Angara seeks PISA-like exams for PH students

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said on Friday that there was a need to develop school examinations that would match the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).

In an episode of the Malacañang Insider, Angara said that school assessments should encourage students to be analytical and critical thinkers. 

“I think we need to have more test exams that are PISA-like,” Angara added.

The Education Secretary explained that examinations should be presented so students can harness their skills and apply them to real-life situations.

“It really goes to the quality of our education because the PISA exam measures a very specific type of skills,” he said.

“They present you the situation, and you must react to it and analyze it. So, hindi lang siya parang iyong normal exam na ano iyong nangyari itong date na ito o ano iyong cause nito. So, they really give you a problem set. It’s a very real-world type.”
 
Angara earlier said the performance of some 8 million learners nationwide should be given focus by the Department of Education (DepEd) and its stakeholders in preparation for the PISA next year.

The former Senator said his "immediate goal" upon assuming the DepEd leadership was to raise the country's performance in the next PISA, which is set to be conducted in March 2025.

Based on the 2022 PISA results, the Philippines ranked sixth lowest among the 81 countries and economies that participated in the study, with Filipino learners continuing to lag in reading, math, and science. — DVM, GMA Integrated News