SONA 2022 PROMISE TRACKER: EDUCATION

“There have also been lengthy discussions on the continuation and viability of the K to 12 school system. We are giving this a careful review, and all necessary inputs and points of view are now being considered.”

• DepEd announced on May 11 the start of its year-long review of the K-12 curriculum, through the creation of a task force to assess the implementation of the senior high school program.
• The task force will review existing program policies and relevance of curricula to improve the employability of graduates.

• The task force is due to submit its accomplishment report to Duterte-Carpio on May 12, 2024.
• However, DepEd reported on July 11 that it is ready to launch the “decongested” version of the K-10 curriculum, set to ease burden on learners who previously would have to show mastery on a range of subjects in one school year.

“In the longer term, we are instituting a program of refresher courses and re-trainings for our teachers so they can stay abreast of the rapid growth in technology, especially in this post-pandemic world.”

• Duterte-Carpio said in her Basic Education Report that the  department is improving the capacity of school teachers and leaders. She reported that:
  • 226,367 teachers and school leaders underwent capacity development initiatives.
  • 15,331 educators and school leaders received graduate scholarships.
  • 17,636 teachers for kindergarten to grade 3 were trained to enhance teaching methods and skills in assessing an early learner’s reading and numeracy skills.
  • 161,700 teachers completed teaching courses, supported by the National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines, an attached agency to DepEd mandated to hone the professional development of educators.
• In September 2022, DepEd set up a technical working group to oversee the agency’s National Education Portal. It aims to introduce new features to the portal which will allow collaboration among students, and promptly address accessibility issues and security vulnerabilities.

“As for the ‘horror’ stories that we have heard about the poor quality of educational materials and supplies that are being given to our schools — this must end!”

• The Teachers Dignity Coalition — an advocacy group for educators — reported in September 2022 that public school teachers received outdated and poorly-performing laptops from the DepEd.
• In November 2022, the agency created a team to review its evaluation and procurement processes for textbooks, teaching manuals and other learning resources used in public schools. VERA Files reached out to DepEd’s Bureau of Learning Resources to comment when it plans to conclude its review. It has yet to respond to our questions.

“Children now need connectivity to the internet; they need devices to use; they need computers, educational tools [applause] so that they might participate fully in the digital community here and abroad.”

• DepEd partnered with the National Development Company and ABC Tech Ventures, Inc. in May to provide tablets for school children. The partnership aims to limit the use of physical textbooks and merge them into one device, with parental controls to keep children from accessing inappropriate content online.
• Preliminary data from DepEd showed that as of May 2023, at least 38,194 schools have received learning resources out of the 44,984 targeted for 2022. These resources are worksheets, self-learning modules, and devices like tablets and smartphones used for the adopted learning delivery mode in public schools.
  • Central Visayas and Central Mindanao achieved full distribution to all 6,014 target schools in the regions.
• The CAR (4,048 beneficiaries) and Western Visayas (1,844 beneficiaries) exceeded their target number of school beneficiaries.
  • Region IV-A (CALABARZON) showed the lowest distribution rate to target schools, with only 30% or 1,071 out of 3,545 school beneficiaries reached.