To improve the quality and access of education in the Philippines, it is not enough to keep public schools running. Equally important is the need to allocate funds to address critical gaps in the public education sector.

This makes budgeting a crucial part of public school administration. At the very least, authorities who set and allocate the budget need to ensure that limited resources are not taken out of the classroom where they are most needed.

At present, public schools should receive additional budget courtesy of the Special Education Fund (SEF) – an additional funding source taken from the LGUs’ property tax collections.

Education is one of the most important determinants of an individual’s chances in life. Education levels the playing field between the rich and the poor, and allows progress to be equally shared.

Some LGUs, however, have found a hidden wealth and started mining this potential gold mine for education. They call it the Special Education Fund (SEF).

But providing quality education has its costs. Money is needed to put up adequate school buildings and classrooms, to pay enough teachers, and buy quality books. And for many local government units (LGUs), there are simply not enough funds to spend on education.Education is one of the most important determinants of an individual’s chances in life. Education levels the playing field between the rich and the poor, and allows progress to be equally shared.