Changes Serve Transnationals

The influence of TNCs is clearly seen in the Education Act of 1980. The Act aims to centralise all educational institutions under the center of the Ministry of Education and Culture, and place more emphasis on education in technical skills required by the TNCs. The Act was presented to the National Assembly by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee to survey Filipino Education. The Committee, established in 1969, is funded by a major US TNC in the Philippines, Ford Motors. Ford is closely linked with the World Bank, another US institution with a long history of manipulation and control of Filipino institutions. Its use of loans, grants and research ensures the promotion of foreign interests in the education system.