Enhancing the Quality of Education in the Philippines Essay Essay Example

Enhancing the Quality of Education in the Philippines Essay Essay Enhancing the quality of basic instruction in the Philippines is pressing and critical. Due to that. one of the treatments of DepEd which incurred last October 2010 is to heighten the basic instruction plan of the state in a mode that is least riotous to the current course of study. most low-cost to authorities and households. and aligned with international pattern through the K-12 policy. The hapless quality of basic instruction is reflected in the low accomplishment tonss of Filipino pupils. Many pupils who finish basic instruction do non possess sufficient command of basic competences. One ground is that pupils do non acquire equal instructional clip or clip on undertaking. This quality of instruction is reflected in the unequal readying of high school alumnuss for the universe of work or entrepreneurship or higher instruction. High school alumnuss besides do non possess the basic competences or emotional adulthood necessity for the universe of work. 1 While the handiness of economic chances contributes to this. it besides illustrates the mismatch in the labour and instruction markets. We will write a custom essay sample on Enhancing the Quality of Education in the Philippines Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Enhancing the Quality of Education in the Philippines Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Enhancing the Quality of Education in the Philippines Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The World Bank Philippines Skills Report in 2009 reveals. based on a study of employers. serious spreads in critical accomplishments of alumnuss such as problem-solving. enterprise and creativeness. and. to a lesser extent. spreads in occupation specific proficient accomplishments. The enhanced K-12 plan. or the Department of Education’s ( DepEd ) proposal to pass the basic and secondary instruction course of study by adding two more old ages to the system is arguably one of the most drastic and controversial plans of the Aquino disposal. The plan is proposed to get down in school twelvemonth 2012-2013 for Grade 1 and first twelvemonth high school pupils with the mark of full execution by SY 2018-2019. Harmonizing to SEAMEO Innotech 2011. which is considered as the preferable instruction solutions supplier in Southeast Asia and besides an ISO 9001: 2008 Certified. the Filipino is the last state in Asia and one of merely three states in the universe with a 10-year pre-university plan. The K-12 theoretical account to be implemented in the state is an educational system for basic and secondary instruction patterned after the United States. Canada. and some parts of Australia. The current basic instruction system is besides an original of American schooling but with a 10-year rhythm. DepEd grounds that it is high clip to follow a K-12 system. imputing the low accomplishment tonss and hapless quality of basic instruction to the present school apparatus. Following broad protests over the proposal. the section released its official place supporting K-12. 2 â€Å"We demand to add two old ages to our basic instruction. those who can afford pay up to 14 old ages of schooling before university. Therefore. their kids are acquiring into the best universities and the best occupations after graduation. I want at least 12 old ages for our public school kids to give them an even opportunity at wining. † quoted from the statement of His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III. K-12 has been met with unfavorable judgment from young person and pupil groups. instructors. parents and the academic community. The DepEd. for its portion. appears determined to ordain the plan with its proposed budget providing largely to fixing the evidences for its eventual execution. The DepEd argues that the K-12 plan will be the solution to annually basic instruction sufferings and the deteriorating quality of instruction. Critics. nevertheless. counteract that the instruction crisis needs to be addressed more basically and adding more school old ages would merely worsen the state of affairs. With the proposed policy K-12 plan. assorted statements and unfavorable judgments were formulated. Different conditions generate different premises. which in bend create different policies. The success of any policy depends on the rightness of its policy premises. 3 Taking this fact into consideration. inquiries take topographic point. should policy premises be made based on current worlds? Or should policy be based on policy conditions as expected to go on. but which may non be by the clip the policy execution was started? The below mentioned jobs are merely some of the questions where necessary replies are in demand to be sought in order to fulfill uncertainnesss with respects to the execution of this educational alterations provided in K-12 Policy. PROBLEMS 1. What is the position of the country’s educational resources as to: * learning force ; * installations and equipments ; * acquisition stuffs ; and * budget? ; 2. What are the commissariats of the policy to the following direct entities? * household ; * work force ; ? and instructional apparatus** ? ; 3. What is the degree of readiness of the concerned implementing stakeholders e. g. DepEd. CHED as to the executing of this educational reformation? and 4. What is the degree of credence of the undermentioned affected stakeholders: * learning staff ; * parents ; and * pupils? 