Students possibly ‘underestimated’ in DepEd nat’l tests–study
The proficiency levels of Filipino students are possibly being underestimated if only based on the standards adopted by the Department of Education (DepEd) in its national tests.
A new study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) made this observation, saying many students actually demonstrate skills expected of their grade level but still fall short of DepEd’s fixed proficiency mark.
According to the study, the DepEd’s proficiency cutoff mark of 75 percent is not based on standard-setting procedures aligned with curriculum expectations.
“Generally, however, there are more students reaching the proficient level when using the standard setting cutoffs than the BEA (Bureau of Education Assessment) cutoffs,” the PIDS, the government’s primary socioeconomic policy think tank, said in a statement on Thursday.
Traditional measure
Many students assessed as “nearly proficient” or “low proficient” could actually be considered proficient if standard cutoffs were applied, it said.
This suggests that DepEd’s current proficiency bar may be set too high, underestimating what learners truly know and can do, the PIDS added.
The “75” cutoff has long been a traditional measure for determining whether a student has passed or failed a test.
But according to the PIDS, it does not consider item difficulty, curriculum expectations, or what minimally proficient students can actually do.
The study basically takes a closer look at the nationwide tests administered by the DepEd through the BEA.
These are the Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment (Ellna) for Grade 3 students; the National Achievement Test (NAT) for Grades 6, 10, and 12.
Misalignment
The National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE), the Philippine Education Placement Test (PEPT), the Accreditation and Equivalency Test (A&E Test), the Education Management Test (EMT), and the Qualifying Examination for Arabic Language and Islamic Studies (QEALIS).
The PIDS added that while national assessments cover 21st-century skills, they are often misaligned with the current K to 12 basic education curriculum, as teachers lack sufficient training in teaching and evaluating such skills.
“Effective assessment practices necessitate a strong connection between teaching and evaluation, ensuring alignment with learning competencies and curriculum goals while reaching all students to promote quality and equity,” the study said.
“Participants (in the study) emphasized the need for alignment and quality of assessments, ensuring assessments measure what students are expected to learn,” it added.
The NAT results for the academic year 2024 to 2025 have yet to be made public. But a previous report on the 2023-2024 NAT for Grade 6 students showed that the mean percentage score at the national level was 57.94 across five key learning areas and 21st-century skills.
