairs (i.e., with pupils sitting on floors) and other facilities
• dilapidated buildings
• other pictures that will show the truth and contradict Arroyo's claim

Gather as much pictures as possible and send these to the Arroyo and the DepEd, publish these in newspapers, upload these on websites, circulate these on e-mails and other electronic chatrooms, flash these on teevees, etc. The pictures should bear an encryption similar to this one: We do not lack classrooms according to Gloria Arroyo. Of course, preferably, the pictures should contain facts such as the time and place taken to tell everyone that we are not into manipulating pictures as Arroyo is into manipulating figures. The objective, of course, is to show everyone the truth behind Arroyo's statistics.

Well?

When both are wrong

"Either our original data was wrong or this one is wrong. It cannot be both because the discrepancy is too big."
-- Gloria Arroyo on Hidalgo's presentation

Arroyo claims that there is no classroom shortage. Based on their computation, she said, the ratio of classrooms per students should be 1:100.

Acting DepEd Secretary Fe Hidalgo claims, however, that there is a shortage of 6,832 classrooms. This is based on the computation of 1:45 classroom to students ratio.


This led to Arroyo's anger outburst. Hence, the above-quoted statement.

That being the case, sino ang baliw... este, mali: Arroyo or Hidalgo?

The answer: BOTH!!!

The ideal classroom-student ratio is 1:20. Studies have shown that either too few or too many students in a class can affect their learning. Now, Arroyo is trying to insist on a 1:100 ratio just to paint a beautiful image and claim that there is no classroom shortage? For her information, other countries not only stick on a 1:20 ratio but also compute the space per student ratio. If schools cannot comply with that, they are ordered to close.

Mukhang ala-Garci na naman ang style nitong si Arroyo. Manipulate the figures to show she is winning the war against truth? Kaya pala si Maitet Diokno-Pascual is gaining popularity with her Arrovonomics.

Arroyo's Education Policy

Inq7 reports that claiming president Gloria Arroyo has scolded Acting Education Secretary Fe Hidalgo over classroom shortage report. Hidalgo presented that there is a current shortage of about 6,832 classrooms, at a ratio of 45 students per classroom, this coming school year 2005. But Arroyo interrupted Hidalgo's presentation saying that in 2004, the government had set a student-classroom ratio of 100:1, with classes having two shifts. Hence, the shortage of only 1,000 classrooms.

Failing to hide her disgust, Arroyo said: This is a very major issue. Can we defer this discussion . . . and identify the specific schools where there are shortages?

And she continued by saying that she was expecting the DepEd to report on its accomplishments and not on the classroom shortages.

Expression ni Doy: HUWATTTTT????

First, the fact that the DepEd was able to generate the figures is already an accomplishment. Why, what are the accomplishments that she want to hear? That several school teachers and students kneeled down to praise her for her contributions to the increasing quality of education? Ridiculous! Where was that, anyway?

Second, 45 students per classroom is already large. And Arroyo to stress a ratio of 100:1? And two shifts per day? Hey, what kind of education is Arroyo espousing?