Study finds PH students lagging in 3Rs; Gatchalian underscores urgency in education reforms

A Southeast Asia-wide study on the learning outcomes of Grade 5 students showed that a large number of Filipino learners are not proficient enough in Reading, Writing, and Math to advance to secondary school. For Senator Win Gatchalian, this reiterates the urgency of rolling out basic education curriculum reforms that would boost Filipino learners' basic competencies.

Results of the 2019 study Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) revealed that only 10 percent of Filipino learners have developed the proficiency in reading to allow their transition to secondary education. In Mathematics, it was only 17 percent. In terms of writing, only one percent could write cohesive texts with detailed ideas and a good range of appropriate vocabulary.

The SEA-PLM 2019 was conducted by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Six countries participated in the pen-and-paper large scale assessment. In the Philippines, there were 6,083 participants for this study.

According to Gatchalian, the results of this study reinforced the findings of the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which showed that out of 79 countries, the Philippines ranked lowest in Reading Comprehension and second lowest in Science and Mathematics.

"Lumalabas sa resulta ng SEA-PLM na lalo tayong dapat magsulong at magpatupad ng mga reporma sa ating sistema ng edukasyon---mula sa guro hanggang sa ating curriculum---upang masigurong natututo ang ating mga mag-aaral. Bagama't nasa kalagitnaan tayo ng krisis dahil sa pandemya ng COVID-19, lalo nating dapat isagawa ang mga repormang ito upang hindi lalong mapag-iwanan ang ating mga mag-aaral," said Gatchalian.

As part of its national reform program Sulong EduKalidad, the Department of Education (DepEd) is currently implementing a streamlined curriculum under the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) because of the COVID-19 pandemic. DepEd, however, is still conducting its curriculum review which is set to be completed by 2021. A congested curriculum is considered one of the reasons why learners cannot master basic competencies.

For Gatchalian, the goal of a streamlined curriculum is not simply an improved showing in national and international assessments. He emphasized that competencies required under the new curriculum should have a sharper focus on promoting the 4Cs---critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, and communication.

The senator also emphasized the importance of reforming teacher education and training, noting that the quality of teachers and their education are basic inputs to improved learning outcomes.

To improve teacher education, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 1887 or the Teacher Education Council Act, which seeks to strengthen the coordination between the DepEd and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to improve teacher education and training in the country.

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Kakayahan ng mga mag-aaral na tumuntong sa high school dapat tutukan--Gatchalian

Lumalabas na hindi sapat ang kakayahan ng maraming mag-aaral na nasa elementarya na tumuntong ng high school. Ito'y kasunod ng isinagawang pag-aaral sa mga Grade 5 students sa Timog-Silangang Asya pagdating sa core subjects tulad ng Reading, Writing, at Mathematics.

Senador Win Gatchalian, hudyat ito na kailangan ang agarang reporma sa basic education curriculum upang hindi mapag-iwanan ang mga mag-aaral sa bansa.

Ayon sa Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) 2019, sampung (10) porsyento lamang ng mga mag-aaral sa bansa ang may sapat na kakayahan sa pagbabasa (Reading) upang makatuntong sa high school. Labing-pitong (17) porsyento naman ang may sapat na kakayahan sa Matematika upang makatuntong sa high school at pagdating naman sa pagsusulat (Writing), isang (1) porsyento lamang ang may kakayahang sumulat ng malinaw at may malawak na bokabularyo.

Ang pag-aaral ay isinagawa ng Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) at ng United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) sa anim na bansa. Sa Pilipinas, may mahigit anim na libong (6,083) mag-aaral ang nakilahok sa pag-aaral.

Ayon kay Gatchalian, pinapaalala ng resulta ng SEA-PLM 2019 ang naging resulta ng 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) kung saan sa halos walumpung (79) bansa, ang Pilipinas ang may pinakamababang marka pagdating sa Reading Comprehension. Pilipinas din ang pangalawang pinakamababa pagdating sa Science at Mathematics.

"Lumalabas sa resulta ng SEA-PLM na lalo tayong dapat magsulong at magpatupad ng mga reporma sa ating sistema ng edukasyon---mula sa guro hanggang sa ating curriculum---upang masigurong natututo ang ating mga mag-aaral. Bagama't nasa kalagitnaan tayo ng krisis dahil sa pandemya ng COVID-19, lalo nating dapat isagawa ang mga repormang ito upang hindi lalong mapag-iwanan ang ating mga mag-aaral," ani Gatchalian na siyang Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Bilang bahagi ng programang Sulong EduKalidad ng Department of Education (DepEd) na layong i-angat ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa, gumagamit ang kagawaran ng mas pinasimpleng curriculum sa ilalim ng Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) na layon ding tugunan ang mga hamon ng COVID-19 pandemic. Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy ang pagrepaso ng DepEd sa curriculum na inaasahang matatapos sa 2021. Ang isang komplikadong curriculum ay itinuturing na isa mga dahilan kung bakit hirap ang mga mag-aaral pagdating sa pagbabasa, pagsusulat, at sa Matematika.

Maliban sa pag-streamline sa curriculum, mahalaga din ani Gatchalian ang pagtuturo sa 4Cs: Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, Collaboration, at Communication.

Mahalaga din aniya ang reporma sa edukasyon ng mga guro. Upang matupad ang repormang ito, inihain ni Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 1887 o ang Teacher Education Council Act na layong paigtingin ang ugnayan sa pagitan ng DepEd at Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Ito ay upang mai-angat ang kalidad ng eduksayon ng mga guro sa bansa.

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