EXPERTS REVIEW PHILIPPINE BASIC EDUCATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON K-12 EDUCATION PROGRAM

Education experts and policy research specialists have come together on 28 October 2011 to look at the Philippine’s basic education curriculum (BEC) and review its implications on the K-12 education program.

Leading the panel discussions were the presenters of the integrated SEAMEO INNOTECH and AusAID study findings, namely, Dr. Carlo Magno, an associate professor of De La Salle University and Prof. Esther Care, deputy director of the Assessment Research Center at the University of Melbourne. Also on hand to act as the main panel reactor was Dr. Evelina Vicencio, dean of the College of Education, University of the East.

SEAMEO INNOTECH and the University of Melbourne presented separate studies on the Philippine’s BEC. Specifically, the Center did a review of the basic education curriculum in terms of structure, design and organization in comparison with that of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and Singapore. On the other hand, the University of Melbourne reviewed the basic education curriculum in the areas of English, Math, and Science, and compared these with Thailand, Vietnam, and New South Wales in Australia.

A panel of local education officials were invited to give their insights on the curricular and policy options and recommendations. Among them were Dr. Lolita Andrada of the Bureau of Secondary Education and Dr. Angelita Esdicul of the Bureau of Elementary Education, Mr. Napoleon Imperial of the Commission on Higher Education, and Ms. Ma. Susan de la Rama of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

SEAMEO INNOTECH hosted the policy research forum in coordination with the Department of Education, and Australian AID.