Bologna Accord: effectively making undergraduate studies in the Philippines useless?
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About 46 countries including all the 27 members of the European Union, with the exception of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, San Morino, and the Ukraine have decided to adopt the Bologna Accord this year – 2010.
I can’t help but notice: “Bakit parang wala lang?“, as far education officials are concerned?
What is the Bologna Accord?
In 1999, the Ministers of Education of 29 European countries agreed to make the school systems of their countries compatible with each other. Degrees from one country would then have to be accepted by any country signing the Accord. The agreement was signed at the University of Bologna in Italy.
What’s in the Accord?
Here’s some that I gathered:
• Under the Bologna Accord, European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is very much like our system of “units”. One ECTS-credit is equivalent to about 30 hours of study.
• A bachelor’s degree can be earned in three years. Europeans three-year bachelor’s degrees are equivalent to America’s four-year undergraduate degrees.
• The European three-year degrees is considered distinct from the Indian BComm, which is not equivalent to a bachelor’s degree as it often requires further study before the degree recipient is qualified to enroll in a graduate management program.
More bachelor’s graduates, and consequently, more potential master’s students.
The Bologna Accord creates a shorter undergraduate degree – 3 years. It is expected that there will be more European students who will successfully complete bachelor’s degrees, which would, in turn, create a large pool of potential graduate students. The estimate is 2.4 million students per year by the year 2010.
Before the Bologna Accord, first degrees in Europe which is equivalent to an American bachelor’s degree plus master’s degree were supposed to take 5 years to complete. However, in practice, the length of study was often considerably longer than 5 years because of students’ tendency to re-sit years and take a long time to write a final thesis—without which, many degrees could not be awarded.
And so the length of these first degrees was a deterrent from attempting them and a barrier to education. Of those that did enter higher education, on average, students in 5- to 6-year courses had a 17% higher dropout rate than students in 3- to 5-year courses of study.
With shorter degrees, it will encourage more students to earn a bachelor’s degree.
For example:
• In Italy, first degrees took an average of 5.6 years to complete.
• In France and Germany, degrees were typically completed in 5.3 and 6 years, respectively.
• In Austria and Greece, a first degree took an average of 7.3 years to complete!
In Europe, very long first degrees were the dominant model. With the Bologna Accord, there will be a fundamental shift. More bachelor degree graduates would mean more potential master’s students. While it’s difficult to predict what the student will do after graduating with a bachelor’s degree, it is their hope that they will continue to work on a master’s degree.
What’s in it for us?
The Philippines uses the American educational system. Our Engineering courses use the Washington Accord. Bologna Accord tries to make the European education compatible with the American system.
But the Bologna Accord is bad news to graduates in the Philippines intending to further their studies in Europe. It is also bad news to those who would be looking for a job in Europe. Then again, it could also be good news for us. Why? This will force our Department of Education to adopt major improvement changes to our educational system to meet the requirements of the Bologna Accord. The question is, will they? And when?
According to Isagani Cruz:
“Starting this year, undergraduate degrees in the Philippines will no longer be recognized in most European countries. Jobs in most European countries that require undergraduate degrees will no longer be open to Filipinos, who went to school in the Philippines.” (Source: Philstar)
Take note, “will no longer be open to Filipinos” was how it was written on the article. (We don’t know if it applies also to foreigners who went to school in the Philippines.)
What will DepEd do now?
“The Philippines is the only country in the world with 10 years of basic education; every other country has 12 (except for Myanmar, which has 11). All international agreements assume that students entering college have had more than 10 years of basic education. For example, both the Washington Accord and the Sydney Accord explicitly require 12 years of pre-university education and the Dublin Accord requires 11 years. Europeans always take 12 years to finish basic education.” (Source: Philstar)
Quo vadis jobless Filipinos?
This brings us back to the bottom line of education. Finding opportunities. I don’t want to sound sarcastic and cynical, but when President Noy vowed to curb forced migration, Bologna Accord seemed to be doing it for him for it sounded like a lost opportunity for Filipinos wanting to work and/or find opportunities in Europe.
I hate to say this, but this Accord effectively renders undergraduate studies in the Philippines useless. It’s bad enough that employment discrimination in the Philippines is not only rampant and almost in-your-face, but we also don’t have enough local employment opportunities to absorb dislocated workforce. Result? Migration continues and so are family separations.
Sources:
1.) A modest proposal to globalize our education
2.) The Bologna Accord
3.) Washington Accord
4.) Dublin Accord
5.) The Bologna Accord: A European Revolution with Global Implications
6.) Bologna Process
7.) Education Challenge
8.) Note: Please correct me if I am wrong, but from what I hear, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act in the Philippines is still pending. (13th Congress bill filed)
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reynz is one Uragon and a Filipino-American, has many years of public accounting & auditing, broadcast investments, housing tax credits and equity investments as his background. Based in the US, he maintains his personal and humor blog at reyna elena dot com. A graduate of Aquinas U, he went to GWU and Temple U in the United States.
