Filipino pupils struggling in 3Rs, Southeast Asia tests show
Fifth-grade students in the Philippines fall behind their counterparts in some Southeast
Asian countries in reading, writing, and mathematics. A regional study showed a
significant percentage of students still performing at levels expected in the early years of
primary education.
Here is Sir Kirk Vincent Caballero for the full report.
It all starts at home.
The Department of Education (DepEd) vowed to identify gaps in the basic education
curriculum after the country fell behind their counterparts in some Southeast Asian
Countries in reading, writing, and mathematics, the initiative DepEd's assessment.
Data from the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) 2019 showed the
percentage of Grade 5 Filipino students who achieved minimum proficiency in reading
(10%), writing (1%), and mathematics (17%). Fifth-graders in the Philippines were at
par. Sometimes even worse than those in Cambodia, but performed slightly better than
those in Laos and Myanmar.
The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization and the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF) conducted the study to assess Grade 5 learners'
performance in reading, writing, and mathematics from selected schools through pen
and paper large scale assessment. Six countries participated, namely Cambodia, Laos,
Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, with 1,6083 participants.
The Philippines' fared in the SEA-PLM 2019 was reminiscent of its performance in the
Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) 2018. The country ranked
second lowest out of 79 countries in both mathematical and scientific literacy.
The Sarangani District proficiency level result for the school year 2019-2020 revealed
that Grade 5 pupils achieved 50.18% in reading and 58.72%. It infers that half of the
total population performed well in Mathematics and Reading.
To address these learning challenges, Doc. Almer T. Davis initiated to upskill and equip
teachers to deliver quality education in these trying times. Teachers underwent various
training and workshops before the opening of classes.
He said:
"Together, with my teachers here in Sarangani. We are doing our best on curriculum
review, specifically how the learners will improve on the least learned competencies.
The teachers' professional development by upskilling them on various trainings for the
new normal is continuously moving forward despite the disruptions brought by the
COVID-19 pandemic."
(Insert mother's story in teaching her four children)
Magda, a mother of three children in Sitio Masaya Brgy. Batuganding. She has a child
in Grade 5 who struggled with reading comprehension. Her daughter, who is in
kindergarten, needs assistance with her writing skills. Her grade 3 daughter as well is
struggling in Mathematics.
(Share mother strategies on how she taught her son and daughter)
(Insert Teacher experience in delivering instruction in this pandemic, highlight best
practices in reading remediation and other learning areas)
The Department of Education released a statement on December 1, 2020.
"Our participation in the first-ever cycle of SEA-PLM signifies our continued commitment
to raising the quality of basic education in the country,"
Its results "complement" the Pisa 2018 findings, which we will be integrated "into our
broader efforts to address curriculum and learning gaps."
"We are determined to translate these international assessments into concrete and
implementable actions, especially in the classroom where actual learning takes place.
The DepEd maintained that it had made progress in its campaign for quality education
in the country, dubbed "Sulong Edukalidad," which pursued four pillars of "aggressive
reforms" for quality:
The Covid-19 pandemic has cause major interruptions in students learning. Despite
this, education must continue.
I am Kirk Vincent Caballero reporting, Padayon Para sa Edukasyong Possible sa
Davao Occidental.
