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Charter change on PSS budget tied to politics
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Posted on Dec 22 1998
The legislative initiative that calls for an increase of budget guarantee for the Public School System is nothing but a political instrument, according to Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, Chairman of the Health, Education and Welfare Committee.
“I don’t care how much money we pump in to public schools. What I am saying is justify it to the people, show me some correlation between expenditure and performance,” he said.
Introduced by Rep. Jesus Attao, he is seeking constitutional amendment to extend 25 percent budget guarantee to PSS. The existing law only assures 15 percent.
Even if the current provision guarantees this much, the government is appropriating PSS more than 15 percent.
“That does not mean that we are going to turn our backs on PSS and give them just what the Constitution requires,” he added.
Board of Education Vice-Chairman Thomas Pangelinan recently revived efforts to amend the Constitution following the budgetary deficit of PSS for this fiscal year. The board has been resorting to endless lobbying for additional help in order for PSS to fully carry out its mandate.
He believes that PSS deserves more than what has been appropriated for education and to free the board from political pressures.
Hofschneider said if officials insist to amend the Constitution, he recommends an accompanying provision requiring for performance from the part of PSS. The increase should reflect corresponding improvement on student’s performance.
“You ask me to give you public funds or tax payers money, now I ask you what is it that you are giving in return for the people. The buck does not stop at telling me that I am delivering free education for public school,” he said.
