UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City

MIDTERM EXAMINATION
DEM 409- POLICY FORMULATION AND ANALYSIS APPLIED TO EDUCATION

NAME: BLESILDA F. CORPIN SCORE: _____________________

YEAR & SECTION: PhD-EM 1A DATE : October 28, 2023

QUESTIONS:
1. What are the steps or the process to be taken in policy making? Discuss
each step with examples of actions to be done.
2. What DepEd policies would you like to change or amend and why? I you
are given the power to do it, Cite and discuss your proposal in three
policies.

ANSWERS:

The policy making process is a complex and dynamic process that involves
multiple stages. According to Harold Lasswell, a policy making model still used
today, there are five distinct steps or stages in the policy-making cycle.

1. Agenda Setting: In this stage, a problem or challenge that impacts the

public is initially identified. Solutions are put forward by interested parties
both inside and outside of the government. Agenda setting typically goes
through these stages:
o Systemic agenda: All issues public officials feel are worth
addressing.
o Institutional agenda: Distilled from the systemic agenda list, these
issues are chosen as the ones policymakers should analyze and
consider acting on.
o Discretionary agenda: This list comes directly from lawmakers, not
from the systemic and institutional agendas.
o Decision agenda: The final list of issues that policymakers will
consider for action.

Discussion/Explanation:

Agenda setting is a key concept in the study of policy development. It

refers to the capacity of an actor (individual, group, organization, institution) to
define or influence issues on the public agenda. In the context of education,
agenda setting can be used to identify and prioritize issues that need to be
addressed in order to improve educational outcomes. For example, a school
board might use agenda setting to identify areas where student performance is
lagging and develop policies to address those issues.
 UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City

In addition, agenda setting can be used to shape public opinion about

education policy. By framing issues in a particular way, policymakers can
influence how the public perceives those issues and what solutions are seen as
viable. This can be particularly important in situations where there is significant
disagreement about the best way to address a particular issue.

Overall, agenda setting plays an important role in education policy

development by helping policymakers identify and prioritize issues that need to
be addressed and by shaping public opinion about those issues.

An example of agenda setting in educational policy is the Education for All (EFA)
initiative launched by UNESCO in 1992. The initiative aimed to provide universal
access to basic education and improve educational quality around the world.
The initiative helped to raise awareness about the importance of education as a
human right and led to increased investment in education by governments and
international organizations.

This example illustrates how agenda setting can be used to identify important
issues in education policy and shape public opinion about issues.

2. Policy Formation: This step involves the development of policy options

within the government. This occurs after officials narrow the range of
possible policy choices by excluding infeasible options.

Discussion/Explanation:

Policy formation is the second stage in the policy-making process, where

policymakers first develop and propose a policy. This occurs after officials
narrow the range of possible policy choices by excluding infeasible options.
During this stage, policymakers consider various policy options and evaluate
their feasibility, effectiveness, and potential impact. Brainstorming is common
during policy formation, as most issues have more than one potential solution.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has developed several policies to
improve the quality of education in the country. One such policy is the K-12 Basic
Education Program. The program was implemented in 2013 and aims to provide
students with a more comprehensive education that includes kindergarten, six
years of elementary school, four years of junior high school, and two years of
senior high school.

Another example of policy formulation in Philippine education is the

Alternative Learning System (ALS). ALS is a program that provides out-of-school
youth and adults with basic education and life skills. The program was
 UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City

developed to address the problem of illiteracy among adults in the country. ALS
offers a flexible learning system that allows students to learn at their own pace
and schedule.

3. Decision Making: In this stage, policymakers select a policy option from

among those developed in the previous stage.

Discussion/Explanation:

Decision making is the third stage in the policy-making process, where

policymakers select a policy option from among those developed in the
previous stage. Decision making is a complex process that involves multiple
factors, including political considerations, public opinion, and the availability of
resources. The decision-making process can be influenced by various factors,
such as the political climate, the interests of stakeholders, and the availability of
information.

4. Policy Implementation: This stage involves putting the selected policy into
action. It requires coordination among various government agencies and
stakeholders.

