Better teachers’ training sought

MANILA, Philippines — Public school teachers need to be trained better to ensure the education system’s recovery from learning losses through the years, the Department of Education (DepEd) said yesterday.

Upskilling and reskilling teachers to address learning loss and prepare for the demands of modern classrooms remain a commitment of the agency, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said at the Teacher Education Council symposium.

In its Year One report, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) highlighted the urgency of addressing teacher training issues.

Many teachers who took a content test based on the curriculum only answered basic-level questions.

When asked to perform complex tasks requiring two or three steps, most teachers could not respond effectively, EDCOM 2 noted.

A 2024 agreement with the Philippine Normal University has been a significant step toward enhancing the quality of teacher training, Angara said.

More than half of teacher training schools in the Philippines consistently underperformed in the licensure exam from 2010 to 2022, with passing rates below the national average, based on a recent study by the Philippine Business for Education.

Earlier this year, the Commission on Higher Education vowed to shut down underperforming teacher training schools that disregarded prescribed standards.

Amending K-12

Meanwhile, a House bill amending the K-12 program seeks to revert the curriculum back to 10 years of basic education.

House Bill 11213, approved on second reading Wednesday, seeks to enforce an “honors exam” or advanced placement exam for graduating Grade 10 students, allowing them to “bypass” senior high school, according to Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo.

Students not taking the advanced placement exam will proceed to the two-year “University Preparatory Program” under the DepEd.

Students may also take technical-vocational courses under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

A 2022 Pulse Asia survey showed 44 percent of Filipinos were dissatisfied with the K-12 curriculum.

A 2020 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies showed that only one in five senior high school graduates entered the labor force after graduating.

The K-12 program was implemented in 2012. –  Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano