UP Ibalon Bicol: Shortened learning hours: an obstacle to education in RP's crowded schools

Shortened learning hours: an obstacle to education in RP's crowded schools

9/16/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

A setback in the thrust to improve teaching and make better students, the Department of Education (DepEd) was forced to cut down on the teaching hours for elementary students because of overcrowding and safety concerns. The revised program was an answer to the worrisome increase in the number of students that hadn't provided a good environment to learning.

Under the revised program, Grades 1 and 2 will have four hours; Grade 3--- four hours and 30 minutes, and Grades 4, 5, and 6---5 hours.

“Grades 1 and 2 pupils will have 90 minutes each for English and Filipino, Sibika at Kultura and 70 minutes each for mathematics for a total of 240 minutes on a daily basis. Grade 3 pupils will have 90 minutes for English, 70 minutes for Filipino, Sibika at Kultura, 70 minutes for math and 40 minutes for science for a total of 240 minutes. Grades 4, 5 and 6, they will have 60 minutes each for English, 40 minutes for Heograpiya, Kasaysayan at Sibika, 60 minutes for math, 60 minutes for science, 40 minutes for Filipino and 40 minutes for Edukasyon Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan for a total of 300 minutes for each grade.

To compensate for the revised program, Lapus said science and health will be integrated into the English subject for Grades 1 and 2 while Sibika and Kultura will be integrated into Filipino in Grades 1, 2I and 3. For Grades 4, 5 and 6, Musika, Sining at Edukasyong Pampalakas ng Katawan will be integrated into Heograpiya, Kasaysayan at Sibika while Edukasyong Pagpapakatao will be integrated into all subjects.” ---Jesli Lapus, Education Secretary. Daily Tribune (09/15/09, Faustino, J.)

Student-Class Ratio

Country-------------------Number of Students per Class
===============Elementary=========High School
Philippines------------43.9----------------------56.1
Thailand---------------22.9--------------------- 41,5
India--------------------40------------------------39
Malaysia--------------31.7-----------------------34
Japan------------------28.6----------------------33.9

Alhough Lapus assures that the quality of education will not suffer with the shortening of study hours, integrating subjects in a shortened hours of learning poses significant obstacle. This is more true when one sees the overpopulatinn in Philippine schools compared to those of its Asian neighbors. The crowding is worse in the high school than elementary as shown above.(Photo Credit: unesco.net.) =0=

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Labels: Department of Education, DepEd, Jesli Lapus, overpopulation, public school, safety, Students, Totie Mesia

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Shortened learning hours: an obstacle to education in RP's crowded schools

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