6th APSA Assessment Reveals Elem Sci. Proficiency Goes Up

On 5 February, the Asian Psychological Services and Assessment (APSA) conducted its 6th annual evaluation of the proficiency levels of ISAers from K2 to 4th Year on three subjects: English, Math and Science.

	This year 43 K2, 201 elementary, and 97 secondary learners were assessed. The results show that the proficiency levels of the elementary learners on Math and English were 'stable': 96% and 93% respectively of the total examinees were rated highly proficient and proficient, compared to last year's rating of 97% and 89%. On the other hand, 175 elementary learners were rated highly proficient and proficient in Science, representing 87% of the total population. An increased of 15 learners from last year's 160, or 14 percentage points up from last year's rate of 73%.
	The results in the secondary levels do not change significantly compared to last year's rating. The percentage of high school ISAers who were highly proficient and proficient in Math was down by 9 percentage points from last year's 77%, while 93% and 60% were highly proficient and proficient in English and Science respectively, both slightly higher than last year's 90% and 57%. The above figure shows improvement of ISA high school Math program and instruction is in order.

The ratings of the Kinder-2 children remain remarkable. Of the 43 examinees, only 1 was proficient, the rest were highly proficient. With the exception of English, the outcome that shows ‘elementary fares better than high school, K2 fares better than the elementary’ basically remains unchanged. This is something the school administration has to closely look into. 

Activating Chinese Reading Program: Timely or Premature?

Despite of its flaws and letdowns, Chinese education in the Philippines definitely deserves a standing ovation, even just for its sheer will to survive, against all odds. For the past four decades – or even longer – Philippine Chinese Education has been fighting an uphill battle, or better still, it is like a boat drifting in the middle of an uncharted ocean.

Against this backdrop, any attempt to initiate a Chinese reading program may then seem quixotic, nay outrageous.

Luckily, the above view is true only when seen from one angle. Objectively, it is more difficult to learn Chinese than English in the Philippines. Empirical data clearly show the English proficiency of the learners in Chinese-Filipino schools is generally far better than that in Chinese. ISA is no exception. The contrast is particularly glaring in reading and comprehension. Faced with this tight spot, ISA either respects the status quo and rides with the tide, or goes against convention and finds its way out. ISA has chosen the latter course.

	Indisputably, this is easier said than done. But what we learn from history is that when something is difficult, then it can simply be done, though with great effort and determination. The truth is, ISA has started the reading program on pilot basis during the 4th quarter of last school year. Though still quite far away from our goal, but we know we are steadily heading to it.