Discussion/Explanation:

Policy implementation is the fourth stage in the policy-making process,

where the policy is put into action and carried out. It requires coordination
among various government agencies and stakeholders. The implementing
organization and stakeholders may educate the people or organizations
affected by the new policy, change pre-existing administrative operations and
systems (or create new ones), and monitor and/or enforce the policy as
needed .

5. Policy Evaluation: In this final stage, policymakers assess whether the

policy has achieved its intended goals and objectives. They also identify
any unintended consequences and make necessary adjustments.

Discussion/Explanation:

Policy evaluation is the systematic process of determining whether a

policy is achieving its desired outcomes. Evaluation involves collecting and
analyzing data to assess whether the policy is having its intended effect and
whether it is cost-effective .
 UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City

There are several types of policy evaluation, including process evaluation,

which examines how well a policy is being implemented; impact evaluation,
which assesses the effects of a policy on the target population; and outcome
evaluation, which measures the overall effectiveness of a policy 2.
Policy evaluation is important because it helps policymakers determine whether
a policy is achieving its intended goals and objectives. It also helps
policymakers identify areas where the policy can be improved and make
necessary adjustments .

ANSWER TO QUESTION NUMBER 2

The Department of Education (DepEd) released a memo, DepEd Order

No. 49, which was signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara
Duterte on November 2, 2022. The memo was intended to promote
professionalism in the DepEd and remind employees to raise issues and concerns
on basic education through formal channels without resorting to any political or
third-party intervention or accommodation. However, some of the provisions of
DO No. 49 were deemed to expand and even exceed the limits set in the Code
of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the
Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994. The memo included
additional provisions on employment and personnel relations, as well as the
responsible use of social media. One provision that drew criticism from the
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) was the restriction on teachers’ freedom
of expression and right to self-organization. The ACT argued that this provision
could limit teachers’ ability to raise concerns about basic education issues
through social media or other means outside formal channels.
Two things caught my attention.

The first thing, it seems DepEd doesn’t believe that teachers can set their own
social boundaries with students.
Teachers and students have been interacting and having friendly relations
outside of school since there have been teachers and students. There is nothing
wrong with this. All people are social animals.

We do understand discouraging social media connections between teacher

and student. We are actually for this. Your friends in social media are supposed
to be your peers and equals, but we all know this isn’t the case all the time. And
sometimes when people rant against something or someone, they forget that
those who aren’t supposed to read those posts can.
 UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City

But discouraging relationships outside social media? You cannot stop two
people from becoming friends or establishing a close and friendly relationship,
no matter the age gap, social standing, or other factors, again with set
boundaries.
Also, the order says teachers should avoid “interaction, communication” with
students. Are teachers to snub the students they meet outside school? Are they
to ignore them, pretend they don’t exist, and walk away? Or turn their back and
hide if they see them coming?
We don’t know what kind of experience Vice President Carpio had with her
teachers, but acknowledging and even chatting with teachers when people
see them in public is perfectly acceptable behavior throughout the world.

The second thing, the DepEd seems to be treating teachers like criminals and
opportunists just waiting to take advantage of students.
This actually started two months ago when Carpio wanted DepEd to have
confidential funds. It was so that DepEd could conduct “surveillance and
intelligence” on, we assume, the teachers.

Carpio should get her head in the game. This is the DepEd; not the police, not
the intelligence-gathering agencies.
But then again, what can we expect with a DepEd helmed by someone who
has no teaching experience whatsoever and is more interested in enforcing
security and espionage than education?

Policy suggestions:
1. Simplify the language: The language used in the order can be difficult to
understand for some people. Simplifying the language can make it more
accessible and easier to follow. It should be explained in a detailed or
specific manner.
2. Provide examples: Providing examples of what is considered professional
behavior can help clarify expectations for DepEd personnel. The code of
ethics for professional teachers should be upgraded and include ethics
on the use of social media platforms.
3. Encourage feedback: Encouraging feedback from DepEd personnel and
other stakeholders can help identify areas for improvement and ensure
that the order is effective.
 UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City