Gatchalian sounds alarm on crisis in PH basic education

After the dismal results of the Philippines in the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) in 2019 and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018, another global assessment shows that the country's basic education learners have failed.

Results of 'The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019' showed that Grade 4 Filipino learners are lagging behind their peers when it comes to Science and Math. They garnered average scores of 297 in Mathematics and 249 in Science. With these scores, the country got the lowest among all 58 participating countries for both tests.

For Senator Win Gatchalian, this study points to a major crisis in the country's basic education system that will not be resolved by "business as usual."

"This is a major crisis. The country has been participating in global assessments as an additional tool to measure the effectiveness of the basic education curriculum. The dismal result for the third time is so depressing and should serve as a wake-up call," Gatchalian said.

Among the Filipino learners who participated in the TIMSS, zero percent achieved scores within the highest tier or "Advanced International Benchmark" (625 average score) for both Mathematics and Science.

Learners who scored in the "Advanced International Benchmark" in Mathematics can explain their reasoning and apply their understanding and knowledge of relatively complex situations. In Science, this means being able to demonstrate knowledge of the scientific inquiry's process and communicating understanding of life, physical, and Earth sciences.

Gatchalian flagged that this report shows a pattern of Filipino learners failing to master basic competencies and underperforming among their peers in regional and global assessments. The lawmaker warned that the failure to implement reforms would only aggravate this learning crisis.

The lawmaker reiterated the need to decongest the K to 12 curriculum and ensure its focus on boosting learners' basic competencies in Reading, Writing, Math, and Science. The Department of Education (DepEd) is eyeing the results of its curriculum review by 2021.

Gatchalian also emphasized the need to ensure that teachers are capable of teaching the K to 12 curriculum. He recently filed Senate Bill No. 1887 or the Teacher Education Council Act, which aims to reform teacher education and training in the country. The proposed measure seeks to strengthen the collaboration among the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to improve teacher education in the country.

The said assessment is a flagship study by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) measuring the Science and Mathematics achievements of Grade 4 and Grade 8 learners. For 2019, the country only participated in the assessment of Grade 4 learners.

"Kailangan nating ituring na nasa ilalim na ng isang malawakang krisis ang ating sistema ng edukasyon. Hindi na natin kailangang patagalin pa ang pagsulong sa mga reporma dahil kung hindi, patuloy na mahuhuli at mapag-iiwanan ang ating mga mag-aaral," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

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Gatchalian: sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa nasa ilalim ng krisis

Matapos lumabas ang mga resulta ng 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) at ng Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018, dalawang global assessment kung saang nakakuha ng mababang marka ang mga Pilipinong mag-aaral sa elementarya, isa pang pandaigdigang pagsusuri ang naglabas ng resulta na muling nagpapakita ng bagsak na marka ng mga estudyante natin sa basic education.

Ayon sa Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019, pagdating sa Science at Math, ang mga mag-aaral ng Grade 4 sa bansa ay napag-iiwanan ng mga mag-aaral sa ibang bansa. Sa madaling salita, panghuli ang Pilipinas sa 58 na bansang sumali sa naturang assessment pagdating sa Math at Science.

Para kay Senador Win Gatchalian, ipinapakita ng mga resulta ng pag-aaral na ito na ang sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa ay nasa ilalim ng krisis na hindi matutugunan ng "business as usual."

"Ito ay isang matinding krisis. Nakkikilahok ang bansa sa mga global assessment upang masuri ang ating curriculum. Nakakalungkot na sa pangatlong pagkakataon ay bumagsak na naman ang Pilipinas. Dapat magsilbing hamon ito sa lahat," panawagan ni Gatchalian.

Sa mga mag-aaral ng bansa na nakilahok sa TIMSS, walang nakakuha ng markang pasok sa "Advanced International Benchmark" (o may average score na 625) sa parehong Science at Math.

Ang "Advanced International Benchmark" para sa Math ay nagpapakita na may kakayahang ipaliwanag ng mag-aaral ang kanyang 'reasoning' at magamit ang kanyang pag-unawa at kaalaman sa mga komplikadong sitwasyon.

Sa Science naman, ang mag-aaral na nakapasa sa benchmark na ito ay may kakayahang ipakita ang kanyang kaalaman sa proseso ng scientific inquiry. Mayroon din siyang kakayahang maintindihan ang iba't ibang sangay ng agham tulad ng buhay, pisikal na anyo, at Earth Sciences.

Ang TIMSS 2019 ay isang pagsusuring ginagawa ng International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) upang suriin ang kakayahan ng mga mag-aaral sa Grade 4 at Grade 8 pagdating sa Math at Science. Para sa taong 2019, ang mga Grade 4 lang natin sa bansa ang lumahok sa pagsusuri.

Para kay Gatchalian, lalong ipinapakita ng pag-aaral na ito na kailangang magkaroon ng mas simple o streamlined na curriculum na layong bigyan ng tutok ang kakayahan ng mga mag-aaral sa Pagsulat, Pagbasa, Math, at Science. Samantala, naumpisahan na ng Department of Education (DepEd) ang curriculum review at nakatakdang matapos ito sa 2021.

Upang i-angat naman ang kalidad ng pagsasanay at edukasyon ng mga guro sa bansa, inihain ng senador ang Senate Bill No. 1887 o Teacher Education Council Act. Layong paigitngin ng panukalang batas ang ugnayan ng DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), at ng Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) upang i-reporma ang edukasyon ng mga guro sa bansa.

"Kailangan nating ituring na nasa ilalim na ng isang malawakang krisis ang ating sistema ng edukasyon. Hindi na natin kailangang patagalin pa ang pagsulong sa mga reporma dahil kung hindi, patuloy na mahuhuli at mapag-iiwanan ang ating mga mag-aaral," ayon sa Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

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