Kalayaan Hall, Malacañan Palace
January 11, 2024
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. convened with Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also the concurrent Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and other key DepEd officials, to discuss the Philippines’ 2022 performance in the recently concluded Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in a sectoral meeting at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañan Palace.
According to the latest PISA results, the Philippines has remained consistent — neither improving nor regressing — with only a single-digit, insignificant changes in the subject areas of Mathematics, Reading and Science from 2018 to 2022 despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The country registered an overall low proficiency level at Level 1, which is below the minimum proficiency level set at Level 2 by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Among the programs DepEd has initiated to address the country’s stagnating low-level proficiency ranking is the pilot implementation of the ‘MATATAG Curriculum,’ which is targeted to begin in school year (SY) 2024-2025 for Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4 and 7. The program will include other grade levels in the years ahead until the inclusion of Grade 10 learners in SY 2027-2028.
Other initiatives being implemented include an increase in non-wage benefits of public school teachers, such as personal accident insurance and calamity assistance. There is also a pending bill to increase chalk allowance from PhP5,000 to PhP7,500. Additional issues raised include the level of prestige of educators in attracting high quality students to pursue a career in education due to the low salary.
Meanwhile, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian presented the Nutrition Continuity Plan that covers the Food Stamp Program, Supplementary Feeding Program and School-Based Feeding Program.
During the meeting, President Marcos Jr. reiterated the crucial importance of improving the country’s education system by providing specialized training and capacity-building programs for teachers, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects to prepare students for digital and technology-based jobs. He also encouraged providing a conducive environment for learners by addressing bullying in schools and enhancing feeding programs.
A total of 7,193 Filipino students aged 15 years old from 188 schools and 16 regions, representing 83% of the total 15-year-old population, completed the PISA computer-based tests. This marked the second time the Philippines had participated in the PISA, with the testing cycle taking place from March to May 2022, involving 81 countries and economies.
*****