Malacañang expressed concern over a World Bank report that the majority of Filipino students were below the minimum level of proficiency for their grade levels.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after the WB released a report that Grade 2 or 3 students were poor in reading and mathematics while four in every five 15-year-old students did not understand basic mathematical concepts such as fractions and decimals that should be mastered by fifth graders.
“That is very disturbing and very alarming,” Roque said, but assured that the Department of Education (DepEd) would study “ways forward upon receiving this World Bank Report.”
According to WB, among 79 countries that participated in the Program for International Student Assessment, the Philippines was rated last in reading, and second to last in science and mathematics.
“Do not worry, we will carefully study what that report says and we will see how we can change the curriculum, especially in the time of a pandemic,” Roque said.
The Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia that has yet to hold in-person classes, even on a limited scale to supplement distance-learning modalities.
President Rodrigo Duterte has rejected face-to-face classes since 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
