ARMM students catching up with those from other regions in NAT scores

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur:  (July 9, 2018) – Despite having a mean score lower than the national average, the National Achievement Test (NAT) performance of students in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been on a steady uptrend during the last five years, said Atty. Rasol Mitmug, regional Education Secretary.

Sec. Mitmug said issues affecting learners’ performance include the quality of teachers, the contact time between teachers and students, and managing the effects of either natural or man-made calamities. He said the department has been working closely with the national government and nongovernmental institutions in providing high quality education in the region.

As part of the regional government’s response to the aforementioned issues, DepEd-ARMM has remained strict in hiring new teachers. Just recently, a total of 765 newly hired teachers in Maguindanao signed their appointment and deployment orders during an acceptance and mass oath-taking ceremony held in Cotabato City. 

The teachers were hired after they passed a strict hiring process that includes Assessment and Competency Examination for Teachers in ARMM, an interview and a teaching demonstration. New teachers in other provinces will sign similar orders in the coming months.

“Dati po ang problema ng DepEd-ARMM ay kakulangan ng eligible teachers, ngayon naman ay magandang balita po, marami na ang mga eligible teachers na naga-apply sa rehiyon,” said Asst. Secretary Sittie Mariam Balahim.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman urged the newly hired teachers to fulfill their vital role as part of the workforce of the region’s Education department. “Ang kinabukasan, kabutihan, at kaunlaran ng edukasyon sa rehiyon ay nakasalalay sa inyong lahat,” he told the new teachers. “Nakikiusap kami na magturo kayo ng maayos at gagawin rin namin ang mga bagay na nararapat sa inyo,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sec. Mitmug said one of DepEd-ARMM’s strategies in providing quality education is by using orthography. “Kung mapansin niyo po sa ARMM hindi lang isang lenggwahe ang ginagamit natin, mayroong Yakan, Tausug, Maguindanaon, Maranao, at iba pa.” He said language plays a vital role in the literacy of the children.

“Nagpo-produce rin po kami ng mga big books na nakasulat sa localized language,” Sec. Mitmug said. “Nagbibigay rin kami ng worksheets and additional learning materials, nang sa ganon ay may maiuwi sa bahay ang mga bata at mapagpraktisan nila ang mga natutunan nila sa paaralan,” he added.

He also said DepEd-ARMM has beefed up its data collection and management systems to eliminate ghost schools and students and develop plans that are evidence-based that aid in decision-making.

In 2015, ARMM’s literacy rate bounced to 88.7% from 80.3% in 2010. As of school year 2017-2018, ARMM has 861,628 students and 2,670 schools in both elementary and secondary levels. - ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL/Bureau of Public Information