In his weekly address, Governor Eddie Baza Calvo said that the government can no longer continue to shortchange the Department of Education, but at the same time, government cant just throw money at the department either.
œWeve got to provide public schools proper resources. Theres no way around this. And we cant just throw money at the schools. We cant prepare budgets the same way every year and expect things to change. This has to be strategic. This year, GDOEs budget request is at $287 million.
Calvo said his administration will develop a strategic blueprint for economic development which will directly impact public schools.
œThe bridge between education and economic development will be the creation of a strong and educated workforce. The public schools budget should be tailored around this blueprint, said Calvo.
œA consortium of economists and private sector leaders will develop workforce and industry projections of our future. They will hand this off to educators, who will present their resource needs to prepare students for this future, he added.
According to the governor, the education budget should never be viewed as a year-to-year appropriation because it should be dynamic and strategic.
œGovernment finances are unacceptable and so are test scores. Today the government of Guam owes you $287 million in tax refunds. And, quite coincidentally, DOE is asking for a $287 million budget. The government cannot afford to pay this all at once. That is over half-a-billion dollars, Calvo said.
Guam is the victim of the cruel cycle of poverty, said Calvo.
œIts become endemic. At some point in our government, education funding took a back seat to other priorities. Public schools were only given enough to get by. Even that is an exaggeration. Weve seen over the past few years how DOE had to beg GovGuam for money to pay teachers and to keep the power on, he added.
œTest scores started slipping. Graduation rates took a turn for the worst. Over half the high school graduates over the past 20 years could read below basic aptitude. Its no coincidence that welfare rolls have risen, along with homelessness and unemployment. Income levels are well below poverty rates throughout the nation, said Calvo.
Calvo also said he will prioritize education funding because there is a clear connection between education and poverty.
œGovernment cant shortchange the future. Prioritizing education funding opens so many opportunities for Guam. In a few small years, we can break the cruel cycle of poverty. Well have a strong and educated workforce ready to lead a new economy. The next generation will contribute their share, and late tax refunds will be a thing of the past, said Calvo.
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Halo Sobat, Nama Saya Sofyan Syah, Memulai Dunia Blogging Sejak Nov 2011, Meskipun Masih Baru terjun di Dunia Blogging, Saya tidak patah semangat Untuk menjadi Yang terbaik dari yang Terbaik, karena saya yakin, Tidak ada hal yang tidak Mungkin.Buat saya Blogging Is My Life.Senang rasanya jika sobat sudah Berkunjung di blog ini.
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