Trends and traces of gaps

By Kevin Matthew N. Pacana

Filipinos of varying age and profession have been participating in a well-known video challenge. They are tasked to answer basic questions about Philippine history, and the fundamental elements of English grammar. For every correct answer, there is a monetary reward, while an incorrect one makes the player face consequences—plunging their face with white flour. Whether it is out of boredom or for entertainment purposes, it presents an underlying issue about our educational system.

For instance, a Filipino adult confidently answered that ‘forget’ is the past tense of the word ‘forgive’, associating it with the popular phrase: forgive and forget. In a separate video, a teenager believed that the Philippine President on the 50peso banknote was Ferdinand Magellan.

These videos reveal how Filipinos struggle with basic information recall. As an Education student, I recognize the reality of gaps that continue to plague our country’s education system. Although some initiatives exist to address these issues, they only provide temporary solutions to long-standing problems.

Furthermore, the belittlement of these people from these videos by “more educated” groups on social media exacerbates existing divides that perpetuate shame and inadequacy. Whatever one’s social status may be, people need to be reminded that everybody has the right to education. It is not supposed to be indecent to want to learn. Given this, we should strive to support and encourage those who are seeking knowledge.

In today’s fast-progressing world, it is unfortunate that many still suffer from the lack of education. As future educators, it is our responsibility to address these issues and work towards bridging educational gaps, one student at a time.

When you come across these videos online, I urge you to take a pause, and consider the underlying issues instead of finding amusement in the struggles of those affected by our flawed education system.C

In today’s fast-progressing world, it is unfortunate that many still suffer from the lack of education.