CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 7 has piloted an assessment method called ‘SCaLAR’ to quantify and examine the learners’ performances across levels and learning areas.
SCaLar or the Simulated and Computer-assisted Learning Assessment is an initiative of DepEd-7 which aims to gauge the performance levels of the learners based on the areas measured by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).
DepEd-7 regional director Salustiano T. Jimenez, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas program held Oct. 14 in Cebu City, shared that the learners in the Philippines have registered low results in the recent PISA.
“We know that, especially in Math, Science, and Reading, we fall short in PISA results,” Jimenez said.
PISA is an international comparative study of 15-year-old students’ performance in Reading, Mathematics, and Science literacy.
“This one is PISA-based because we want to prepare our learners for the PISA assessment,” Jimenez said.
SCaLAR uses technology in administering tests and evaluates the effectiveness of the curriculum in schools within the region.
Through this initiative, the students will be motivated to learn more and be better equipped with the necessary learnings.
DepEd-7 is also using other assessment tools that measure not only the performance levels of the learners but also the instructional effectiveness of the schools.
Jimenez shared that the curriculum has been specific and purposive to the requirements of the teaching and learning process, which is associated with the key targets on curriculum and learning management, learning delivery, and the assessment of the learning outcomes.
“The administration of assessments of the learning outcomes plays a significant role in determining the success of the learning,” he said.
As Japan is one of the countries that excelled in the PISA assessment, DepEd-7 also forged a partnership with SPRIX Ltd., a Japan-based educational company, to establish a baseline for providing intervention.
Patterned after their assessment, the ‘Test of Fundamental Academic Skills in Mathematics’ is also administered to improve Math education among learners.
Another is the ‘Multifactor Analyses of Quarterly Results in all subject areas,’ which aims to evaluate the performance and instructional effectiveness by analyzing assessment results from multiple perspectives.
Jimenez explained that the result of the multifactor assessment will aid them in determining strategies to develop the particular skills and competencies among the learners.
The assessment of learning outcomes of the department also include the ‘e-Hiniksik: Programa sa Filipino sa Paglinang ng mga Aksyong Pananaliksik para sa PangFilipinong PangEdukasyon,’ which is the conduct of research and studies in the Philippine education to identify areas of pedagogical concerns.
“That will lead to realization of our dream quality education,” Jimenez said. (JJT/PIA 7)
