The Department of Education (DepEd) said education quality challenges in the country are being addressed, in response to an article claiming that education standards are “plummeting,” after the Philippines’ performance in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
In a statement released May 16, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said juxtaposing the performance with the word “plummeting” makes an “impression that education standards have taken a precipitous fall under the present administration.”
He also clarified that the country’s participation in PISA was not imposed, but a decision of Secretary Leonor Briones to “confront” basic quality education challenges.
“The 2018 PISA result confirmed what we already knew and were prepared to address about the quality of basic education, established the baseline for future improvement, and jolted everyone to the urgency of addressing education quality,” he said.
He noted that the budget of the department increased by 31% from 2016, in response to the claim that education was “never high” in the current administration’s priority.
“Secretary Briones flagged quality as a key challenge for the education sector from the beginning of her term, based on the historically poor results in the National Achievement Test going further back than the previous administration,” he added.
The official also enumerated several developments in the DepEd’s “Sulong EduKalidad,” in response to the article’s dismissal of certain components of the program.
Among these are the conduct of a K to 12 curriculum review which covers checking the learning competency prerequisites, their implementation in classrooms, and the assessment of “students’ attainment against the expectations of prospective employers and tertiary education institutions.”
He added that learning environments are being continuously improved through the creation of more teaching items and establishment of buildings. The skills development of teachers and school leaders is also ongoing.
“There are no quick fixes to quality. Meeting the challenge will take time. It will require that we work together in a manner that is informed, deliberative, and responsible,” he said. (DepEd)/ AG-jlo
