DepEd Siargao administers special educational placement test for SBSI learners

By: Irish E Besas, MT II – SOCESPED

The Department of Education (DepEd) through the CARAGA Region and Divison
of Siargao administered a special Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) for 212
takers from SBSI Learners along with other takers from the entire Siargao last October 25-
26, 2023 at Del Pilar Central Elementary School with only 37 learner-passers from the SBSI
community in Sitio Kapihan.

There were 83 males and 86 females a total of 169 takers from Kapihan ranging
from no schooling, kinder up to Grade 9 levels who eagerly took the exam. Based on
the data, they were categorized according to their levels of grades last attended. No
schooling 63 takers, kinder-23, Grade I–18, Grade II– 19, Grade III-7, Grade IV-3, Grade
V-7, Grade VI-12, Grade VII-7, Grade VIII-8, Grade IX-2.

The activity was spearheaded by the representatives from the Bureau of

Education Assessment headed by Mr. Renz Michael N. Evangelista, EPS II, Maam
Amanah Fatima Villapando, EPS II, Dr. Kevin Hope Z. Salvana, DepEd-Caraga Regional
Testing Coordinator, and Ms. Glorian B. Ederosas, SDO-Siargao EPS 1, Mr. Aquino D.
Garcia SEPS-SMM&E and Ms. Louwyn E. Gubaton, EPS II-SMM&E. Together with them are
the identified school heads from two districts Socorro East & West as examiners.

“I could sense from the faces of the learners that they were helpless hence,
thanks to the teachers and proctors of the 2-day PEPT,” division personnel Ms. Glorian
Ederosas, said. “All those involved have one common prayer and that is for all the SBSI
learners to pass the PEPT and be back to school to enjoy their childhood years and be
given the opportunity to grow and develop themselves.”

The remaining non-passers of the special PEPT will retake the examination in
February 2024. Hence, SDO-Siargao officials led by Dr. Karen L. Galanida, Schools
Division Superintendent, Dr. Harem R. Labe, SGOD Chief together with the two District
Supervisors Dr. Sarachen R. Sangco of Socorro East and Dr. Girlie Joe Bamba C. Sanico
of Socorro West District initiated a one-day activity on Crafting of Intervention Plan for
the Results of the Special PEPT in Siargao.

Present at the said activity were the teachers assigned to teach SBSI learners
who are enrolled in Del Pilar ES and Atoyay NHS. The activity targets to increase the
passing rate of learners identified to retake on February 2024.