by: Romalyn R. Torres
Teacher II, Caingin Elementary School
Division of Santa Rosa City, Laguna
MANILA, Philippines – In preparation for the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025, the Department of Education (DepEd) will launch a special science program for students who will undergo the assessment. – Rappler.com
The special science program, according to Education Undersecretary Gina Gonong, will incorporate PISA-style questions into its lessons and be implemented gradually, starting with all students in Grades 7 through 10, then 1.6 million students from 150 to 180 schools, and lastly concentrating on 7,500 to 8,000 students who will take the PISA exam.
But public school teachers all over the country are asking if this step would be relevant, as well as necessary towards the department’s prior learning recovery plan. Due to the learning gap suffered by the students these past years as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, teachers and learners alike are all clamoring to get back on their feet and make an effort to equal their academic performances before the calamity happened.
With the implementation of the National Learning Camp, National Reading Program, and National Mathematics Program, there is no doubt that there is no given emphasis and allotted program relevant to teaching Science. This might be the issue that the people from the Top Management are seeking to resolve. Although the intent is clear and justifiable, the conflict regarding the corresponding amount of work and time to be consumed relevant to this program is undeniable. Teachers and students are already bombarded with school works concerning their subjects, supplemented with those needed for the NRP and NMP, what more will happen if another “subject” or program is added into their tasks.
Maybe, just maybe, a better planned curriculum and division of lessons is what the country’s education department really needs. Before the administration comes up with another program, why won’t they try to fit into the shoes of the common teachers so that they might have a better understanding of what is really needed and effective towards our learners’ education. Adding more and more program will not seem fruitful, but rather exhausting not only on the teachers but on the pupils as well.
