Sara Duterte laments flaws in Philippine schools, calls for better facilities and curricula

The Philippine vice president, who is also secretary of education, presented a report that shows that 81 per cent of students “cannot deal with math problems” and have “trouble understanding texts of moderate lengths.” She launched a plan to boost support for teachers.

Manila (AsiaNews) – Philippine Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte recently spoke about the country’s education system with her usual frankness, and with a realism often absent from official statements.

Citing her Department’s Basic Education Report 2023, which displays a tougher than usual analysis, Ms Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, stresses the problems, such as the lack of classrooms and poor infrastructure, staff shortages, flawed managerial practices, and inadequate curricula.

The study also found that students find themselves subjected to "emotional abuse, exhaustion and psychological fatigue”. About 81 per cent "cannot deal with math problems" and have “trouble understanding texts of moderate lengths”, while 78 per cent "could not recognize explanations for scientific phenomena or draw conclusions from them.”

According to the vice president, a solution depends in part on teachers who need more support, “particularly in explicitly and strategically teaching critical thinking and problem-solving skills”, which are indispensable in the 21st century, along with higher-level knowledge.

Indeed, for Duterte, teachers’ “dedication, integrity and commitment to serve Filipino children and our country strengthened our collective effort to achieve our shared dreams for our learners.” Still, education is in a critical state, and requires greater coordination with private sector and labour partners.

In light of these problems, the Department of Education conceived and launched the Young Nation, Youth for the Nation programme (Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa), as a framework to bring together all stakeholders over the coming years.

The programme has four specific objectives: making the curriculum relevant so that it can train competent, employable, active, and responsible citizens; accelerating the development of essential educational facilities and services; improving the learning environment and student well-being with inclusive education; and helping teachers to teach better.

• philippines
• vice president
• education secretary
• sara duterte
• basic education report
• 2023
• shortcomings
• challenges
• teachers