The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reiterated its call for a renewed focus on improving the foundational skills of Filipino learners to improve the country’s performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
In a virtual discussion with its partners from the World Bank and other institutions on Tuesday, the EDCOM 2 highlighted the role that international assessments play in driving crucial education reforms to meet the needs of young learners.
A key focus of the symposium was the Philippines’ PISA 2022 results, which showed that over 75 percent of Filipino students are low performers in mathematics, science, reading, and creative thinking.
According to EDCOM 2, the country’s highest-achieving students only match the average performers in neighboring countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and are outpaced by the weakest students in Singapore.
Education experts emphasized that the solution to this problem lies in enhancing the “foundational skills” of students like literacy and numeracy, especially during the early grades.
According to World Bank Senior Education Specialist Diego Luna Bazaldua, shifting from a content-based to a competency-based curriculum, similar to successful education models in Ireland and Vietnam, can significantly improve student outcomes.
Bazaldua noted, however, that redesigning the curriculum is not enough. “Achieving substantial improvements in international assessments like PISA requires years of focused and sustained efforts,” he said.
He added that aligning teaching materials and training educators to adapt to new curriculum standards are critical to ensuring the success of these reforms. He also stressed the importance of sustained, long-term efforts to achieve substantial improvements.
The symposium also discussed the potential impact of language on student performance. World Bank expert Koji Miyamoto pointed out that while language plays a role, other factors like socio-economic context and learning environments are also crucial.
EDCOM 2 co-chairperson and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo noted the complexities of implementing the mother tongue as the language of instruction, a mandate under Philippine law, in a country with 19 major languages.
Despite these challenges, the focus remains on improving foundational skills to raise the performance of Filipino students on the global stage.
