This is a subject that’s dear to many many as it’s seen as the lynch-pin of economic prosperity in both the micro (improving the quality of life of lower income families) and macro (increasing foreign investment, GNP, GDP, etc.). The question asked Gibo is that many people prior to him have promised increases in education spending but have failed to deliver, so what is his guarantee or his plan of action for education?
In typical fashion Gibo launches into an explanation of the issues as he sees it. His first point is that we have the need to improve the standard of our education, in terms of both quality and length. He makes a fair argument that if at 2 years old Chinese children are being taught to speak English and use computers we should be doing the same. He also makes a big emphasis on teaching children during these formative years because they are important (shame he didn’t explain why though). His second point focuses on the budget, asking where the money that people demand for education ahould come from? Should it come from Health care? Agriculture? Perhaps the military? His point being that we cannot afford to simply zero in on one factor as the solution to all of our nation’s ills, since we’re lacking on so many levels. His suggestions on lessening corruption would probably help, and he seems like the kind of person who would support a good idea like Gordon’s text tax for education since he’s said that he is in favor of higher consumption taxes. Lastly for tertiary education he wants to promote a viable student loan supervised by the SSS that is accessible to both middle and lower income students that should only be paid once they have steady jobs.
My takeaway from this is that Gibo feels there’s no point simply throwing money at the problem. His is a multi step solution. We have to take a hard look at the curriculum and check to see if it’s still teaching our children that things that they need in order to be productive members of society. Then we find out where we’re going to get the money to implement these reforms, then finally offer financial support to people in order to maximize the returns on those reforms. I find this a much more satisfying answer than just saying “bigger budget for education! Vote me!”
