DepEd chief backs SAT proposal

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus expressed support to a pre-college studies scholastic aptitude test (SAT) that was proposed by the Presidential Task Force on Education (PTFE).

Lapus warned the people that the SAT could be a setback if it will be similar to the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), which was abolished in 1994 and replaced by the current National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) administered by the Department of Education (DepEd) to graduating public high school students since 2006.

“We welcome that. We agree with them that such a test, an aptitude test, should be administered,” Lapus said. “But it would be better if they look at the NCAE that we have already pilot tested at DepEd. They could review it and enhance it.”

Lapus said the NCAE is a test that measures the aptitude of a student not only for general scholastics but also assesses the potentials for technical-vocational skills and entrepreneurship.

He said that the SAT should not be used to screen students that would be allowed to take up college studies and those who would only be limited to technical-vocational education and training.

“We cannot go back to the old paradigm where the mindset was college or bust,” Lapus said.

Lapus said sliding back to a test like the NCEE was a step backward in the government’s effort to promote TVET among the Filipino youth.

In a 21-page report, the PTFE has proposed a major overhaul of the higher education system, involving a review and revamp of the first two years of college education into a two-year “pre-specialization” level.