5. What is the degree of capableness of the undermentioned affected stakeholders? * learning staff ; * parents ; and pupils? OBJECTIVES The preparation of policy for the K+12 Education System requires strict systems analysis. Many hodgepodges of issues. sentiments and statistical analysis have already been presented by so many sectors in so many meetings and audiences. But what is more of import to see now is the full image. the whole tapestry of Cause-Effects and Costs-Benefits that the policy. if adopted. will make. The following are the chief aims of the K-12 policy as stated in their guiding principles4: 1. To heighten the course of study of the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program as the cardinal focal point. The course of study sweetening will be designed in line with the coveted competences and accomplishments of a K+12 alumnus. The Department of Education will represent a organic structure to reexamine the current basic instruction course of study and detail the execution program. 2. To develop paths based on different competences and/or pupil involvement as an built-in constituent of the plan. Basic instruction plan should develop paths based on competences to run into the country’s varied human capital demands. and to fix pupils for productive enterprise. The SHS course of study will offer countries of specialisation or electives. 3. To heighten the basic instruction course of study being undertaken manus in manus with the vigorous attempts to guarantee adequateness of inputs as portion of the bigger basic instruction reform. Expanding the instruction plan ( extra old ages of schooling ) will be pursued aware of the demand to turn to the input shortages – instructors. schoolrooms. desks. H2O and sanitation. and quality text editions. DepEd already included a proviso for significant physical demands for 2011 budget. and is looking to present in subsequent old ages a budget that will represent a important addition non merely in nominal footings but besides in existent footings. 4. To change alteration in double: course of study sweetening and passage direction. The purpose of K+12 is non simply to add two old ages of schooling but more significantly. to heighten the basic instruction course of study. DepEd is fixing a carefully sequenced execution program to guarantee smooth passage with the least break. 5. To hold an unfastened and advisory procedure to be adopted in the publicity of the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program. In conformity with the â€Å"Tao Air National Guard Boss† rule. an unfastened and advisory procedure will be adopted to guarantee the successful development and execution of the K+12 plan. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE. Many of us believe that in order for a individual to accomplish his success. he must hold a good background in instruction and the attitude of a subsister. A great instruction begins with the desire to larn ( Osterberg. 2004 ) . Education is of import in everybody. It gives us knowledge about the universe around us. strengthens our position in life and helps construct sentiments and have points of position in everything about life. Education is truly of import in conveying our dreams to world. It opens up doors to every chance that would give success in one’s life ( Oak. 2010 ) . In our country’s instance. the Filipino authorities offers merely 10 old ages in basic instruction ( 6 old ages for simple and 4 for high school old ages ) . which is the lowest as compared to 12 old ages in many states in the universe ( PCER. 1999 ) . The hapless command of lessons is common due to the congested course of study and to the great figure of population in public schools. High school alumnuss of 10-year basic instruction course of study are besides believed to miss basic competences and adulthood. They can non lawfully enter into contracts and are non emotionally maturate for entrepreneurship / employment ( DepEd. 2010 ) . Harmonizing to the National Framework Plan for ICTs in Basic Education ( 2010 ) . the hapless public presentation of pupils across our state shown in recent national and international accomplishment trials. and the great figure of dropouts both in simple and secondary degrees. pushes the authorities to add 2 more old ages in the basic instruction course of study or besides termed as the K+12 instruction plan. The K+12 plan agencies Kindergarten and the 12 old ages of simple and secondary degrees. Kindergarten refers to the 5-year old cohort that takes a standardised kinder course of study. Elementary instruction refers to primary schooling that involves six or seven old ages of instruction. Secondary instruction refers to high school ( DepEd. 