YOUNG Fernandino learners from grade levels one to seven were among top learners in the Central Luzon in terms of numerical capability, a report released by the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
The report was released after DepEd-Central Luzon conducted on October 25 to 29, 2021 a pre-test activity for all learners of the said levels, covering Mathematics, through a blend of online and modular methods.
The agency said the activity is to “determine the learners’ numeracy levels” during the early part of the school year 2021-2022, and perform intervention efforts to those who will be seen as “non-numerates” and “nearly numerates.”
A “numerate” is described to be “having the ability to understand and work with numbers.”
In the released Mean Percentage Score (MPS) per grade level, the City Schools Division of San Fernando garnered the highest MPS for all grade levels among the 20 schools divisions in Region 3.
The division registered 70.88 percent MPS for Grades 1; 70.9 percent for Grades 2; 74.87 percent for Grades 3; 70.2 percent for Grades 4; 70.46 percent for the fifth grade; 71.55 percent for the sixth grade; and, 76.91 percent for the seventh grade.
The City’s MPS was also higher than the Average Regional MPS that covers the rating of 54.62 percent for Grades 1; 57.23 percent for Grades 2; 59.57 percent for Grades 3; 59.66 percent for Grades 4; 58.66 pecent for the fifth grade; 58.82 percent for the sixth grade; and, 57.79 percent for the seventh grade.
Florita David, Division Education Program Supervisor-Mathematics, said the said percentages represent a good number of numerates in a division despite the absence of formal instructions to them by the teachers.
“Kapag sinabi nating ‘pre-test,’ sinusubukan natin ang lebel ng kaalaman ng isang bata sa isang subject area na akma sa kanyang grade level kahit na wala pang pormal na pagtuturong naganap. Sa ating kaso, nagsimula ang SY 2021-2022 noong Setyembre at naidaos ang pagsusulit pagkalipas ng isang buwan lamang kaya wala talaga tayong pormal na paghahanda,” David said.
She added now that the levels of skills in the Mathematics subjects are determined, the teachers, along with the parents, are set to “intervene” to prepare the learners for the post-test set to be conducted this June of the current year.
The post-test will otherwise determine the numeracy skills of the learners after the conduct of regular and formal schooling days.
“Ang mga guro natin, marami silang interventions kung paano mas mapapabuti pa ang skills ng mga bata sa subject area na ito. Kasama sa mga ito ay ang pagsasagawa ng additional learning activities, consultation, lectures, at iba pang maaaring paraan,” said David.
Superintendent Dr. Imelda Macaspac, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Schools Division, commended the works of the division’s force for this newest milestone.
“Our division is already reaping the fruits of our teachers’ hard labor -- lahat ng paghihirap at ginagawa nila upang matuto ang mga estudyante. Binabati natin sila, hindi lamang para dito, kung hindi sa walang kapagurang pagtatrabaho -- designing lessons, implementing strategies on how Math, na isang mahirap na subject, can be easily learned by our students,” Macaspac said.
Under Mayor Edwin Santiago’s administration, education has been on the topmost agenda.
The mayor believes that in order to succeed and help in nation building, one must put education, in all forms, as its priority.
Prior to this, the division had consistently ranked first in different knowledge and skills measurement activities, including the National Achievement Test. (PR)