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MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday bared plans to bring some educational programs closer to the public with the help of a mall chain.
Duterte met with officials of SM Supermalls and shared the Department of Education’s (DepEd) plans to hold a “Super Spelling Bee” for students of both public and private schools in malls.
“Ito ay naglalayon na sa gitna ng digital age maibalik ang interes ng mga kabataan sa tamang pagbaybay, at ito ay mahalaga sa maayos na pakikipagkomunikasyon,” she explained.
(It aims to regain the interest of young people amid the digital age on correct spelling, which is important for proper communication.)
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Duterte also mentioned possibly conducting an immersion program to prepare K-12 students for potential employment.
“Masaya ako na ibinalita nila na sila ay tumatanggap ng mga […] gradweyt ng K-12,” she added.
(I am happy that they announced that they are hiring K-12 graduates.)
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“Inanyayahan rin natin sila na makilahok sa ginagawang review ng curriculum ng K-12.” she added.
(We also invite them to participate in the ongoing review of the K-12 curriculum.)
According to Duterte, the potential partnership is part of the commitment of the Office of the Vice President and DepEd to collaborate with various organizations and private entities to improve the quality of education in the Philippines.
Advocacy group Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) previously said the country’s education system is in its “worst state” following the Philippines’ dismal ranking in the 2022 Programme for International Students Assessment.
In the 2022 PISA results, the Philippines was ranked sixth to last for reading and mathematics, while it scored third to last in science among 81 countries.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which published the PISA results, the PISA considers the performance of 15-year-old students in reading, science, and mathematics.
“The country’s dismal ranking in the 2022 Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) for the second time is a clear indication that our education system is in its worst state and much work needs to be done,” the PBEd said.
“The poor performance of our learners is not just a problem of education alone, but our country as a whole. The weaknesses in our basic education system will eventually translate into the weakness of our workforce, affecting the productivity and key source of our economic growth and competitiveness.”
“Now more than ever, the PISA results show the dire need of Filipino learners of our full support. The state of education in the Philippines demands immediate attention, collective effort, and a commitment to improvement so we can give our children the best learning experience that they deserve,” it added.