While results of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed that the country’s 15-year-old learners did not regress despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Win Gatchalian attributed students’ performance to the high level of support that teachers gave.
The index of teacher support reveals that the level of support provided by Filipino teachers to their students (0.50) is higher than the average (-0.03) in Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) countries. During the forum on the 2022 PISA results, Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Gina Gonong pointed out that students who attend classes with supportive teachers, in most or every mathematics lesson, scored 17 to 27 points higher than those who received less support.
Around 8 in 10 learners reported that their teachers continue teaching until students understand the lessons (81%), help students with their learning (80%), give extra help when students need it (81%), and show interest in every student’s learning (79%).
“One of the most important reasons why we did not regress during the pandemic is because of our teachers. That’s a very important factor,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
He, however, pointed out that the changes in the country’s scores in Reading, Mathematics, and Science between 2018 and 2022 were not statistically significant, which reveal stagnation in learners’ performance. Gatchalian reiterated the need to roll out learning recovery programs and other reforms in basic education to further improve learner outcomes.
The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education also emphasized the need to support teachers by upholding their welfare and improving their working conditions. Gatchalian recently filed the Revised Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (Senate Bill No. 2493), which seeks to amend the 57-year-old Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (Republic Act No. 4670).
Among the bill’s provisions are the reduction of teaching hours from six to four. The proposed measure also prohibits teachers from being assigned non-teaching tasks. When the exigencies of the service require, teachers may render up to eight hours service upon payment of additional compensation, which will be equivalent to the same rate as their regular remuneration plus at least 25% of their basic pay.
