$300-million ADB loan eyed for reforms in education system

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has proposed to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) a $300 million loan to support the implementation of secondary education reforms in the country from 2019 to 2023. 

The project, called the “Secondary Education Support Program,” complements the ongoing Senior High School Program and is part of ADB’s support to the government’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K to 12) Basic Education program.

This program would improve secondary level student learning outcomes and completion rates by improving the quality and relevance of the secondary education program, improving the quality of secondary school teachers, and strengthening the management of the secondary education sector. 

If approved, funding would be obtained from ADB’s ordinary capital resources. 

In the project data sheet, ADB said that despite the modest gains in enrolment and completion compared to 1990 levels, the country’s secondary education system continues to face several challenges.

In school year 2015-2016, junior high school net enrolment and completion rates were only 68 percent and 74 percent, respectively. 

ADB noted that challenges in quality remain, as evidenced by low learning achievement of students. 

Many secondary schools under the Department of Education  also do not have enough teachers specializing in core subjects because of difficulties in recruitment and deployment of subject specialists. 

Inadequate equipment, tools, and learning materials limit the ability of teachers to effectively teach specialized subjects. 

This, in turn, hampers adequate learning on the part of students. 

ADB also said there is a need to improve school-community partnerships and improve the system of assessing each school’s  management practices.