Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan reflected on the recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results at the Education World Forum (EWF) in London last 20–22 January 2020. Usec Malaluan shared that the results of the study — where the Philippines placed at the bottom for reading and second-to-last for maths and science — emphasised the need to improve education quality in the country.
‘Despite our unfavorable PISA results,’ he added, ‘the support from key stakeholders has been overwhelming… We have the support of leading personalities and organisations in education reform, including the private sector.’
Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan reflected on the recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results at the Education World Forum (EWF) in London last 20–22 January 2020. Usec Malaluan shared that the results of the study — where the Philippines placed at the bottom for reading and second-to-last for maths and science — emphasised the need to improve education quality in the country.
‘Despite our unfavorable PISA results,’ he added, ‘the support from key stakeholders has been overwhelming… We have the support of leading personalities and organisations in education reform, including the private sector.’
He further discussed DepEd’s recently launched project, Sulong EduKalidad (Onward Education Quality), which addresses four pillars for education reform: K to 12 curriculum review and update, improving learning environment, teachers’ upskilling and reskilling, and engagement of stakeholders for support.
Four Philippine education agencies participated in the global forum including: DepEd; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority led by Secretary Dr Isidro Lapeña, Deputy Director General Rosanna Urdaneta and Director Adzhar Albani; the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) represented by Commissioner Dr Perfecto Alibin, Regional Director Dr Rogelio Galera and Bicol University Vice President Dr Victor Soliman; and the Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) with Deputy Minister Haron Meling and Executive Assistant Nasiri Abas.
The MBHTE, through Assistant Secretary Marjuni Maddi and Director Alih Aiyub, took this opportunity to speak with UK stakeholders that could support them in improving the quality of education in the Bangsamoro region. Focusing on peacebuilding, quality assurance and pioneering programmes in the region, MBHTE met with institutions and organisations such as the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
In a separate visit to the University of Oxford and a roundtable discussion in London, CHED also spoke about the landscape of English as Medium of Instruction in higher education and explored opportunities to work with the UK in this area.
The EWF is the largest gathering of education and skills minister around the world, bringing together delegates who represent over two-thirds of the world’s population to debate future education policy. The 2020 theme was ‘One generation’ – what does it take to transform education?