Why getting a degree is important even when you have already a stable job
Introduction
Many people perceive education as an institution created by the society. It should however be noted that education is a function of the society that arises from the nature and the characteristics of the society itself. It is aimed at maintaining its functions that will ensure the survival and convenience of the society. The Filipino formal education system consists of three stages, the elementary, secondary, technical, vocational, and tertiary education. Of the four stages, the tertiary level is the highest. At this level the degree is comprise of two levels, which are the undergraduate level and the graduate level degrees.
The importance of a degree
Income benefits
In every country where studies have been done, the evidence is that additional education raises income and reduces poverty; often by very substantial amounts. Micro-level breakdowns within developing countries show an inverse relation between education and poverty. This also applies in the Filipino society where the poverty levels are alarmingly high. This means that the higher ones level of education, the more one gets to earn. It explains why most of the people with technical level education go back to university for higher education. In Philippines’, like all developing countries better-educated workers have lower unemployment rates than less-educated workers. Therefore, the better-educated Filipinos tend to be employed more frequently in the superior occupations and tend to earn higher incomes while working.
There is an international belief that people who have qualifications that are under a degree contribute less to the economy than their colleagues who have degree. This stereotype has led to the marginalization of these individuals
The growing global market for students from developing countries has resulted in a greater demand for the graduates concerning both the destination of students as well as the level of education. With respect to the destination, developing countries are themselves trying to attract students from other countries to come work in their countries. Most of these people go because of the earning they will get which is much better than if it was in their individual country. This also acts as an attraction of the students to go for higher education.
Higher education is now easily and cheaply available both locally and internationally to the Filipino. This means that individuals are able to easily pay for this education. On the other hand, this concept works as a disadvantage to the same individuals because more and more people are pursuing higher education. The production of more graduates into the job market means that those under qualified or non-degree holders have to be sacked to create job employment opportunities for the graduates.
Due to poverty rates, most Filipino families are only able to provide their children with basic education, which consist of primary and secondary education. If a family tries hard, enough they can put their children through technical or vocational training. This means that when these children start earning a living they can pay for their own higher education. This is what happens in most cases with such students. However, this does not happen all the time because in some cases the individual has to provide for the family and can ill afford to pay for this education.
Attaining higher education will help the communities that they come from. Since most degree enable individuals to earn better salaries, than Filipinos want to get degree so that they can go back to the communities that brought them up and help them.
Degrees are mostly associated with professions. Many people go for degrees because unlike vocational training degree are associates with building professional careers such as engineers and doctors. This cannot be achieved through vocational training.
When an individual earns their degree, there is a certain degree of honor that is accorded to that person by not only their family but with the community as a whole. The community is able to recognize the individuals’ academic achievement. The individuals’ family is also treated with a lot of respect for being able to bring up and educate a bright and well-learned person.
In most organizations, a degree holder will hold a more authoritative position than the other less qualified individuals will. This means that they are trusted with greater responsibility and more often than not are put in charge of the other less qualified.
Attaining a degree is currently becoming a growing trend in the Philippines with more and more people going back to school. This means that Filipinos are no longer just interested in attaining basic education but are going on to attain even higher education. This acts as a great contributor to the economy of the country since a literate states economy grows faster that others due to sufficient labor provided by its graduates. The Filipino government has been encouraging the Filipinos to go for higher education to be able to provide an educated workforce for the countries economy.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why individuals pursue higher education in the Philippines. It is however important to recognize the leading reasons are for financial and social empowerment. Even though higher education is not forced on any individuals, the world is advancing at a very fast pace and the people who are likely to benefit are those that have attained high levels of education.
Bibliography
Forest, J. J. F., & Altbach, P. G. (2006). International handbook of higher education. Dordrecht: Springer.
Information Resources Management Association., & Khosrowpour, M. (2004). Innovations through information technology. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publishing.
Dy, M. B. (1994). Values in Philippine culture and education. Washington, D.C: Office of Research and Publications and the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy.
Obasi, I. N. (2008). Private higher education and public policy in Africa: A contrasting case of Nigeria and Botswana. Göttingen: Cuvillier.
