Nancy Binay urges DepEd to complete data before implementing educational reforms

The Department of Education (DepEd) can successfully implement the National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP) but it has to address the lack of consolidated data first in assessing learners’ competencies and foundational skills before going further, Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay said on Wednesday, August 14.

As far as she is concerned, Binay said she is certain that the DepEd’s ongoing reforms, led by Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, under the MATATAG agenda are headed in the right direction.

"Actually, some of the most concerning issues on the ground are the limited tools given to teachers when it comes to assessment initiatives. There is dissonance in data,” Binay noted.

“We are aware that there are troubling gaps in essential learning competencies, particularly in the areas of mathematics and reading, but the data which DepEd presently has do not reflect the true granular picture of the competencies and skills of our learners,” she said. 

“We are still blind as to who really needs help and intervention, and where they lack,” she pointed out.

Binay said she is confident that the former senator will be able to closely look into fresh concerns relative to the implementation of the NLRP, especially critical data that reflect the true state of education in the Philippines.

Launched in 2023, the MATATAG Agenda aims to prioritize the development of foundational skills of students in literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional learning.

Binay said she is concerned over the lack of essential data needed to assess the actual number of learners requiring intervention and screening, which jeopardizes the effectiveness of the NLRP's learning camps in improving the academic performance of students.

Of the students who were identified as having to participate in the intervention camps, the senator noted only 50 percent volunteered to join.

“That means, only those who were assessed and given intervention were the 50 percent who joined,” she pointed out.

“So, we don't see the whole picture here. Unfortunately, there is still a large population of learners who need intervention but were left behind because they did not participate in the camp,” she stressed.

“The program won’t achieve anything if the other 50 percent who did not join the intervention camps still lag in their proficiencies for their current grade levels,” she pointed out.

Binay said she believes intervention camps have to be incorporated in the academic calendar or be included in the school year, as she thinks learning camps can easily cure foundational numeracy or literacy in just nine days. 

“The mere fact that we have 7- and 8-graders who cannot do simple basic addition or subtraction, means they do not know the math even in a normal math class set up,” she said.

“It would be better if they would just be pulled out, and they’ll have their own special class or DepEd can pool math teachers who can provide the needed intervention for them,” she said.

“More opportunities will be put to waste if they are just inside their classroom, sitting, listening only but technically, they don’t understand a thing,” she reiterated.