Gatchalian expresses dismay over lack of instructional clarity in PH education

While the global assessment Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019 revealed that the Philippines lags behind 57 other countries in Math and Science achievements, the study also reported that less than 50 percent of Grade 4 learners only were receiving instructions with "high clarity".

For Senator Win Gatchalian, this only reinforces the need to improve the quality of teacher education and training as the country's basic education sector struggles with a major crisis: learners failing to master basic competencies and lagging behind in global assessments.

To measure the clarity of instruction that learners receive, the TIMSS used a scale that asked learners about the aspects of teachers' instructions in Mathematics or Science, including the learners' knowledge of teachers' expectations. The scale also covers the capacity of their teachers to offer clear answers to questions, explain the subjects clearly, do a variety of things to help them learn, and explain a topic again when learners do not understand.

Based on the results of the TIMSS, only 48 percent of Grade 4 learners in the country reported receiving Mathematics instruction with "high clarity", 37 percent received instruction with "moderate clarity", while 15 percent received instruction with "low clarity."

In terms of science instruction, 48 percent reported receiving instruction with high clarity, 36 percent received instruction with moderate clarity and 16 percent received instruction with low clarity.

According to the TIMSS, the clarity of instruction in Grade 4 was positively associated with achievement in both science and mathematics. The Philippines, however, scored only 297 in mathematics and 249 in science---the lowest in both tests among 58 participating countries.

Gatchalian reiterated that while the Department of Education (DepEd) supports teachers' upskilling and reskilling, the country should first help aspiring teachers receive quality education and training from teacher education institutions (TEIs) to improve learner outcomes.

"We need to restructure the entire teacher education continuum from studying in college, getting a license, and teaching in our public schools. Our public school system has 90 percent of our students so if you have a poorly performing public school system, the entire

nation is affected," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 1887 or the Teacher Education Council Act, which seeks to achieve better coordination between the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in improving teacher education and training in the country.

The proposed measure also seeks to ensure the link and coherence between pre-service education and in-service education, and improve teacher education outcomes.

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Gatchalian dismayado sa kakulangan ng "instructional clarity" ng mga guro

Hindi lamang nahuhuli ang mga mag-aaral ng bansa pagdating sa Science at Mathematics ayon sa Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019. Ayon sa pag-aaral, wala pa sa kalahati ng mga mag-aaral ng bansa sa Grade 4 ang natuturuan ng malinaw o may "high clarity" ng kanilang mga guro.

Para kay Senador Win Gatchalian, patunay ito na kailangan ng reporma sa kalidad ng edukasyon at training ng mga guro sa bansa, lalo na't itinuturing niyang nasa ilalim ng isang krisis ang sektor ng edukasyon.

Gamit ang sagot ng mga mag-aaral sa ilang tanong, sinuri ng TIMSS ang iba't ibang aspeto ng pagtuturo ng mga guro. Kabilang dito ang kakayahan nilang pasagutin ang mga tanong nang malinaw, maipaliwang nang husto ang mga aralin, magsagawa ng iba't ibang hakbang upang matuto ang mga mag-aaral, at muling ipaliwanag ang mga araling hindi pa lubos na nauunawaan ng mga bata.

Ayon sa TIMSS, apatnapu't walong (48) porsyento lamang ng mga mag-aaral sa Grade 4 ang nagsabing ang pagtuturo sa kanila sa Math ay may "high clarity" o malinaw na malinaw. Tatlumpu't pitong (37) porsyento ang nagsabing may "moderate clarity" o katamtamang linaw ang pagtituro sa kanila at labing-limang (15) porsyento ang nagsabi ng may kaunting linaw o "low clarity."

Pagdating naman sa Science, apatnapu't walong (48) porsyento rin ang nagsabing malinaw na malinaw ang pagtuturo sa kanila ng naturang subject, tatlumpu't anim (36) ang nagsabi ng katamtamang linaw, at labing-anim (16) na porsyento ang nagsabi ng kaunting linaw.

Ayon sa TIMSS, ang kalinawan ng pagtuturo ay naiuugnay sa matatas na marka sa Math at Science. Ang marka ng Pilipinas para sa Mathematics ay 297 at 249 para sa Science. Ang mga markang ito ang pinakamababa sa 58 na bansang nakilahok sa naturang pagsusuri.

Bagama't suportado ng Department of Education (DepEd) ang "upskilling" at "reskilling" ng mga guro at pinaglaanan din ng pondo para sa 2021 budget, binigyang-diin ni Gatchalian na sa kolehiyo pa lang ay dapat maigting na ang pagsasanay ng mga nais maging guro.

"Kailangan nating ireporma ang buong proseso ng edukasyon at pagsasanay sa mga guro mula sa pag-aaral sa kolehiyo, pagkuha ng lisensya, at pagtuturo sa mga pampublikong paaralan. Nasa ating mga pampublikong paaralan ang halos animnapung porsyento ng ating mga mag-aaral, kaya kung hindi maayos ang performance ng ating mga pampublikong paaralan, apektado ang buong bansa," ayon sa Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Inihain ni Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 1887 o ang Teacher Education Council Act upang paigtingin ang ugnayan sa pagitan ng DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), at ng Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) upang i-angat ang kalidad ng edukasyon ng mga guro sa bansa.

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