No hitches in conduct of HSRT test

Around 1.6 million to 1.8 million elementary graduates took a test yesterday to determine if they would be qualified to graduate or should take a one-year preparatory before entering high school.

Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus said the results of the High School Readiness Test (HSRT) would be known by June 4.

"As far as we know, it went smoothly," he said. "We did not receive any reports of problems coming from the field."

De Jesus denied reports that there has been widespread opposition to the test from the public, particularly parents.

"It would be very interesting to find out who are opposing the program," he said.

De Jesus said a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations from August to September last year showed that 70 percent of respondents approved the HSRT, 20 percent disagreed, and 10 percent were undecided.

The survey was commissioned by the Department of Education (DepEd) and conducted nationwide among all economic classes, he added.

Students found to be deficient in English, Math and Science after taking the test would be enrolled in a five-year high school term.— Rainier Allan Ronda