Paliparan 2 Integrated High School

Senior High School

Opposing to the Mandatory ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Curriculum for Senior

High School Students in the Philippines

Grade 11-Humanities and Social Science A

Submitted by:

Bejel, Laila R.

Calupad, Jeanna Andrea L.

Submitted to:

Sir. Kristoffer George De La Cerna

October 15, 2019

Title: Opposing to the Mandatory ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Curriculum for

Senior High School Students in the Philippines.

1. Introduction

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps is an elective curriculum that you take along

with your required college classes. It is a mechanism for bringing such a diverse group of

citizens into the military. Moreover, it provides an educational experience that is knowingly

different from that of the military academies. The ROTC program is one of the

nation’s top leadership programs. The program offer to high school that teaches students

character education, student achievement, wellness, leadership, and diversity. And it also

prepares all high school students with the tools, training, experiences, and convenient skills

that will help the youth succeed in any competitive environment. They grouped with other

people in a program that is designed to build and strengthen the principles of teamwork and

brotherhood among soldiers. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte order to revive the mandatory

ROTC program amid calls for It’s abolition and the administration moves the revitalization of

ROTC in the curriculum of both public and private secondary and tertiary schools in the

Philippines. The main purpose of ROTC programs today is to train young men and women to

become an officers in military. And after graduation the students that are participating in ROTC

can immediately begin serving in the military as an officers. In imposing the ROTC, I’m not

agree in it, because it can only waste the time of the students especially in their academic

performance and also because of its disadvantages that the students may encounter during
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their training. Additional fees for the students in buying their uniform for military training.

Staying at school more than school hours, instead that the students must do another

requirements in their respective subjects, and that’s one of reasons why they can’t do it and

pass it within the deadline because they are busy for their training. Students may experience

stress on it, Moreover, the students cannot focused in their study because they may think

about their training, if they can’t cope with it, they maybe get a low grade for the subject ROTC.

And how about for the students that have a heart problem or the students that can experiences

a problem in breathing. It is okay if it is not compulsory, because some students may want to

focus in their specialization and some are not favored to have that subject ROTC and they may

think that they cannot benefit in it. It may useless for the students that the courses they choose

is not closely related to that subject. Instead they may focused their mind in their specialization

course and what will happen if some students are not interested to that training, According to

Anakbayan Chairperson Vencer Crisostomo (2017) if the ROTC becomes mandatory it will

only get worse especially in hazing and abuses. ROTC program was viewed with increasing

discontent, especially from the cadets themselves. Various abuses and corrupt practices were

noted ranging from hazing and other forms of violence, to financial extortion. In addition,

Senate Bill No. 2232, which seeks to require senior high students to participate in the ROTC

program, will violate the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of

the Child, a protocol to which the Philippines is a part of. Most students enrolled in Grades 11

and 12 are 16 to 17 year olds and are minors. According to Hontiveros (2019) Since the Armed

Forces of the Philippines is also composed of a ‘citizens’ armed force which shall undergo

military training,’ we would be violating our international commitment if we compulsorily recruit

into the reserved forces those who are not of the age of majority.
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2. Possible Counter Arguments

Mandatory ROTC is the solution in our country to avoid terrorism and rebellion.

First, ROTC does not only focusing on concerns such as practical problems within the

program itself, but also from greater political concerns over the role of the military in Philippine

society in general. Second, in this program we have leadership, team work and management

skills needed to become a Philippine Army officer or to have a successful citizen career to.

Lastly, it can help people develops the team-building, negotiating and consensus-building skills

that Army officers need in helping the people of the world establish democratic systems,

govern & secure themselves and institutionalize liberty and human rights. The benefits of

Mandatory ROTC are Financial aid, The military loves to help its members receive their

education. As such, there are many scholarships available to ROTC cadets. Even if you do not

receive a full four-year scholarship, many institutions offer financial incentives to ROTC

students. Like-minded classmates, By enrolling in an ROTC program, you are guaranteed to

meet a group of students who share your interests. It’s kind of like having instant friends! Not

only that, but your ROTC instructors will be experienced officers and noncommissioned

officers (highly experienced enlisted personnel), able to answer any questions you have about

the military, the lifestyle, and the jobs. And career stability, after completing an ROTC program,

you will commission as a second lieutenant or an ensign. Having an officer’s rank means a

higher paycheck, along with the benefits of a steady job, health insurance, and paid time off.

As we all notice killing people is one of the concerns that our country is facing. What do you

think is the root of this crime? For us, the root of the crime here in our country is that we don’t

have unity towards each other. Since not all people are well educated here at our country and
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they don’t have a job, money and some of the young people at least they can have the idea

and the spirit to save their country to those who planned to conquer it.

3. Discussion

Although having a ROTC mandatory in high school may build confidence and

leadership skills for the students at high school and also gives you the chance to serve our

beloved country, which may not mean a whole lot to some people, but it certainly means a lot

to the country you served. The ROTC program has long been criticized for being an avenue for

continuing abuse and violence against student cadets. In our education system, in fact, no

other education program holds the most violent record. With this, many people especially

students are not in favor for implementing back the ROTC. Advocates to make ROTC

mandatory again argue that it would help teach discipline and nationalism. Students from the

Polytechnic University of the Philippines reported acts of violence through hazing and corporal

punishment being committed by PUP student officials. Recently, a viral video from the

University of Mindanao-Tagum showed student cadets being punched repeatedly in the chest

and stomach. These acts of violence continue, despite the reservist program being optional at

present. As a student, I disagree with the mandatory ROTC program. The rights of many

students will be affected if that program will be implemented. There were too many people who

suffered because of ROTC. And if ROTC will be implemented again, a number of people might

experience sufferings and this will only increase the record. Officials said that they will

implement ROTC to teach discipline and nationalism. But there were cases of hazing just

because of that ROTC. The big question is, “Is this the only way to teach discipline to our
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students?” ROTC is created to teach discipline and nationalism to our students. It will help us

to secure our country to the invaders. There are many trainings that students can learn like

military leadership, disaster response, map reading, jungle survival skills and other. But, if

there are rights that will be affected, it is still useless. Before implementing the ROTC program,

they should first the people who will be affected, specially the students. In the past, some used

it for violence rather than discipline. I hope this time it will be properly implemented having an

equal treatment for everybody and without steeping the rights of others, especially the

students.

5. Conclusion

As we all notice killing people is one of the concerns that our country is facing. The root of the

crime here in our country is that we don’t have unity towards each other. Since not all people

are well educated here at our country and they don’t have a job, money and some of the young

people at least they can have the idea and the spirit to save their country to those who planned

to conquer it. The extreme sides of the argument—for and against implementing a mandatory

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program fall like this, On one side, this would

brainwash our youth into mindless killing machines to serve the nefarious purposes of the

government. On the other hand, it would create an army of warriors ready to take on any

invaders, perhaps both human and from space. Perhaps rather than making ROTC training

mandatory in senior high school, the existing NSTP format could be implemented. From all

accounts, in general the NSTP has been successful for both the students and the community.

If ROTC is important, then the government should explain why and how to the students. If they

are old enough to be trained, then they are mature enough to make their own decisions.
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References:

The Shout of the Students (2017)

Opposition of ROTC in K-12 Curriculum (2017)

The Pros and Cons of ROTC Program (2019)

Mandatory ROTC for SHS students violates int’l law (2019)