DepEd to form PISA task force to improve student performance

The Department of Education (DepEd) plans to establish a Task Force on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) to enhance student performance in national and international tests.

This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call for developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in learners.

When the Philippines participated in PISA for the first time in 2018, Filipino students ranked last among 79 participating countries and economies in reading and second to last in science and mathematics.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara stated that the task force is crucial for adapting local conditions to improve exam results.

He noted that a comprehensive plan and strategic approach are needed to accomplish this task, acknowledging that it will take a long time but emphasizing the need to plant seeds for the long term and achieve some wins in the short term.

Alongside the PISA Task Force, DepEd is implementing short- and long-term strategies to adjust teaching methods in public schools, including a 30-minute daily reading period to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy skills.