2010 ) . Harmonizing to the official gazette by the Department of Education ( DepED. 2010 ) . the theoretical account that is presently being proposed by DepEd is the K-6-4-2 Model. This theoretical account involves Kindergarten. six old ages of simple instruction. four old ages of junior high school ( Grades 7 to 10 ) and two old ages of senior high school ( Grades 11 to 12 ) . The two old ages of senior high school intend to supply clip for pupils to consolidate acquired academic accomplishments and competences. By the clip that the issue in K+12 plan was one time once more brought up to public. there has been tonss of remarks and sentiments made by those who agree and disagree about it. The pro-K+12 said that the demand for sweetening of the quality of instruction is pressing and critical and that the congested course of study merely burdens the pupils by the clip they pursue their third degree. The authorities besides stated that by adding two more old ages in our course of study would increase the GDP growing by 2 % . While those who disagree said that the households would hold to blast more money for transit. nutrient and instruction of their kids. Many have besides stated that the authorities does non hold the money to pass for another two old ages in instruction since it does non hold the money to to the full back up today’s ten old ages ( Cruz. 2010 ) . METHODOLOGY The paper presented elucidates what the K-12 policy is all about. the principle of explicating it. the mark stakeholders and donees. Further. it tackles besides the current state of affairs and the version scenario as it was traveling to be implemented this coming school twelvemonth. Assorted facts. unfavorable judgments and premises from different dependable beginnings were asserted in order to confirm inside informations needed for the best apprehension. The presenters wanted to obtain information as to the questions being questioned in the above stated jobs in order to hold a bird’s oculus position to the content and specifications of the said policy. Since the policy is shortly to be implemented. the treatment presented is more on the appraisal of the commissariats and guidelines stipulated in the educational reform in relation to the affected stakeholders. The come up of the undermentioned options were based from the personal appraisals from the presenters out from the thoughts and thorough treatments gained from the varied dependable beginnings. Further. some contents of this portion contain certification of issues and jobs base from the current intelligence and information cited from different dependable beginnings. Furthermore. the positions and sentiments of the presenters do non needfully reflect the contents or treatment of the neither category nor stand point of the capable teacher. therefore all the generated sentiments are strictly coming from the presenters. 1. Eradicate and hinder the execution of the policy. Constraints and restrictions are extremely beliing the concerned K-12 policy. non to advert the involuntariness to encompass the pro’s and con’s brought by this. 2. Suspend the realisation of the policy and reschedule for the following succeeding old ages. Government and direct implementing bureau are non good prepared for the alterations to be incurred. Further preparations and seminars. strengthening of the work force are hereby in demand every bit good as deep incursion to the pupils and parents for the better apprehension and credence. 3. Put into pattern the K-12 policy this coming school twelvemonth. The state needs to better the criterion of the educational system in order to maintain in line with the gaits the other state is pacing. The long term result of the said execution would function as a positive result that will elate the morale of the society therefore conveying noticeable growing to the citizens specifically and to the state as a whole. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 1st Option: Eradicate and hinder the execution of the policy. It is singular and animating to see that Philippines is now come oning economically and as such. to prolong and perchance protract this watercourse. aiming the Education sector of the state is a must. But. unpreparedness. hapless educational engagement and development will certainly give to negative results. The biggest issues the K-12 Education System must turn to are its requirement educational inputs and procedures. If these are non given solution. the K-12 Education System policy is already ruined from the really start. In position of Sarah Katrina Maramag’s thought. â€Å"the crisis of the Philippine instruction system. in all degrees. is stemmed non on the superficial. in this instance the figure of schooling old ages. but instead on the conditions and foundation on which it subsists. Unless the authorities addresses in sincere hapless public disbursement. high costs of schooling. the predomination of a colonial course of study. deficiency of transparence and answerability amid widespread corruptness within the sector and the development of the country’s scientific discipline and engineering for domestic development. all attempts will stay on the surface and neither 10 nor 12 old ages would do much of difference. † To associate with the statement of President PNOY â€Å"to achieve something out of this move to K-12. we need to hold a realistic set of plans† and world cheque. the program doesn’t coincide as to the current state of affairs. Though implementing K-12 would be possible. these paradigm alterations would be harder for the public system for them to get by up with the rapid alterations. Why? Let us settle to the article of Junifen F. Gauuan. foremost. the budget for the instruction sector of the Philippines is. compared to other Newly Industrialized Countries ( NICs ) . comparatively low ( for illustration. difference of about 5 % GDP with Malaysia and Brunei – 3. 