Investment in education led to Makati school’s PISA feat – Mayor Binay

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay (Photo from her Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — The notable performance of Benigno Ninoy Aquino High School (BNAHS) in the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is the result of the Makati City government’s investments in education, Mayor, Abigail Binay said on Tuesday.

BNAHS was the only public school in Metro Manila to score above the minimum proficiency level in PISA and achieve Level 2 in the assessment.

PISA evaluates the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students (Grade 9) in mathematics, reading, and science.

Binay attributed the school’s performance in the international assessment to the local government’s learning interventions even before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

“Considering that there had been no face-to-face classes for over two years when the test was conducted, this achievement speaks volumes of the success of Makati’s innovative and inclusive programs for our public school students,” Binay said.

She pointed out that before the pandemic the city government invested P31 million to implement Project MILES (Mathematics Intensive Learning Enhancement for Students), which sought to enhance students’ math skills using learning materials provided to them for free.

These materials, Binay explained, were locally developed by the Department of Education (DepEd) Makati and received full funding from the city government.

“Unlike some private sector-led learning interventions like MTAP [Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines], which require a fee from participants, Project MILES promoted inclusivity as it was free for everyone who needed or wanted to hone their skills in Mathematics,” she said of the project.

Project MILES, which was pilot-tested in 2018, also trained students in e-learning, easing their transition to online learning following the pandemic, Binay noted.

No fees were charged to students since the city paid for the honoraria of over 700 teachers who handled the program’s onsite and online sessions, the subscription to Math software Koobits, and the students’ learning materials.

“This achievement is a clear validation of the sound investments that Makati has made in modernizing the public school system,” she stressed

Modernizing learning

Other than Project MILES, the Makati City government also converted some jeepneys into mobile learning hubs fitted with laptops and other learning materials under its Dyipni Makati initiative, Binay added.

In late January, she likewise announced the conversion of 400 traditional classrooms into smart classrooms by installing hybrid whiteboards, notebook tablets, and unlimited internet access.

The mayor also vowed to pursue more innovations and continuous collaboration with DepEd Makati, especially in developing local learning materials suited to the needs of public school children and continuous assessment of all grade levels.

This year, the city has allocated P3.25 billion of its general fund for the education sub-sector, which includes city-funded programs and projects of DepEd Makati, the operations of the University of Makati, and initiatives implemented by the city Education Department and Museum and Cultural Affairs Office.

Additionally, P1.89 billion under the Special Education Fund covers free school uniforms and supplies provided from preschool to senior high school and students’ competency enhancement programs, Binay said.