Reasons why we have very low PISA scores

✍️Prof. Oligario, UP Diliman

1) Performance tasks have been interpreted as performing arts tasks (i.e., dramatization instead of reading analysis
tasks)

2) Memorization instead of direct application. Exams instead of correct experimentation (wrong experimentation is when
students simply follow steps)

3) Computation instead of authentic problem-solving. Students use

the ruler to draw a line, instead of measure the length of actual objects. Teachers give too many computation tasks and not
enough experience in real-life problem-solving.

4) And let me add, the wrong interpretation and implementation of "no child left behind" as simply mass promotion, thus
promoting students despite lack of competence. And they know this. The focus should be on developing competence.

5) Wrong interpretation and wrong implementation of the spiral curriculum, leaving students to learn fragmented knowledge in
different math areas and science areas.

6) Teacher observation has become simply for grading of teachers and PBB concerns, instead of equipping them with skills to
improve teaching.

7) NAT is used to rank schools, instead of checking where the schools can improve instruction. And worse, schools manipulate
the scores in NAT to make it appear that there have been improvements in student performance when in fact, none.

8) The term "facilitating learning" being interpreted and implemented as leaving the tasks to the students and not lecturing to the
students anymore, so meaning, not giving input to the discussion anymore.

9) Much time spent on other matters like paper works and programs, when teachers should be spending more time on action
research and finding ways to improve teaching.

10) Focus on teacher training, instead of mentoring. Teachers collect certificates from fragmented series of trainings when they
can be mentored in the classroom as they face daily challenges.

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My takeaways...

Rethinking what we consider to be effective teaching—and how we facilitate it—is an integral part of ensuring students receive a
quality education.
It is assumed, that teachers and the actions they take in the classroom fundamentally impact students and what they learn.
When a child join a school and start attending the classes, teacher is the only person who decides what should be taught and how.
A child is like a clean paper, where teachers are responsible to write on.

Uplift, Inspire and Motivate Teachers' morale 👍