Reynz:
the Bologna Accord had been on the cauldron almost 10 years. The world knew most countries in the EU will implement/adapt it by 2010.
It’s pretty much like Australia 12 years basic and most undergrad are 3 years except courses in medicine etc.
its rather pathetic for Mr. Cruz to just say that. It’s unacceptable.
it’s like he is useless. he should be fired.
now the Philippines is gonna do the catching up AGAIN. bloody lost opportunities
exactly. radical changes has to be made as in NOW NA. it’s infuriating that no one seemed to care.
di ba reyns yung mga medicine professionals nga natin di accredited yung studies nila sa germany and vice versa? i know of a nurse who holds a very high position in the middle east, tapos when she married a german, she applied for jobs in germany. no jobs kasi daw she needs to study again. ayun, she’s working for burger king now.
true Kengs. similar sya sa Canada. my friend from Catanduanes migrated to Canada 3 years ago. Civil Engineer, licensed sa Pinas. anak nang patola, he was told to study again in Canada before ma-recognize yong bachelor’s daw nya. To think na Pinas is following the Washington Accord. Ayun, sa inis, bumalik sa Catanduanes.
nga pala, i remember, PRC don’t recognize Germany’s professional credentials hahaha! i was reminded of Beng’s husband who is a German doctor. di ba nga, they were supposed to open a clinic in Davao, but PRC required that the husband take the medical board exams? ayun! napalayas bigla si Beng nang Davao hehehe
there’s a way to go around that pala. dapat lang you need a pinoy doctor as a partner, etc. etc. etc.
Reynz, good of you to bring up the of the German doctor’s intention to practice; in his case, his educational credentials were already irrelevant. What had relevance was his license to practice in the Philippines.
It would appear, from you narration, that the Philippines & Germany don’t have a bilateral agreement whereby a license to practice a profession granted by one is automatically deemed a license to practice in the other. (The medical & legal professions are such regulated professions that easily come to mind.) But there are exceptions, of course, e.g., doctors on urgent or goodwill medical missions who are allowed to practice by special dispensation; practice is specifically circumscribed by the specific purpose/case & duration.
Actually Reynz, nagiging progressive na dito sa Alberta Canada. If you are able to work here as an engineer, after a year and after passing a required course in professional ethics, madali na. But this only applies to engineering graduates with international experience so I am seeing a lot of young Filipino engineers now working in the oilpatch. Even ten years ago, it would have been so hard to get a job here as an engineer but because of the boom, a lot of newly arrived engineers with experience were hired. I had to upgrade myself and I even went to finish a Masters just to show that I can even better myself here. But I remember the examiner making fun of our three year engineering degree. I answered that it is a 5 year engineering course but he said he subtracted the two years that should have gone to secondary schooling. It is high time that our country follow the 12 year program and also add a full day kindergarten. Also have options for kids who want to go to trades school since they also make good bucks or sometimes even better than professionals. On top of that throw in mandatory second language like Spanish and Chinese and computer fundamentals. As for teachers, forget it, you have to start from the beginning. At least with nursing, one can work at nursing homes while challenging the exams. Filipino accountants can easily find employment here since Filipino accounting graduates are highly regarded here.
yeap Rosa. there are only 2 choices. follow the standards set by Europe or convince Europe to adapt to our standards haha! i guess the choice is clear hahaha!
Let me share some comments on the same topic on a separate thread:
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Reynz, The problem is, the US, Canada and Australia are planning to follow suit. Its on the news.
Noynoy has to juggle two problems
1. lack of school and teachers for the over populated studentry
2. and the upgrading of the years to 12 years.
I think this Bologna accord is for the better. The thing is, it seems to be a hindrance because we have the problem of lack of facility.
Kaya kasi nagrereklamo ang magulang at ayaw gawin na 12 years ang basic edu kasi dahil sa uniform, baon at gamit. Kung ako sa dep ed, babawasan ko yung mga projects kuno na walang katuturan tulad nung mga basket weaving etc na pahirap sa estudyante. sa amerika they focus more on science project at hindi kung anik anik na katarantaduhan ng mga teacher para kumita.
isa pa, sa america walang uniform. dapat alisin na rin uniform ng mga bata sa public school. dagdag pahirap pa yun sa magulang.
tapos sa public school sa america ang pagkain sa recess ay libre.
kung magagampanan ng gobyerno to lahat, di magrereklamo mga magulang kasi wala na sila gagastusin sa 12 years na yun
another comment responding to the comment above (from a separate thread)
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I agree with [deleted] points.
