The Department of Education (DepEd) plans to look into more possible interventions after the report of the World Population Review listed Filipinos to have a “below average” intelligence quotient (IQ).
(DepEd / MANILA BULLETIN)
“We will read the report and if there’s anything else that we need to do in terms of intervention, definitely it will be discussed within the department,” DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Michael Poa in an interview on the sidelines of the Language and Inclusion Summit on Friday, May 19.
“We really need to read the report for us to discuss this, but for now, we have a MATATAG agenda [which] is more of a holistic approach,” Poa said.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/30/deped-launches-matatag-agenda-to-resolve-challenges-in-basic-education/
Poa explained that strategies and interventions to address challenges in quality basic education are already in place.
“What we’re doing in DepEd right now, when it comes to nutrition, we have a school-based feeding program,” he said.
Recognizing that Filipino learners are having difficulties when it comes to reading and math, Poa said that DepEd will be rolling out the National Reading Program and National Math Program.
This coming school break, Poa said that DepEd will also roll out learning camps to address learning gaps among students.
“Ito po ay parte lahat niyan ng ating mga (All of these are part of the) strategies to really improve quality basic education,” Poa said.
During her keynote speech, Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte also noted that the Department’s “MATATAG” agenda in basic education “only becomes truly meaningful and effective if we can put inclusivity at the center of what we do — if we only make inclusivity the heart and the soul of our reforms and efforts to improve basic education.”
“This means that our MATATAG Agenda does not forget, discriminate against, or disregard Indigenous Peoples or our Lumad brothers and sisters, our Muslim communities, or people with disabilities,” she added.
“We hope to see our IP or Lumad learners, Muslim learners, and PWD learners experience the same learning experience we provide other learners,” she added.
Addressing challenges in basic education
Meanwhile, Poa underscored the importance of events such as the Language and Inclusion Summit to address the challenges faced by the country’s basic education.
“It’s really important to have these summits, to have these dialogues, to have these exchanges between experts para matukoy talaga kung ano ang (identify which is the) most effective dito sa ating bansa pagdating sa (in the country when it comes to) language and of course, to really highlight and we’re really focused on inclusivity dito sa (here in) basic education,” he added.