1 % GDP Philippines ) . Second. the substructure of the province schools are non contributing plenty to acknowledge more pupils ( image pupils taking double-shifted school clip i. e. 7am-1pm + 1pm-7pm – is that good for pupils to non run into in a one-off-one-time agenda? OR even jam 50 pupils in one category? ) . To correlate demand and supply. more demand = more supply. With the current deficit of instructors. as claimed by ACT ( Alliance of Concerned Teachers ) there is no capacity for the public system to acknowledge more pupils. even more to protract the twelvemonth of survey. Finally. fiscal restraints. 1000000s of people in the Philippines ( to be exact 23 million under the Asia-Pacific poorness line ) are still populating below the poorness line. Are those parents belonging to that line can truly afford another 2 old ages excess in instruction? Ideally. the long term end which can be brought by the policy is good. but world wise. the route in making the mark is under building. non yet completed therefore so far behind. 2nd Option: Suspend the realisation of the policy and reschedule for the following succeeding old ages. It is the belief of some pedagogues that the K+10 Education System failed because it lacked 2 more old ages of survey. We can see that as one ground. But to the thought of the presenters. the bigger ground why K+10 Education System failed is because of hapless educational resources such as schoolrooms. deficiency of instructors. installations and equipment in short budget. Now. though greater budget is allocated to the reform of the educational system in the state but unluckily what hinders most is the present state of affairs of the affected stakeholders such as parents. pupils and instructors non to advert the inaccessibility and lacking of the educational resources. There is a demand of authorization to the portion of the instruction force since it is a great alteration which requires greater understanding and readying. It can’t be denied the fact that the state has great instructors deserving to be proud of. but with the alteration of educational form which they will see. a farther preparation and seminar is so a demand for them to be to the full equipped. Aside from that. the credence of prosecuting the reformed educational system must hold to get down from them since they are considered to be the initial medium that will intercede and edify the procedure of the alterations both to the pupils and the parents. To the portion of the parents. it would be a sudden alteration that will greatly impact their economic standing in footings of the added fiscal duties added besides the uncertainnesss and questions about the alterations wherein non all of them are cognizant. Further enrichment for them to hold a better understanding about the policy is a must and it will certainly take some clip. It is a considerable manner to edify the parents since they are the first in manus who can actuate and steer their kids. To the implementing bureau. the state can non try a test and mistake outcome out of this policy. They must hold to see this non an experimental thing to be tested and evaluated. Beforehand. all of the possible effects and readyings to counter any of those must be good handled and planned already. An rating of the educational resources. a budget program for the instruction force – a long term program of all of these including the building of some extra installations and equipment must be comprehended. To the portion of the presenters. they assumed that those implementing bureau are non good interacted to the possible cases that may come up and the manner to react in instance any unhanding happenings will originate. As will as the parents and pupils. together with the current state of affairs of the state connotes unpreparedness for the execution of the policy. Prosecuting the policy without holding some intercession with the direct stakeholders and sing the factors impacting the result of the policy would blockade sustainability. 3rd Option: Put into pattern the K-12 policy this coming school twelvemonth. The authorities is in to it. the policy was recommended to be implemented. authorities bureaus associating to the educational reform took already an action and slightly due to the media interaction the society can be said as informed about it. The vision is to elate the educational criterions of the state. the mission is to implement processs and procedures provided in the policy. regardless of all the remarks and unfavorable judgments since authorities already spent money for it. so like it or like it really much it should be implemented. