Addressing challenges in basic education

DEBBIE JOY M. BASILIO

THE Department of Education launched the "Sulong EduKalidad" program in the early part of this year to address challenges in the quality of basic education.

This is among the many reforms the agency has implemented, amid the country's poor global ranking in English pr of i ci ency.

According to the agency, while quality interventions take time, it is determined to make significant strides in the quality of education in the near and medium term.

Under "Sulong EduKalidad," the department will review the K-12 curriculum, improve learning environments, upskill and reskill teachers, and seek collaboration and support from stakeholders.

A 2020 report released recently by Education First (EF), an international education company, the country ranks 27th in the English Proficiency Index, suffering a 7-spot drop.

The DepEd said the country's ranking has been declining over the past years, from

13th place in 2016, 15th place in 2017, 14th place in 2018 and 20th place in 2019.

Ranking for 2020 is even lower, the agency said.

But despite this, the country’s English proficiency remained "high" – 562 out of 700.

According to DepEd, this means that Pinoys are able to read newspapers and understand TV shows.

There is also a late interaction in digital platforms among Filipinos, resulting to the declining of English proficiency. Some students can answer simple multiple-choice question but not open-ended questions, the DepEd said. It goes the same for questions that are situational or contextual.

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The author is TIII at Benigno S. Aquino National High School, Concepcion, Tarlac