Before his State of the Nation Address (SONA), an advocate group urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address issues on mass promotion and lack of proper assessment in schools which have a “detrimental impact” on employment and industries.
(ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“Our learners are not truly learning, but merely progressing through the school system. Without a strong foundation in education, our workforce becomes less competitive on the global stage. It hinders innovation, productivity, and economic growth, limiting our potential for progress and prosperity,” PBEd Executive Director Justine Raagas said during the organization's Annual Membership Meeting on Monday, May 29.
PBEd pointed out that the learning gap caused by these practices leads to a “lack of mastery in fundamental skills among students, affecting their employability upon graduation.”
During the event held at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, PBEd presented its State of Education report gathered from its roundtable discussions and consultations with education stakeholders all over the country.
The group discussed that many of their participants misunderstood the "No Child Left Behind" concept which led teachers to promote all students regardless of their grades and competencies despite the absence of an official mandate from the Department of Education (DepEd).
“Participants across all education sectors were in unanimous agreement that one of the underlying causes of poor student learning outcomes was the unspoken but common practice of automatic or mass promotion,” Raagas explained.
The flawed connection between student outcomes and the performance-based bonus awarded to teachers, as well as the school's ranking in the region, led to the perception that teachers have no alternative but to ensure the promotion of all their students, PBEd said.
Participants, PBEd added, lamented that they would be “held responsible not only for their students' failures, but also for the consequences of retaining or failing underperforming students.”
In its report, PBEd’s pointed out that the practice of mass promotion not only “hampers students' mastery of fundamental skills but also leads to behavioral issues” --- including disobedience and recklessness.
(Courtesy of PBEd)
“Learning recovery should be the key approach to address learning gaps,” Raagas said. “We urge the government to ensure that teachers are equipped with the necessary resources and support to effectively engage in reteaching and conduct remediation,” she added.
During the presentation, PBEd pointed out that the country’s education is in crisis given the “persistent challenges” that are yet to be addressed.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/29/ph-education-in-crisis-1
PBEd argued that by addressing the learning crisis, the Marcos administration can “secure a competitive edge for industries and employers, fostering a workforce equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary for economic growth.”
Led by the country's top business leaders, PBEd has been advocating for an education system that will enable every Filipino to lead “productive and meaningful lives” and to contribute to national development.
Given this, Raagas assured that PBEd stands ready to collaborate with the Marcos administration --- offering “expertise and resources to support the implementation of transformative reforms.”