Also, alisin na lang nila ang mga walang kwentang subjects or merge na lang with other subs na related naman sa kanila. Katulad ng [deleted] at [deleted]. Ako, nagtuturo ako ng [deleted] sa school, potek, wala naman bearing sa [deleted] ang mokong na subject na yun at yung core principles naman nya e nadidiscuss sa isang subject ko ng sociology. It is a waste of time for both instructor and student.
Pwede naman siyang imerge sa mga subjects na may kinalaman sa civics, social sciences or even governance. Tapos imajor revamp nila ang elementary at high school. Sira ang mga foundations ng mga bata – dapat lahat ng basics sa elementary lang. Wag na irecycle sa high school. Dapat preparatory na for college ang high school.
Takte, daming problema nito. Ang sakit sa ulo. Shit talaga.
another response….
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tama yung sinabi ni [deleted]
dapat alisin mga subject na walang kwenta. sa PE na lang sa halip na sports ang tinuturo, eh sayaw ang pinagkakaabalahan. Sa music, 10 years kami may music sa private school pero sa totoo lang, sa UST lang ako natuto magbasa ng nota at kantahin ang nota diretso mula sa piano piece. isang sem pa lang yun ha… eh sa basic ed ang tinuturo sa music mga walang kwenta.
Yung cultural dance, drama ekek dapat sa orgs and clubs na lang.. na kung saan optional.
wala ako nakikita na problem sa transitioning frrom 10 years to 12 years.
No offense, pero sa totoo lang, hindi naman lahat, yung mga graduate ng edu dito sa atin mga bopols karamihan. Dapat ang educ ang may pinakamahirap na board exam. kaya yung mga naupo sa dep ed, mga bopols din. madami na ako nakatrabaho na graduate ng educ, pero painlan ilan lang yung talagang magagaling at matatalino.
kulang sila sa analytical thinking di tulad ng ibang profs na graduate ng ibat ibang course. simnpleng management hindi nila makaya. Kaya tingan mo sino ang mga nagiging dean of studies sa mga schools, pag hindi nurse, doctor o business ad grads at madalang ang educ graduate.
Masyado medieval ang teaching skills at system ng mga educ grad. Kung ako sa ched, pagagandahin at pahihirapan ko ang ciurriculum ng teachers kasi sa qualkity ng education, punot dulo nito ay ang mga teachers. No offense. hindi naman lahat. Kaya medyo tama ang comment ni rossana dun sa showtime kasi nga most of the teachers, kahit dito sa amin sa catholic school, ay ganyan ang mga intellectual capacity.
Dapat teachers ang mas pinakamagaling sa lahat ng profession at mas mataas ang sweldo.
i must admit, wala ako natutunan sa music hahaha. pero alam kong kumumpas ng beats kc kailangang gawin sa flag ceremony 4/4 sa lupang hinirang at 2/2 sa school anthem “oh [insert alma matter here] dear college…” hahaha. with matching ngatog ng tuhod sa harapan ng whole student body! hahaha. litsi! bakit nga ba kelangan gawin yon?
natuto ako magtanim nang kamote. wa biro, pati kamoteng kahoy. yan ang PE namen nun sa elementary. ang siste nito, pag harvest season na, i have no more clue kung sino ang kumukuha. i hear, principal daw. i hear teachers daw. di ko alam, what i know is that, elementary pa lang ako, alam ko na ang ibig sabihin nang kurakot. hahaha
ay oo totoo yan! naranasan kong mag gardening (as in mag gapas ng damo sa field! at and other ac tivities gaya ng paglilinis ng office ng principal, i was in elementary noon! pati pagtitinda sa canteen e duty rin namin. naka! child labor nga ata ginawa sa men! hayz!
[...] sad that according to one of the comments in B7, this has been in the cauldron for 10 years and yet, our education officials just sat on it and [...]
“dapat teachers ang pinakmagaling sa lahat ng profession”
this is what i’m pointing out matagal. sa teachers matututo ang lahat ng students. they should be the most intelligent of all for they are the ones who will give inputs to our children. but no! karamihan ng ng bata ngayon na magka-college will say “education na lang ang kukunin ko kc mahina ako” i’ve heard this before so many times. infact mrami akong ka batch na teacher ng science ang math na di marunong mag compose manlang ng simple sentence. i think i have already mentioned this in one of my comment somewhere here in b7. kakalungkot talaga. and i can remember, i think when we were in high school, supposedly dadagdagan daw ng grade 11 diba? correct me if i’m wrong please. pero walang nangyari. ayan late na tuloy and education natin. at present ang equivalent ng bachelors degree is higher educ lang dito sa UK, and ang masters degree(depende sa units at subjects parin) e bachelors lang and that is equivalent to less than NVQ5 lang! litsi! e pedeng karirin ang isang NVQ level in 6 months lang na once a week lang ang meeting with the assessor gawa lang assignment! gggrrrr! nkakawalang gana talaga at nakakapanghimutok!
