DepEd chief calls for stakeholder support to improve PISA results
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara called on stakeholders to collaborate in enhancing the Philippines' performance in the upcoming Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results at the launch of the “Brigada Pagbasa Partners Network” on Wednesday, July 31.
The event, which gathered various stakeholders, aimed to mobilize support and foster collaboration for improving reading proficiency and overall educational outcomes.
In his keynote address, Angara emphasized the urgent need to tackle educational challenges like limited access to technology and necessities, as he urged collective action to improve outcomes ahead of the PISA assessment in March.
“My immediate goal is to raise the PISA results which is in March. So tulungan niyo po ako sana diyan. ‘Yung Grades 7, 8, 9, 10–mga 8 million lang naman yan. Kailangan natin tulungan (So I hope you can help me with that. We’re talking about Grades 7, 8, 9, and 10—just about 8 million students. We need to help them),” he said.
“‘Yung iba dyan walang computer. ‘Yung iba dyan hindi nag-almusal. ‘Yung iba dyan pagod na pagod maglakad, na nakatsinelas lang (Some of them don't have computers. Some haven't had breakfast. Others are exhausted from walking long distances in just sandals),” he added.
Despite the challenges facing the education sector, Angara expressed optimism, saying that with the support of stakeholders, there is hope for improvement.
“These are the things that we have to deal with on the ground. But with you, again, there is hope. Amidst misery, there is so much hope, there is so much action, and pretty soon there will be results,” he said.