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION. Initially. the DepEd justifies the K-12 theoretical account by stating that the present short basic instruction plan affects the human development of Filipino pupils. Ultimately. regardless of whichever â€Å"model† . what the young person and state direly needs is for the development and constitution of an instruction system that caters to the demands of the Filipino young person and the society in general. Unfortunately. information shows the current state of affairs that the state is confronting in footings of the educational system that might blockade the execution of the said policy. But so. the policy is shortly to be implemented this coming school twelvemonth. To do a recommendation as to the presented options is a head boggling responsibility that the presenters could of all time come up. But merely to fulfill the agencies of holding this paper the terminal is. the presenters chose the 2nd option. 2nd Option: Suspend the realisation of the policy and reschedule for the following succeeding old ages. The presenters select option two as the best option non due to the fact that the Philippines is the last state in the part to follow a K-12 basic instructions system because it is non all about the trending footing but look intoing in conformity to the â€Å"reality† . During the appraisal done by the esteemed organisation Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study ( TIMSS ) . they conclude that the job about the present course of study in squashing 12 old ages of basic instruction into merely 10 is that pupils are overloaded with topics which resulted to hapless quality of basic instruction as reflected in the low accomplishment tonss of Filipino pupils. International tests consequences like 2003 TIMSS rank the Philippines 34th out of 38 states in HS II Math and 43rd out of 46 states in HS II Science ; for class 4. the Philippines ranked 23rd out of 25 take parting states in both Math and Science. In 2008. even with merely the scientific discipline high schools take parting in the Advanced Mathematics class. the Philippines was ranked lowest. This quality of instruction is reflected in the unequal readying of high school alumnuss for the universe of work or entrepreneurship or higher instruction. It is non the inquiry of learning force because internationally we can state that the state is equipped of good trained pedagogues capable plenty for the acquisition needed by the pupils in our state. In fact. instructors in our state are extremely demanded and most preferred to be hired and work in other state. But it is the affair of the educational system that we have which is designed to learn a 12-year course of study. yet it is delivered in merely 10 old ages. Though some knocking it as a manner merely to realigned as to what is the swerving educational system to must hold. so why non follow it if it will prolong the development of the educational system of our state and there is nil incorrect with it. As to the inquiry of the effects that will be brought by the policy. certainly there will be many of those and it’s a portion of the alterations. Better because the authorities exists to elate the criterion of instruction in the state and non merely sitting down to their several offices and waiting what will go on to the hereafter of the pupils sing the current system. The policy exist with commissariats of plan to be administered for the sustainability of it. therefore to associate it with economic hinderances it should be another narrative that is deserving to be reflected and should non function as a hinderance for the development of one system in our state ( instruction ) . To make the development wherein the citizens are desiring. acknowledging the fact that it couldn’t be go oning at the same time is the first measure. But. out of the advantages that can be given by the policy. what is now to be considered as restraint is the clip. There is a demand to develop to the portion of the learning force. the installations and the equipments the state soon have. farther rating and thorough analysis as to the whatever outcome that can be brought by it. Implementing plans that will take to the positive realisation of the policy and use of media is a aid to perforate the heads of the parents and doing them realized the long term end product that the policy can give by. In short. a more prepared state is in demand for the promotion to incur in the educational system. REFERENCES PDF files: Batomalaque. Antonio. Basic Science Development Program of the Philippines for International Cooperation. University of San Carlos. ; Marinas. Bella and Ditapat. Maria. Philippines: Curriculum and Development. UNESCO International Bureau of Education International Engineering Alliance. The Washington Accord. hypertext transfer protocol: //www. washingtonaccord. org/Washington- Accord/FAQ. cfm ( Accessed 11 September 2010 ) Mullis. I. V. S. . Martin. M. O. . Robitaille. D. F. . A ; Foy. P. ( 2009 ) . Chestnut Hill. MA. Trends in International Mathematics and Science Advanced 2008. National Center for Education Statistics. Highlights from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2003. December 2004 Seamo-Innotech. Additional Years in Philippine Basic Education: Rationale and Legal Bases. Presentation to the Department of Education on 25 August 2010. Presentation notes of Dr. Isagani Cruz. 28 September 2010. Articles/ Diaries: Jane Uymatiao. Why we need DepEd’s K-12 Program. Sunday. 