BTW, DO YOU KNOW NA ANG MGA NURSE DITO HINDI DATI NAPUNTA SA SCHOOLS? TRAINING LANG SA OSPITAL? LITSI KYA KABADO AKO MAOSPITAL DITO E. HAHAHA. totoo to honestly.
This goes back to Noynoy’s plan to increase the salary of teachers. That is the only way we can attract students to enrol in education if they see that it is financially rewarding and also keep the experience teachers from applying abroad. A lot of kids miss classes during the typhoon season. I always wondered why we do not have classes starting in Sept. ending in June so that only half of the rainy season is class time. It will also reduce absenteeism. I know summer would be missed but I’d rather have the kids safe at home than go to school during the typhoon season.
Just read the news on corruption and patronage with the DepEd as a breeding ground. Again, everyone should be involved in exposing the perpetrators and that Noynoy has to look on this if he is true to his word on fighting corruption and improving our educational system.
Kelangan ba talaga umabot sa 12 years? Tulad ng suggestion ng iba, irevamp na lang ang subjects, system, etc. Aminin natin, another two years sa pag-aaral will be a burden to most parents. Oo nga puedeng gawin libre ang nasa public schools but hindi naman lahat nagiging libre. Lalo na yung nasa private schools.
agree ako na alisin ang subjects na walang kwenta. di na necessary ang mga yun for global competition, at dagdagan din ang basic ed for another 2 years as long as academic ang mga iyon. Tanggalin din ang mga educ’l administrators na kulang sa competence to manage the schools. kasi naman ang dep ed are promoting teachers to administrators base on diplomas na hindi naman natin masisiguro na consistent ang skills, competence and dedication ng taong may ari nun. What I mean, di alam mg manage at sahod lang ang habol, tapos wala lagi sa skul and di alam kung what’s happening in the skul and what needs to be done about the problems there. Di rin dinidiscipline kung ang teachers ay incompetent and lazy kasi pareho sila.
Same here. When they sent my transcript of records for evaluation to go back to college here in the US, they deducted my credits to make up the two years in secondry school that we don’t have in the Philippines.
First of all please don’t get me wrong with this comment. Most of your suggestions about the Bolonese Spaghetti este Bologna Accord are good. It’s just sad that Philippines cannot prove or dictate to the world that the number of years that we spent in our schools is sufficient enough. Is it really the number of years in school? What about the experiences? Does it mean that those who took vocational courses has no chance to land a good job in other countries like Europe?
I like the other comment re: Unnecessary subjects – this is truly the problem. For example: Why the medical student need to study again the World History after his high-school? Kailangan ba nya i-kwento ito sa magiging pasyente nya?
Another example: Yung mga math na sobrang sakit sa ulo like algebra, calculus. Halos lahat yata ng course meron nito. Bakit pag-milyonaryo kaba kailangan mo pa mag-calculus to spend your money.
Nevertheless, my recommendation to Filipinos is to stop focusing to the “Employee” mentality but instead to become inventor and entrepreneur locally and globally. Then I guess this is the fair ground to prove who’s really doing well.
I think this is the best way to set the trend to their so called GLOBAL STANDARD rather than us always following them.
We always here and say…”Magagaling ang Pinoy” then lets prove it away from what they know is right. Time to change, time to set the standard and its time to be MORE respected globally.
This is not far-fetched, we only need to change or improve our mindset.
“my recommendation to Filipinos is to stop focusing to the “Employee” mentality but instead to become inventor and entrepreneur locally and globally. Then I guess this is the fair ground to prove who’s really doing well.”
Indeed. Very good point. The last 100 years na ata our education is focused on shipping out graduates to be “employees” around the globe.
I agree with Daryl on this one. Binggo talaga.
I love the last comment pero napaka-ironic na dapat i-adapt natin ang Bologna Accord. I copied some of the comments in our thread in SSC Philippines:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=59333837#post59333837
Anyhow, di lang dapat number of years ang i-up but also the quality of teaching, transparency in procurement of items, improving equipment, long term implementation and dedication to the job. Sure, pwede ang 4 years, but how about those who will seek international masters? 6 years may not solve everything but 4 years would imply that the average pinoy is smart enough to tackle everything in life here and abroad. Kulelat na nga tayo sa 2008 Advanced TIMSS Study ipagkakait pa natin ito.
6 years will give breathing space to everyone and is more democratic. My balikbayan friend even told me that while our educational system is packed and more advanced (in terms of teaching) wala din talaga ito because we rely on sheer memory rather than practice.
thank you for spreading the word. dapat lang we should all rise up in ….. sa current state of education naten. kelan pa nila i-i-improve to.