Jose Carillo's Forum

NEWS AND COMMENTARY


Philippines:

A seamless educational system is proposed for the Philippines

A panel of education experts proposed recently that the Philippines reform its education system by doing away with the present segmentation between elementary and secondary education as well as between basic and higher education. Instead, the experts recommended the addition of two years to basic education—a Grade 7 and a 5th Year in high school—to build a “strong and solid basic foundation [that] will reduce the pressure on higher education to fill in the learning gaps.”

The panel that calls itself “The Promise of Redemption” met recently during a forum on the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (Besra) at the University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (NISMED) in Diliman, Quezon City.

The forum convenor, Dr. Maria Serena Diokno of the UP Department of History, said that the current segmentation of the country’s educational system is doing the country harm. “General education becomes remedial rather than liberal,” she explained. “We dumb down foundation courses because college students have not learned the basics.”

The panel reforming the country’s basic education would involve five key thrusts (KRTs), namely a strengthened school-based management (SBM); improved teaching effectiveness and teacher development; enhanced quality assurance through standards and assessment; improved access and learning outcomes through alternative learning, etc.; and institutional culture change in the Department of Education.

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Western Visayas is most improved in National Achievement Test

ILOILO CITY (PNA)—The Department of Education (DepEd) here said that Western Visayas has been adjudged as the “most improved” for the school year in the National Achievement Test (NAT).

DepEd Western Visayas deputy regional director Dr. Corazon Brown said that the region climbed several notches higher by landing 7th among 14 regions in the country, a significant improvement from its 11th position last year.

Primary and secondary students take the mandatory examinations to appraise their mental capacity to handle higher education programs.

Brown disclosed that Western Visayas posted a hefty 32 percent increment from its previous low rating, making it the best-performing region in the NAT examinations.

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Search is on for outstanding alternative learning system implementers

MANILA (PNA)—The Department of Education (DepEd) announced last week that the search is on for the 2010 Most Outstanding Implementer Award for Alternative Learning System (ALS), a program that provides an alternative mode of education to learners outside the formal school system.

The search for the Most Outstanding ALS Implementers aims to support the professional growth and development of the ALS supervisor, coordinator and mobile teacher nationwide. The search was first launched in 2003 and has since awarded 35 ALS workers.

“Giving recognition to our partners in making education universal and inclusive is a big boost to our hardworking and dedicated ALS workers,” said Education Secretary Mona D. Valisno.

The ALS award for the Outstanding Implementers will have three categories: ALS Education Supervisor I, District ALS Coordinator and ALS Mobile Teacher.

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Valenzuela government provides computer labs to 10 more public high schools

MANILA (PNA)—The Valenzuela local government, through its “WIN ang Edukasyon Program,” provided 10 more public high schools with Internet-connected, state-of-the-art computer labs.

The recipients of the computer equipment worth P17,659,500 are the Sitero Francisco National High School, Malinta National High School, Maysan National High School, Lawang Bato National High School, Canumay National High School, Valenzuela National High School-Canumay East Annex, Bignay National High School, Vicente Trinidad National High School, Arkong Bato Annex, and Mapulang Lupa National High School.

Each computer laboratory, funded from the local school board (LSB), are fully air-conditioned, equipped with 50 brand-new and up-to-date broadband connected, high-standard computer units with LCD screen monitors and headsets; two laser jet printers; 24-port, 4.8gbps MAC address table, switch; a wireless n-router; and a 200 ansi lumens LCD projector.

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Kenya:

Digital platforms to boost practical classes

From the hand-held blackboards that characterised the first years of schooling, learning is slowly evolving with plans to go digital. Already, the government through the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) has digitised curriculum content for Form ones and is in the process of doing the same for Form two. It has also done the same for Class five and moving to Class six and seven.

The education sector has not been left behind as many industries follow suit in fast-changing technology world.

The government is looking to introduce digitised education materials with an aim of making it simpler to demonstrate some of the practical lessons.

The digitised materials, education experts say, are more flexible and use of such content through animations makes it memorable and much easier for pupils to understand practical lessons, usually perceived difficult.

