Basic Education and Corruption

Politicians and bureaucrats have already destroyed basic education—that is obvious in the annual litany of class-opening problems, such as the lack of teachers, classrooms and books, which provide petty politicos and greedy bureaucrats with the alibi to dip into the public coffers and spend resources, leaving them enough room for kickbacks.

—"Editorial: Higher-education lows" (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 15 May 2005)

The lack of teachers, classrooms and books is a perennial problem in the public education system. This is the reality that public school librarians face. If there is no money for the basics of basic education, how can we then expect the government to have money for libraries? But should librarians just give up? The answer lies not with politicians, principals, teachers, or parents. The answer lies with the librarians themselves.