Duterte OKs measures to address gaps in education system

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved measures to address gaps in the education system after Filipino students scored poorly on a global assessment program.

Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Wednesday the measures include reviewing and updating the K-12 curriculum, improving the learning environment, retooling the knowledge of teachers and engaging stakeholders for support and collaboration.

Panelo said the measures were approved by Duterte during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday in which the results of the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) was discussed by Education Secretary Leonor Briones.

The 2018 PISA results showed that 15-year-old Filipino students scored a mean of 340 points in the reading comprehension exam, which was below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average of 487 points.

The Philippines also lagged behind in Mathematics and Science, ranking second to the lowest.

“Secretary Briones said that prior to joining the assessment, they already expected an unfavorable result, and while the usual critics jumped on the issue when the results were published, she explained that her purpose for joining the PISA was to establish a baseline for the purpose of measuring the development of education in the Philippines vis-à-vis global standards,” Panelo said.

“In this way, per Secretary Briones, they would be able to evaluate the results and implement corrective measures to address the deficiency of our education system.” — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News