Mendoza: On Covid-19 and PISA Result treatment
THE Department of Education has issued DepEd Memorandum No. 23, s. 2020 or the "Third Set of Policy Directives of the DepEd Task Force COVID-19" with main provision: All DepEd units may already resume the conduct of national, regional, and/or off-campus activities starting February 24, 2020 which is today, provided all precautionary measures identified by DepEd and DOH are strictly followed.
The following are the remaining key points stipulated in the said Memorandum:
All policy directives and measures contained in DM 15, s. 2020 titled "First Set of Policy Directives of the DepEd Task Force nCoV" and DM 21, s. 2020 titled "Second Set of Policy Directives of the DepEd Task Force nCoV" are sustained.
The travel measures and restrictions as stipulated in Enclosure No. 2 to DM 15, s. 2020, remain in effect. All personnel and learners who decide to proceed with their scheduled personal travels for the month of February to countries identified to have confirmed cases of Covid-19 shall be subject to mandatory self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of arrival in the Philippines.
Schools are instructed to dedicate weekends to school-wide general cleaning and intensified disinfection efforts, and to utilize the schools' MOOE to effectively execute the protective measures enclosed in DM 15, s. 2020.
Private schools are highly encouraged to adopt the precautionary measures contained in DepEd's memoranda pertaining to its response to the 2019-nCoV ARD.
For more and updated information, follow DepEd Philippines for the latest official updates on school concerns amid the COVID-19 (formerly 2019-nCoV ARD) threat. Health information and tips can also be downloaded at www.deped.gov.ph/stopncov.
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DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones reminded stakeholders that the country’s participation to 2018 Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) was meant to prioritize introducing reforms in the education system.
Secretary Briones emphasized during the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture hearing on the PISA results on Thursday that the government must use the PISA results beyond the rankings to evaluate the situation and inject necessary reforms.
The Secretary pointed out that introducing reforms will not necessarily because we want to raise our rankings in PISA. She said, most importantly, it is because we care about the future of our 27.2 million learners and the future of this country. We should not fall into a trap of implementing special programs in order to just rank highly.
In her statement in the Senate, Briones said the purpose of education is not ranking. But ranking, she added, in international assessment is useful because DepEd see itself to the mirror of global standard. The DepEd Chief further uttered that we must face the challenges that confront education for the country, for the future, for our learners, and not to attain rank number one.
To date, under the administration of Secretary Briones, the Department has recently implemented key reforms, including the review and updating of the K to 12 curriculum wherein according to Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instructions Diosdado San Antonio, the complete results of the review will be available on March and a transition curriculum could be implemented in the field as early as the next school year.
The said Senate hearing was presided by Education Committee chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian who said that what is enlightening now is we know where we are, we are doing something, it’s not business as usual and we acknowledge that we have a lot of work to do.
This Corner hopes that all reforms in education such as the big ticket reform package Sulong EduKalidad will propel the attainment of quality basic education for all leaners whoever and wherever they may be.