22 January 2012. Retrived from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. thepoc. net/commentaries/14612-why-we-need-depeds-k-12-program. hypertext markup language ( Accessed 15 March 2012 ) Joe Padre. Pros A ; Cons in the K+12 Basic Education Debate. October 14. 2010. Retrived from hypertext transfer protocol: //mlephil. wordpress. com/2010/10/14/pros-cons-of-the-k12-debate/ ( Accesed 14 March 2012 ) Jonathan Plucker. Problems as Possibilities: Problem – based learningforK-12education. Retrievedfrom hypertext transfer protocol: //findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_hb6470/is_1_22/ai_n28742235/ ( Accessed 11 March 2012 ) Junifen F. Gauuan. K+12 Policy Framework: Pessimistic. Optimistic or Realistic? . March 26. 2011. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. aldersgate-college. com/news/high-school/k12-policy-framework-pessimistic-optimistic-or-realistic/ ( Accessed 6 March 2012 ) K-12 Challenge to Philippine Tertiary Education. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //rodrigo75. wordpress. com/2011/04/19/k-12-challenge-to-philippine-tertiary-education/ ( Accessed 29 March 2012 ) . Sarah Katrina Maramag. Proposed K12 Basic Education System in the Philippines. Is the K-12 theoretical account good for the Philippine Education System? . via Philippine Online Chronicles. Retrived from hypertext transfer protocol: //blogwatch. tv/2011/05/proposed-k-12-basic-education-system-in-the-philippines/ ( Accessed 10 March 2012 ) Virnads. K12 in the Philippines: A Reform or Deform. Manila Philippines. June 13. 2011. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. allvoices. com/contributed-news/9379822-k12-in-the-philippines-a-reform-or-deform ( Accessed 12 March 2012 ) .

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Pestel and Porters Five Forces in the Freight Industry Essay Example Pestel and Porters Five Forces in the Freight Industry Essay Pestel and Porters Five Forces in the Freight Industry Essay Money is anything which people are willing to accept in exchange for goods and services. Barter involved exchanging or swapping goods or services which people already have for something else they need. For example a pig in exchange for a pair of shoes. This system was very complicated. Not only did you need to find someone who had what you needed, but he/she had to be willing to accept whatever you had to offer. To overcome this problem money was Introduced. For example how many pairs of shoes for one pig? Legal tender is the name given to the notes and coins which shopkeepers are obliged by law to accept in payment for goods and services. Currency is legal tender but cheeses and cards are not. Money today comes in three forms: * Notes and Coins known as currency (Euro). * Cheeses to write cheeses you need to have a current account In the bank. * Cards credit cards, charge cards and ATM card. These are known as plastic money. Ireland along with eleven other countries formed an Economic and Monetary Union MME) which created a single currency, the Euro, to be used as currency in all twelve countries. However each country has its own special symbol on the back of their coins, and the front of each coin Is identical in all the countries. The Euro zone The twelve countries that Joined the single currency are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland. Italy, Luxembourg. Portugal and Spain. It Is expected that sometime in the future other members will join. Advantages of a single currency. The main advantages to Ireland of having a single European currency are: * Firms that import or export goods between Euro zone countries can trade without exchange rate changes. The firms know how much goods cost and will receive In payment. * No more commission for changing currencies. * Irelands Interest rate should stay relatively low. * Irelands inflation rates should stay relatively low. Questions at the end of the chapter answered. 1 (a) Explain what s meant by bartering. Bartering Is the exchange of one good or service for another. The Euro (b) List two possible advantages of the Single European Currency to Ireland? * Trade between member states is easy as no commission is charged. * If trade happens within the single member currency then the trading company will know how much he will get when he exchanges his goods. (c) Name all the countries that have the Euro as their national currency? The twelve countries that Joined the single currency are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain.

