Group urges against student ‘mass promotions’

An education advocacy groups has called for a stop to what it describes as the "mass promotion" of students, even those who "actually don't meet the competency level."

“We found out from the teachers—walang data ito kasi hindi ito reported, hindi kino-collect ang data pero on the ground conversations o kinukwento nila— pinapasa nila sa mas mataas na grade level ang mga estudyante kahit na hindi pa naman handa ang mga ito. Nangyayari ito sa ilang paaralan,” said Philippine Business for Education (PBED) executive director Justine Raagas.

Citing its recent basic education consultancy conducted among public school teachers, the group said its results showed that at least 10% to 30% of students who are endorsed for enrollment in the next grade level do not meet the competency level for advancement.

Meanwhile, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Chairman Vladimir Quetua said the mass promotion of students appears to be an offshoot of miscommunication or misinterpretation by some teachers of the Department of Education's "no child left behind" policy.

"We need to address this issue. We have started showing one of the manifestations of this unacceptable practice: the learning poverty rate in the country has been rising," Raagas added.

Both groups emphasized that the practice might affect the student's learning skills during the next grade level and could also limit their employment capabilities in the future.

PBED also said the issue could affect the Philippines' standing in international assessments.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa, however, said the DepEd has no policy on mass promotions.

"The DepEd has no issuance that allows for mass promotion. We understand that in the field, maaaring nangyayari 'yung ganyan and that's why that is something we are looking into in terms of ano ba 'yung mga rason," he said. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News