Some people believe that the intervention of elected officials in the affairs of a State College/University is not beneficial and should not be favored.

I have a contrary opinion.

The help of elected leaders is essential in the success of a state college/university. This view is based on the fact that these leaders can and have channel funds to these educational institutions for the construction of buildings, purchase of equipment, and sending faculty members to training.

They can also provide ideas on the kind of education their constituents need.

All of these contribute to improving the quality of education.

A shining example of this kind of intervention is that of Cong. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan of Eastern Samar. He provided the Eastern Samar State University in Borongan, Eastern Samar P12 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the purchase of modern equipment for the laboratories of engineering, nursing and speech classes.

The obvious intention is to upgrade the quality of engineering and nursing education and enable ESSU students achieve English proficiency that would qualify them for, among others, employment in call centers.

He has also funded the construction of buildings at the ESSU Borongan Campus and the ESSU Guiuan campus.

Having been a student leader (President of the DWU Supreme Student Council in 1983) he puts emphasis on quality education as an effective way of uplifting the lives of Eastern Samareños.

There are many other examples of elected officials contributing their resources for enhancing education in state schools, although they differ in approaches or modes of assistance.

My view is that the intervention depends on the type of assistance that school authorities, particularly the state college/university Presidents, request from them.

Political intervention in education should be welcome especially if clearly done for the purpose of improving the quality of education.