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Midlife Crisis From Crisis To Positive Transition All human beings have to go across different developmental stages of life from womb to tomb. These human development stages are inevitable, very common in all human beings and are not very surprising things in human life. What it is interesting in these developmental stages is that each stage has uniqueness and there are many things that can be studied while human beings of different times undergo differently in different settings. The stages can be varied based on the social structure, culture and norms: there are environmental factors contributing the human development and developmental stages (Papalia et al., 2009). The transitions in the stages are the most interesting stage because it can lead either to positive or negative consequences. According to Golembiewski (1978), he found out that those who are quite aware of this transition can well adapt with the change, having good adjustment while those who are not aware have negative consequences by the transition. Developmental scientists had explained by applying theories that adulthood transition is the major transitional period where physical and psychological changes can be seen obviously. Midlife crisis is the most common that takes attention when we talk about middle adulthood. Papalia et al. states that changes in personality and lifestyle come together to attribute to the crisis, however, whether or not these changes lead to crisis depends on individuals. Hunter and Sundel (1989) speak out that there are some stereotypes about midlife: social problems occur in this period brought about by those midlife persons, especially men. The following are the stereotypes that they presented in their work: Men at middle age are obsolete at work. They have neither sufficient education nor updated technical training to compete with younger, more educated workers. Men at middle age leave (or at least want to leave) their wives for young women. Hunter and Sundel defend that these stereotypes are just myths about transitional crisis in men. They also came up with theories to proof that. These can not be said as myths alone in some settings because the real cases are showing that these are true. There are some other contributing factors that affect these myths. In this paper, I will try to discuss the contributing factors effecting the midlife transition based on human development. In chapter 2, I will try to explore about the subject for better understanding of the definition of midlife and midlife crisis in middle adulthood. In chapter 3, I will try to discuss the two myths which are commonly conceptualized by the people. I would also discuss contributing factors to these myths. Then, in chapter 4, I will conclude by bringing up the subject to social work practice and discuss what and how as social workers can intervene in this transition so that the transition would be smooth. Chapter 2 Understanding of middle adulthood and midlife crisis Middle adulthood There is no universally agreed period of middle age or middle adulthood. Papalia et al. defines middle adulthood in the book Human Development as the years between 40 and 65 but it is said to be not absolutely exact considering the facts that different peoples perception about middle adulthood varies depending on social, cultural and geographical factors. It is also explained that middle age can be a time for decline and loss but also for mastery and growth for the rest of the life. Middle adulthood/age is not decided by the chronological age but rather on the perception of oneself. Midlife crisis The mid life crisis was regarded as second adolescence and a crisis of identity (Papalia et al., 2009). It does not specifically talk about the stress and problems faced in specific age but the main essence of the midlife is that people in middle adulthood face huge transition period where they can encounter stress and problems (Hunter and Sundel, 1989). It is very interesting that Hunter and Sundal provided two different views in discussing midlife crisis; Crisis View and Transition or Non-Crisis View. They explained that the Crisis View is adopted by the crisis model under which each individual experiences a particular type of crisis at each stage of development in a particular chronological age range (p. 14). In Transition view, it is explained that most major life events are expected according to a timetable largely linked to age such as when one is to marry, raise children and retire (p. 19). It implies that the crisis is not necessarily stressed on midlife but can occur in diff erent stages of development. In many of the literature, it is found that the crisis is mainly stressed in men rather than in women although the transition has impacts on both genders. It could be because of the reasons that men are more focused towards self achievement (Papalia et al). It is also found that men are the major participants of research studies of midlife crisis. When this account is taken