Mass stupidity (2)

Of the topics and issues I have tackled in this corner, none has been more viral and controversial than my Dec. 14 column on “Mass Stupidity.”

The column has ruffled feathers among the high and mighty in government. The problem is, they don’t know how to solve the problem.

I wrote that Filipino 15-year-olds are among the most stupid teeners on earth. They cannot count beyond 20. They cannot read. If ever they can read, they don’t understand what they read. They don’t know science, the how and why of things.

The conclusions are based on the 2022 results of tests in science, math and reading in which 15-year-olds from 81 countries participated, under the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) of the OECD, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Among the 81 countries, the Philippines ranked 79th (or third worst) in science and 76th (sixth worst) in both reading and math. In the 2018 PISA, the Philippines either scored last or next to the last, among 78 countries.

In the 2022 test results announced this year, the Philippines (represented by 7,193 15-year-olds from 188 Philippine schools) scored 356 in science – 129 points lower than the mean score (for all 81 countries) of 485, and 205 points lower than the 561 grade of the topnotcher country, Singapore.

In science competence, Filipino 15-year-olds are 27 percent below average in the world, and 37 percent below that of young Singaporeans. Worldwide, in the science tests, the Philippines beat only No. 81 Cambodia, 347, by 9 points and No. 80 Uzbekistan, 355, by one point.

The Philippine math score was 355 – 117 points below the global mean of 472 points, and 220 points lower than the 575 of Singapore, again the topnotcher. In math competence, Filipino teeners are 38 percent below that of Singaporeans and 25 percent below the global average.

Worldwide, in math tests, the Philippines beat only No. 81 Cambodia, 329, by 19 points; No. 80 Paraguay, 338, by 17 points; No. 79 Dominican Republic, 339, by 16 points; No. 78 El Salvador, 343, by 12 points; No. 77 Guatemala, 344, by 11 points.

Filipinos scored 347 in reading, 129 points below the global mean of 476 and 196 points below the 543 of Singaporeans, the topnotcher. In reading comprehension, Filipino 15-year-olds are 27 percent below the global average, and 36 percent behind the reading comprehension of Singaporeans.

In reading, the Philippines beat only No. 81 Cambodia, 329, by 18 points; No. 80 Uzbekistan, 336, by 11 points; No. 79 Morocco, 339, by 8 points; No. 78 Jordan, 342, by 5 points; No. 77 Kosovo, 342, by 5 points.

In competence and brain power – in science, math and reading – young Filipinos thus are among the world’s worst laggards. They are in the garbage dump of the global intellectual totem pole.

I blame the government for the epidemic stupidity. Under the Constitution, elementary and high school education are free. While free, our elementary and high school education are the world’s worst in quality.  After eight to ten years of schooling, our young learn nothing. Zilch. Zero.

I also blame the parents or the lack of parenthood. A third of 24 million households have a single parent. The other parent is either divorced, separated or has gone to work abroad, victims of so-called economic and social diaspora.

Two years before I entered public elementary school I could read and understand what I was reading, thanks to my titas, who literally cracked the whip, and Manila’s extensive public library system where I spent hours daily. I could count up to 100, at least, because P100 was the monthly minimum wage in my time as a pupil when two pesos could fetch one dollar.

Our textbooks were imported, hard bound and in gleaming white book paper. Later, the exchange rate became four pesos to one dollar. The Philippines was rich and Filipinos were among the most talented people on earth.

In the 24-member Senate of yesteryears, half of the senators were Bar topnotchers and legal luminaries. Today, in the Senate, half of the senators are entertainers (tv and movie luminaries, with a couple behaving like dropouts), if not related to one another by blood. The Senate is our highest policy-making body whose members are nationally elected. The senators are our educated class.

In public high school in Tondo in my time, our teachers in English, Math, Science, Physics, Chemistry and Journalism had master’s degrees. We learned Music with a grand piano, Carpentry with all the tools of the trade (not the Makita brand though) and Automotive with a real car engine.  Later, these teachers all disappeared and flew in droves to the US, which was awash with green cards.

The Philippine public educational system has been hollowed out, by indifference, incompetence and corruption.

Is there hope? Ask the senators.  Please don’t laugh with the answers.

Paging DMCI

A highly respected communicator, Owen Cammayo, has repeatedly protested to DMCI Homes the unauthorized use of his photo, and that of his eldest daughter, wife and step daughter for a marketing collateral without their permission or consent.

“The said marketing material has been used and circulated for almost a decade now. Clearly, this is something your organization should have not done. Taking and using my photo for marketing purposes is just not right,” Owen wrote DMCI, demanding “an immediate explanation and appropriate action.” “It’s your company’s responsibility to correct the wrong and prevent further damage,” Owen insisted.

Instead of responding to his complaint, DMCI people have erected a mountain of buck-passing and plain indifference.

My good friend, Sid Consunji, a Management Man of the Year awardee and the CEO of DMCI Holdings, Inc., should look into this minor matter.

*      *      *

Email: [email protected]