I found myself wandering the streets one night after a failed project. The task I had procrastinated was stressful enough to prompt me to go on a walk. During my stroll, I stumbled upon two kids crouching underneath a lamp post. Upon further inspection, I noticed with them newspapers that were crumpled and ripped of a few sheets. They were attempting to dictate the complicated words found underneath the feature section, squinting as they struggled to read underneath the flickering light. It occurred to me then that while I was busy grumbling about an assignment I could have done days before, to this day, too many children like the two have yet to find access to the same quality education I take for granted here in my country.

The Philippines is a nation that boasts fine beaches and colorful lands. While it is a great place for tourism and laughter, one thing it lacks, however, is the provision of opportunities to learn. According to UNICEF (n.d.), despite being a middle-income country, around 2.8 million children do not go to school; and from the halved population of 3 to 4 year old's that are enrolled, only around 78% complete basic education. In the present, more than 3 million people remain unenrolled since the shutdown ("The Current Education Issues in the Philippines...," 2021). This mostly affects children and youth in the poverty section who continue to work hard to earn and oftentimes choose to work jobs instead of go to school. Moreover, a survey from 2018 found students from the Philippines ranked 78th in math and science, and ranked last out of 79 countries in reading comprehension ("The Current Education Issues in the Philippines...," 2021). Aside from provision, the actual quality of the campuses as well as the materials being taught are not of high standard. From inadequate books and equipment, broken chairs beside cracked windows, insufficient numbers of classrooms, to dirty restrooms; it is a surprise that despite poor learning conditions, students are still able to smile outside.

This can be blamed on the low budget placed on education. Teachers are not paid sufficient wages despite being overworked too, and planned extensions for buildings are often stopped mid-way due to lack of budget. Who will lead the country's future if not the children? How will this land, full of different cultures and people, continue to shine underneath the sun if the citizens and the children have no access to good quality education? Greater investment must be allotted towards education and the likes in order to both provide learning opportunities to every child there is, and improve the resources for learning.

That is not say that there is no hope, however. Being a student lucky enough to have access to even write this, I can speak out about the inequality and poor quality of education here in the Philippines. I can donate, once circumstances allow so, books that are both new and old to places in dire need of them, volunteer to help teach at institutions lacking staff, and urge others to do the same. While individually, I cannot fix the system, if more and more people are encouraged to aim for better learning in the country, education can be provided to every citizen there is.

It will be a slow process, one that will be in need of many people and resources, but one that will inevitably be worth it. In order to allow the same kids I saw reading under a street light, and the many others in similar situations, to properly learn in an actual learning site, the education system in the country must be reconstructed and improved into a stronger and more efficient version for the future of the country. For even the national hero, Jose Rizal, spoke for improvement in schools; as to him, education elevates the country to the highest seat of glory.

Education, accessible to all but claimed by few, such is the irony that sums up my view. I come from a modest yet beautiful country, Indonesia, where there are warm, kind-hearted people to begin with. Unfortunately, the lack of access to education has hindered them from discovering their full potential which leaves my country with numerous diamonds in the rough. People coming from rural areas are those who are mostly left out in accessing education.

One way to make sure that everyone receives quality education is through building schools in all areas, providing teachers with quality training, as well as ensuring teachers' welfare. In Indonesia, schools are prominent in urban areas but scarce in rural areas, which reminds me of the Indonesian novel based on a true story, entitled: "Laskar Pelangi". The author encapsulates the life of ten students who came from villages and the struggles they faced to pursue education. When reading this novel, I believe that the government should allocate resources into building at least one subsidised school in every village and constant maintenance is needed. This makes education more accessible to people in rural areas as they do not have to travel far and pay for education. It is important that education should be free as people from rural areas believe that their children should work with their parents rather than to spend their money on education; when in reality, we know that education is an important investment for their children's future. The school's maintenance is also important as buildings can erode or collapse if it is not well taken care of.

Quality education is another issue to be tackled in Indonesia. There is a difference between a person who is able to teach and those who are smart. A smart person does not necessarily have the skills to educate others. This seems like an obvious fact; nonetheless, it is a neglected one in my country. I believe that it is best for the government to provide a training program for those who want to become a teacher. They should be taught how to best educate students in the student's most preferred way, whether they are visual, auditory, or kinaesthetic learners. This would help students better retain information and skills that they learn in school. Upon completion of this program, the teachers can be given a trial run on teaching students. The students can then evaluate the teacher's style of teaching to assess their readiness to become a teacher.

In addition to this, a teacher's well-being is essential to be looked after as it influences the quality of teaching. In Indonesia, not many people are keen on becoming a teacher. This is because a teacher's profession is being looked down upon and teachers' salaries are unequal in differing schools. A teacher may earn a very high salary in international schools; however, teachers in local schools earn a low salary, which may be inadequate to cover their living expenses. Because of this, the government should set a minimum wage for teachers which ensures their quality of life to attract more people to this occupation. Moreover, teachers should also be appreciated by society for their contributions. This is where we, the citizens, play a role. Teachers should be well-looked upon by society as they are the guiding figures of students who help them build a better tomorrow.

In conclusion, these actions such as building subsidised schools in rural areas, providing training programs for teachers, and ensuring teachers' welfare are a few ways to improve the quality of education in Indonesia alongside making it more accessible to the community. Education should be indeed claimed by all. It is an essential element of human capital and is the most valuable asset of a country. It is the key to turning diamonds in the rough to diamonds in the sky, where one's potential would be a beacon of light to the country.

Bibliography: Hirata, Andrea. Laskar Pelangi. Belang, 2005.