LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – – The Department of Education awarded the Baguio City National High School for being number one nationwide in the reading comprehension category in the 2018 Program for International Students Assessment (PISA) for 15 years old students.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones and DepEd–Cordillera officials headed by Regional Director May Eclar awarded the Certificate of Recognition to BCNHS Principal Brenda Cariño during the Regional Reading Exhibit and Reading Fiesta and launching of READ to LEAD Project at the DepEd Regional Office here, Friday.
Briones, in her keynote message, congratulated BCNHS for the feat and encouraged them to share their good practices and good news on their reading comprehension program.
The secretary clarified that though the Philippines generally did not fare well in the 2018 PISA which assessed 15 years old student in mathematics, science and reading comprehension, it is the first time in the history of DepEd that the country joined the assessment and it was a good opportunity for the country to benchmark the country’s education programs which also aids in policy formulation, planning and programming.
In December last year, DepEd launched “Sulong EduKalidad” program that aims to address the challenges of quality in Basic Education and primarily focuses on K to 12 curriculum review and update, improving the learning environment, teachers’ upskilling and reskilling, and engagement of stakeholders for support and collaboration.
Briones also told DepEd personnel and teachers that the challenge now is on how critical thinking can be taught to the school children and to prepare them on the realities of life.
The secretary also took time to listen to the sharing of the good practices of the BCNHS and she also visited their campus to have an interaction with the faculty members and students.
As part of the reading fiesta, Briones visited the booths of the different Provincial/City Schools Division of Cordillera and looked into the reading materials and programs on display. She noticed several unique reading materials in the region and encouraged DepEd–CAR to share them on social media.
Briones also conducted a story reading to school kids from Benguet Special Education school, which also signaled the simultaneous reading of story books in the different public schools in the region. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