into consideration, it is hypnotize that gender roles and the shift of gender identity in this stage might also make men more expressive and more obvious to point out. Hunter and Sundel also discussed that why most studies focus on men could be because of the difference between traditional socialization between the two genders where women are more expressive of their emotions while men are potentially more stressful since they are more self-contained. Chapter 3 Discussion on the two myths 1) Men at middle age are obsolete at work. They have neither sufficient education nor updated technical training to compete with younger, more educated workers. Hunter and Sundel argue that middle age are not obsolete at work but they even get higher satisfaction with their job comparing to younger generations. They claim that there are even more men at middle age who appear to be workaholics and the midlife persons normally hold the managerial levels. However, it would depend on the nature of job and the productivity that the job demands. Considering the facts that job opportunities nowadays are scarcer and more competitive than before, employers and businessmen naturally tend to employ more productive with lower pay. One can not completely claim that the myth is not true but a stereotyping. The advancement of Information Technology is also a spokesperson in this account. It is obvious that younger generations are better than the middle age persons in these days. In the professions related to the advance technology might very possibly favor younger generations. It is true that middle age persons have more life experience in problem solving, taking things under control in a mature way. One can not just claim that the middle age persons are obsolete at work and they can not compete with younger generations. To a certain extent the myth is true. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010) also reported in their survey that unemployment rate in middle adulthood had declined. However, the generatively of middle age persons in this stage should be appreciated. 2) Men at middle age leave (or at least want to leave) their wives for young women. In the discussion of Hunter and Sundel, they argue that marital unfaithfulness is not caused by the transition to middle age but because of poor marriage and unhealthy marriage. According to gender identity shift as explained by Papalia et al., men tend to have intimate relationships in this transition. It is assessed according to Hunter and Sundel that for those men who can not fulfill their needs with within their marriage life because of poor marriage, they tend to leave (or want to leave) their wives to satisfy their needs of intimate relationship with younger women. The personality theories by Erickson, 1902-1994 as cited by Boeree (2006) explains this myth with the seventh stage of the developmental stages which talks about the crisis: Generatively vs Self absorption or Stagnation. This explanation tends to prove that the myth about men wanting to leave their wives for extramarital affairs. In the clarification of this theory done by Boeree, he explains that when people arrives this stage, they sometimes look at their lives and ask themselves about their meaning of life which more often leads men to have affairs. The myth, men leave or want to leave their wives depends on the personality of individuals and other environmental factors such as marriage satisfaction and social norms. Whether or not one successfully overcomes the crisis is an answer. Chapter 4 Conclusion As helping professionals, social workers need to be aware of the situation of midlife crisis and how it can affect individuals and the environment. Hunter and Sundel (as cited in McGill, 1980, p. 267) explained that many men in mid-life experience events which cause them to dramatically and significantly change their personality and behavior. There are challenges and difficulties during the transition of midlife. For men, according to gender role, who are stereotyped to be the responsible persons for the family may find it more stressful in terms of their job security and in struggling with the developmental needs for intimacy. The so called crisis is a real crisis only if someone can not over come the changes occur in the transition. The crisis can be shaped out to be a positive change. Going back to the myths, the myths are to some extent turn out to be true contributed by different factors. If middle age persons can be able to upgrade and adapt themselves with the speeding advancement, they would be less stressful and be able to make the developmental transition out to be positive change. Similarly, if they are aware of their own developmental needs, if they can build up their personality and enhance marital relationship, they would not need to find their intimacy needs outside the marriage. Social workers may take the role of providing self awareness to middle age persons, at the same time can advice continuous learning.

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