Recently, the Department of Education has released an official statement regarding its position on Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) participation. “Although keen to participate in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2021, the Department of Education (DepEd) has decided to submit an official position for a one-year postponement of the next round of the PISA due to the COVID-19 situation. Should OECD PISA decide to push through with the test in 2021, the Department will keep its options open on whether to proceed or withdraw from PISA 2021, based on the developments of the COVID-19 situation in the country. Still, DepEd is eager to join PISA, after thorough deliberation and review of the results of the informal survey on the matter conducted among Execom members, Central Office and Regional Directors, and major partners in education, and taking into consideration the update on ongoing preparations.”
PISA was first performed in 2000 and then repeated every three years. It is a worldwide study conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD) to measure the mathematical, scientific, and reading comprehension skills of a 15-year-old student. PISA aims to provide comparable data to participative countries. The results of the assessment can be the basis for deciding whether there is a need for improvement on the educational standards of a participant country or not. We can say that the test is a very good tool in measuring where are we at on improving our education system, but we need to take into consideration that the preparedness of our students was greatly affected by the pandemic we are currently facing.
(Also read:Vietnam is thankful to the Philippines for helping their stranded students get back home)
(Also read:Vietnam is thankful to the Philippines for helping their stranded students get back home)
The last assessment took place in 2018 and the results were far from favorable for the Philippines. It showed that we are at the bottom two for both Science and Mathematics category. We also ranked last on reading comprehension.PISA is not just about ranking countries it is showing whether the school system is becoming more or less effective in preparing their students to further study or for work. It’s clear to say that we need an advanced upgrade to our education system.
China was taking the lead on the three different categories (Mathematics, Science, Reading), and the correlation of its mastery in education is very much evident in their economic standing. Base on the assessment, I think we need to take notes from them on how they run their education system. There is a big need for us to develop a more strategic approach in our education system. Discipline is one of the values or lessons that our students are most lacking. Sure we got high scores in Esports during the SEA games held last 2019 but it’s alarming that we fell on the lowest rank during the assessment on the three most important skills as a foundation of our education.
With OECD heeding on the advice of other country participants for the postponement of the administration of PISA 2021, there is a big chance that it will be rescheduled. – Karie | Helpline PH