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Yemen:

English language institute celebrates 35th anniversary

The Yemen-America Language Institute (YALI) celebrated its 35th anniversary in the YALI courtyard On March 20. U.S. Ambassador Stephen Seche congratulated YALI on the anniversary and praised the institute’s remarkable contributions to promoting quality English instruction and cross-cultural understanding.

Originally established by the United States Information Service in 1975, YALI has grown from a modest institute with a few classrooms into Yemen’s premier language institute, with thousands of alumni who are now leaders in government, the private sector, and civil society.

“I am honored to be here tonight to celebrate with you the very special occasion of YALI’s 35th anniversary, and to thank each of you for the contribution you make to ensure that the unique role YALI has played in Yemen for over three decades will continue well into the future,” Seche said, adding, “in 1975, when YALI was established by the U. S. Information Service in Sana’a, it filled an important need in Yemen. Today it has imitators throughout Sana’a – all sounding like direct descendents of YALI – There is MALI, there is CALI, there is DELI.”

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United States:

Outstanding English language “Learner of the Year” to be honored

For nine years, ever since she moved to Sheboygan, Angelica Taubenheim knew she needed one thing if she hoped to make a better life for her and her daughter.

“I need to speak better English,” the 47-year-old native of Mexico said.

So 15 months ago, she contacted the Literacy Council of Sheboygan and was put in touch with a tutor to help her develop English speaking, reading and writing skills.

Those skills paid off with her recently being named Outstanding English Language Learner of the Year by Madison-based Wisconsin Literacy Inc., a consortium of literacy groups around the state. She’ll be honored at the “Celebration of Literacy” awards ceremony next month in Madison.

“I've seen a huge improvement in her ability to speak and read English and in her confidence,” said Rose Ellinger, Angelica’s tutor, who nominated her for the award. “She was meeting twice a week with me, working 40-plus hours a week, plus maintaining a home and raising a daughter. I think someone like that deserves recognition.”

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China:

China language company, McGraw-Hill to develop English proficiency platform

BEIJING (PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall)—ChinaEdu Corporation, a leading educational services provider in China, announced that it has signed a software license and professional service agreement with CTB/McGraw-Hill to develop the online examination for language proficiency for Chinese students.

The online examination will be able to accurately evaluate the language proficiency level of students within seconds and concentrate on improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills and benefit the student's English education experience. The examination is slated to launch in the summer of 2010 and will serve Chinese middle school, high school, university, and other student segments.

As the leading publisher of standardized and standards-based achievement tests for pre-school, elementary, middle, high school, and adult education in the United States, CTB/McGraw-Hill LLC offers a broad range of assessments, software and services.

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Ireland:

Ukraine vows not to repeat Ireland’s language “mistake”

Ireland made a “mistake” in recognising English as the second official language and this would not be repeated in his country, said Volodymyr Lytvyn, speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, in Dublin yesterday at the end of a two-day official visit.

Language rights are a major political issue in Ukraine where Russian is denied official language status despite the large proportion of the population for whom it is a mother-tongue.

Recently elected Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych came in for criticism in Moscow this month after announcing he would not promote Russian as a second state language.

Mr Lytvyn said: “We must not repeat the Irish mistake. Nowadays, the English language is dominant in Ireland. So if the Russian language would be recognised as a second state language in Ukraine, in such circumstances the Ukrainian language will be moved to the periphery.

“That is why I am convinced that Ukraine should have only one state language. At the same time, the rights of the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine should not be violated.”

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Tanzania:

Poor knowledge of English keeps away green pasture

DAR ES SALAAM—English is used as a medium of instruction in all secondary schools and higher learning institutions in the country, but it still remains a communication barrier between teachers and students in the classroom.

To eliminate the problem, teachers and students have devised various activities that are meant to improve their ability to speak the language. Schools have also made rules to enforce English speaking and put in place punishments for violators of the rules.

“In some of the schools there are placards written ‘Shame on you’ so that students may stop using Kiswahili,” says Maryness Ruta, a student at Stanley Secondary School in Dar es Salaam.

Also as a way to improve not only the use of English language at school but likewise the students’ comprehension of the language, schools’ administration have established English essays competitions, English clubs besides morning speeches that are made in English.

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