UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS told Artlets that the growing influence of neoliberalism in the educational system puts in peril the humanities subjects that teach Filipino culture and national awareness to tertiary students.
Filipino language advocate Crizel Sicat-De Laza said humanities subjects like Philippine Government and Constitution, Philippine History, and literature are being removed in the new curriculum because they are “anti-neoliberal.”
“Ito sana ‘yung mga subject na kung saan pwede nating bigyan ng espasyo ‘yung pagkatuto hinggil sa kamalayan sa lipunan,” De Laza said in a seminar titled Danas held at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex Auditorium.
“Bakit tayo magtataka kung bakit ang daming batang nagtatanong kung bakit nakaupo si Apolinario Mabini sa Heneral Luna? Tatanggalin pa ang pag-aaral ng Philippine History eh wala na ngang alam sa kasaysayan ang mga bata,” she noted.
Echoing the Filipino language advocate, Jonathan Vergara Geronimo described the state of humanities subjects as marginalized.
“Ang literature at iba pang humanities subjects ay naging mga marginalized discourse. Alam kasi nila na wala silang makukuhang pera mula sa mga kursong ito,” said the managing editor of Hasaan.
Geronimo encouraged the students to be critical and avoid being easily influenced by neoliberalism while urging the Artlets to write more stories that showcase reality.
“Huwag kayong magsunud-sunuran sa market na tinatapakan ang ating dignidad at boses,” he said. “Ginagawa kayong mga robot upang lumikha ng lumikha ng mga produkto.”
Students can stop the neoliberal thinking of people through studying, writing, and having critical discussions, the two educators noted.
“Mahalaga na nakikita ninyo ang mga nangyayari sa labas ng akademya. Magbasa at huwag makipagsabayan sa kababawan ng social media,” De Laza said.
The seminar, spearheaded by the UST Literary Society, served as the society’s first of six seminar series on social issues. F KRYSTAL GAYLE R. DIGAY
