We can’t be that stupid

International studies are showing today’s young Filipinos are among the dumbest students in the world. Aray! It wasn’t like this when we were growing up. What happened?

For example: Out of 58 countries, Philippines is last in Grade 4 math and science, according to TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science study). Last. That’s difficult to swallow. And I think we have been there at the cellar for years now.

Here’s another one: Learning outcomes of Grade 5 students showed a large number of Filipino learners are not proficient enough in reading, writing, and math to advance to secondary school, a Southeast Asia-wide study showed, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

The senator said results of the 2019 study, titled Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM), revealed only 10 percent of Filipino learners have developed proficiency in reading, 17 percent in mathematics, and only one percent in writing.

According to Sen. Gatchalian, the results of the study reinforced the findings of the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which showed that out of 79 countries, the Philippines ranked lowest in reading comprehension and second lowest in science and mathematics.

Ayayay! Here we are proudly telling the world that our large young population will spur our economy to greatness. That’s not going to happen if that young population can’t read, write, or count.

Actually, this calls for a state of emergency in education. Yet, I get the impression that this extremely serious problem isn’t even top of mind for Duterte.

When Rep. Joey Salceda spoke before a business group two weeks ago, I heard him advocate a recalibration of our K to 12 program. He said it has so far failed to deliver the promise of easy employment.

Rep. Joey now wants to prioritize skills acquisition, to put emphasis on the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as a bridge to both employment and higher education. TVET shall be the default senior high school option while maintaining the other tracks as alternatives.

Rep. Salceda said his House Bill No. 6247 aims to address the poor performance of Filipino students in PISA 2018; the hesitation of local companies to hire K-12 graduates; and “depressingly deficient” content and effectiveness of learning materials.

The Albay congressman cited the Commission on Audit’s 2018 findings which showed that the Department of Education procured over P254 million worth of learning materials that contained significant errors and deficiencies that “rendered these instructional materials of poor quality.”

“Combine all of these issues in one picture, and the scene is alarming. As an economic policymaker, part of my job is to make this country economically attractive. Sorry to say this, but the quality of our education system makes my job extremely difficult,” Salceda said.

Salceda warned that we cannot compete in the age of artificial intelligence with such a poorly-trained and poorly-equipped workforce.

“Matalino naman ang Pilipino ‘pag dinala mo sa ibang bansa. Kaya obvious na sistema natin ang problema,” he said.

Sen Gatchalian said as much. He called for reforms in our education system – from teacher training to our curriculum – to ensure that our students learn.

He said that SEA-PLM showed only 10 percent of Filipino learners have developed proficiency in reading to allow their transition to secondary education.

Gatchalian said only 17 percent developed proficiency in mathematics and only one percent in terms of writing cohesive texts with detailed ideas and a good range of appropriate vocabulary.

For Gatchalian, he wants a streamlined curriculum with a sharper focus on promoting the 4Cs – critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration and communication.

He also wants to reform teacher education and training, noting that the quality of teachers and their education are basic inputs to improved learning outcomes.

There is also a proposal to improve the quality of learning materials, with the UP College of Education serving as a quality assurance mechanism and independent auditor of the accuracy and effectiveness of textbooks.

But even as the legislators are looking at TESDA to promote skills development, it seems TESDA may not be up to the challenge. Seventeen members of Congress want to investigate TESDA for its “defective and inadequate” training programs that have resulted in less than six of every 100 graduates getting real jobs.

The congressmen were responding to a COA report reprimanding TESDA for the poor outcome of its Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), which is supposed to help underprivileged Filipinos secure jobs.

In its latest annual audit report on TESDA, the COA noted that of the 75,004 graduates of the STEP in 2019, only 5.64 percent or 2,451 landed jobs – way below the agency’s target of 65 percent employment rate. The program “failed to attain its objective to promote employment through entrepreneurial, self-employment and service-oriented activities,” the report stated.

Yet, STEP had a P2.1-billion budget in 2019, the COA said.

But TESDA Deputy Director Lina Sarmiento told me that in 2019 their survey data showed that the employment rate of 2018 STEP graduates is at 84.4%, meaning 8 out of 10 STEP graduates are employed.

Such a mess. DepEd has the biggest budget but the results are dismal. Throwing money at the problem isn’t the silver bullet. We need better educators.

The bad state of public education is very worrisome because a large percentage of elementary and high school students are now in public schools.

Many private schools, including the religious schools, have been forced to shut down due to unaffordable costs. Their students could no longer afford to pay higher tuition fees and the schools are unable to upgrade teacher salaries. Indeed, many private school teachers have moved to public schools for higher pay.

But we are also number one in something. Out of 45 countries, the Philippines ranked first in spending the most amount of time on social media. Not sure if that’s good news.

International tests show we are the dumbest in the world. This is an emergency… a crisis in national education. And folks are busy with social media where you don’t even have to spell words correctly. We can’t be that stupid.

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco