The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, July 9, has formally acknowledged the apology issued by the World Bank (WB) concerning the premature publication of a report highlighting poor learning outcomes among Filipino learners.
DepEd was referring to a synthesis report titled “Improving student learning outcomes and well-being in the Philippines: What are international assessments telling us?” which, according to the WB, was “inadvertently published earlier than scheduled.” Thus, leaving DepEd without “enough chance to provide inputs.”
While it recognized the apology issued by WB, DepEd noted that there should be a clearer reiteration of the ongoing current education reform initiatives undertaken by the agency to address the challenge of quality - especially at the basic education level.
“More than admitting to their oversight, we hope the WB statement has clearly reiterated the commitment of and concrete steps being taken by the Department, together with our partners, to resolve century-old issues plaguing the Philippine education system,” DepEd said.
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https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/06/briones-assures-challenge-of-quality-in-basic-education-being-addressed-by-deped/
On July 5, Education Secretary Leonor Briones demanded in a virtual press briefing that the WB should issue a public apology for using “old data” in its report which “insulted and shamed” the Philippines.
The WB, Briones said in a statement also issued on July 5, admitted to one error which is the release of old data based on the results of international large-scale assessments in 2018 and 2019 without informing DepEd.
“Thus, DepEd and the Philippine government were subjected to public censure and criticism,” Briones said. “Even if done inadvertently, the World Bank has inflicted harm on DepEd and the government,” she added.
On July 8, WB posted a statement on its website saying it “deeply” regrets that the report on education was “inadvertently published” earlier than scheduled.
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