Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, on Monday, Dec. 16, said that cuts to the department's budget, especially for its computerization program, could impact preparations for the country's participation in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
Angara, speaking on the sidelines of the ceremonial signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Act, said the preparations for PISA 2025 are progressing well.
However, he noted that these efforts may be affected by the budget cut in the 2025 computerization program.
“Baka matamaan yung preparations natin diyan kasi ang gusto natin lahat ng schools may access to computers ("That might affect our preparations there because what we want is for all schools to have access to computers),” Angara said.
DepEd’s budget for next year was slashed by P12 billion, with P10 billion of that coming from the proposed 2025 computerization program.
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https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/14/decry-p12-billion-budget-cut-for-2025
The Philippines will be participating in PISA for the third time in 2025.
“Dun sa nakaraang dalawa, yung ibang estudyante, unang araw nila makakita ng computer ay yung araw ng exam (In the previous two assessments, for some students, the first time they saw a computer was on the day of the exam),” Angara said. “Ang gusto sana natin maka-practice na sila, yung practice exam sa computer na (What we want is for them to be able to practice, to have practice exams on the computer),” he added.
Finding ways
Meanwhile, Angara expressed gratitude to President Marcos following his announcement that he would find a way to restore DepEd’s budget cut.
“Tayo ay nagpapasalamat sa Pangulo dahil gagawan niya ng paraan ito (We are grateful to the President because he will find a way to address this),” Angara said.
Angara explained that the President has already instructed him to coordinate with other Cabinet Secretaries, especially with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), on how to restore DepEd’s 2025 budget. Aside from vetoing the 2025 budget, Angara said DepEd’s proposed budget could be restored through savings and program appropriations.
Prioritizing technology
Angara shared that the President’s commitment to restoring DepEd’s proposed budget stems from his vision of strengthening the use of technology in Philippine education.
“Sinasabi niya na dapat maging moderno na tayo sa edukasyon at bigyan natin ng tsansa yung ating mga kabataan --- especially yung mga di na-expose sa computers (He is saying that we should modernize education and give our youth a chance — especially those who have not been exposed to computers),” Angara said.
“Sa darating na panahon, maihihiwalay yung mundo sa mga marunong mag-computer at di marunong mag-computer at dehado talaga ang di marunong mag-computer (In the future, the world will be divided between those who know how to use computers and those who don’t, and those who don’t will really be at a disadvantage),” he added.
Angara said President Marcos aims to provide all public schools with computer packages by the end of his term.
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