DepEd Order No. 91
I work for an organization that does community-based education reform programs. Currently we are operating in 155 municipalities all over the country and our programs cover some 1.7 million public school children.
We rely on a number of assessment tools to gauge the academic performance of pupils in our sites. We track their performance over the years to help us measure the impact of our interventions. One of these tools is the National Achievement Test (NAT), which is administered yearly by the Department of Education (DepEd).
In the school years before SY 2008-2009, DepEd’s National Educational Testing and Research Center (NETRC) annually provided us a copy of the results for the entire country. They came in nifty Excel spreadsheets like this and showed the mean percentage scores (MPS) per division per region for that particular school year. It was a relatively hassle-free transaction.
In SY 2008-2009, DepEd, in typical government fashion, decided to make a simple process unnecessarily difficult. They decided that they would no longer release the results for the entire country. They made us make separate requests for each division in which we have projects. It took them forever to process our requests. We received some of the results, we didn’t receive the others.
Then to make matters worse, this SY 2009-2010 they issued DepEd Order No. 91, s. 2009 to “regulate” the use of the NAT results.
Before a “researcher” can obtain a copy of the results, he/she must first jump through the following hoops:
- Prove that he/she is qualified to do research work (They do not, however, specify what kind of proof they require. And anyway, what if I’m not “qualified” to do research work? What if I’m just an ordinary citizen who wants to know the levels of academic performance in different parts of the country?)
- Present a copy of his/her approved thesis/dissertation proposal signed by my thesis adviser (But… I’m not a student and I’m not going to use the results for a thesis/dissertation. Why is there the implicit assumption that the only people who want a copy of the results are students?)
- Submit an endorsement signed by his/her dean (What dean?)
- Sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) stating that he/she:
- Will not compare regions, divisions, schools and examinees without taking into consideration other variables that may have a substantial effect on the outcome of the test (Well, what if I’m not going to use the results in a study? What if I’m going to present the results in an education summit to show a particular community just how badly their kids are performing compared to the national average and to drive home the point that their situation is dire and that they need to do something about it?)
- Will furnish a DepEd a copy of my study (Paranoid much?)
- Pay the corresponding fee for the data requested (We didn’t have to pay for the data before. Now there’s a rate of 1 peso per pupil. I was aghast. So if we want the NAT results of 1.76 million pupils does that mean we have to pay 1.76 million pesos?!? I nearly fell out of my chair when NETRC said yes.*)
Furthermore, NETRC will only release 10% of the actual number of examinees per test per year. The 2009 NAT was taken by some 1.76 million pupils from 31,196 public and 2,386 private elementary schools nationwide. That means at most, we can only get the results for 176,000 students. Such a small percentage does not paint an accurate picture of academic performance in the country.
But that seems to be the whole point of Order No. 91. DepEd says they want to “safeguard and prevent the misuse, mishandling, misinterpretation, exploitation and manipulation” of the NAT results, but to me the subtext of that policy reads, “We don’t want to show anyone the results because they make us look bad.”
DepEd is perceived to be the least corrupt government agency and has an approval rating of 62%. I guess people don’t know just how bad things really are. How devoid the system is of professionalism, transparency and accountability. How bureaucratic and inefficient it is. How appallingly feudal the culture is, how superintendents are lords and their divisions their personal fiefdoms. How politicized appointments are and how much discretion there is over the use of funds.
One of the groups I’m involved with, the Movement for Good Governance, just held a roundtable discussion on education reform with leading experts on the topic. The results will be published in a paper that will form part of our 2010 development agenda. In the mean time, the following make for good reading on the subject:
- The Challenge of Governance in a Large Bureaucracy (Department of Education) by former DepEd Undersecretary Juan Miguel Luz
- Department of Education: When Refroms Don’t Transform (UNDP Philippine Human Development Report 2008-2009)
- United Nations: The Philippines trails Tanzania, Zambia in education
- Education for All – Global Monitoring Report 2010
- UNICEF EAPR Statistics on Philippine Education
- UNESCO Statistics on Philippine Education
- NSCB Statistical Indicators on Education
* So apparently there are packages of sorts. The NETRC guy I was talking to said that if we want to save we can opt to pay per school instead of per student. The sample computation they gave me for one of our schools in Tondo came up to 320 pesos for two school years (SY 2008-2009 and SY 2009-2010, which are the school years we don’t have data for). That rate brings the total cost down to a less shocking amount, but it’s still prohibitive. We have programs in thousands of schools! I can understand charging a small processing fee but their rates are unreasonable. These test results are public records and should be made available without restriction. Congress needs to pass the freedom of information bill post haste.
‘Posible’ Controversy
Rico Blanco asks Gibo to stop using ‘Posible’
What? I thought this issue had been settled already.
In a Facebook note dated January 7, Dennis Garcia explained that he had paid for the license to use “Posible” in the Gibo TVC and even posted the signed agreement between him and Lizza G. Nakpil (who represents Circe Communications, Rico Blanco’s publisher), “who controls all rights to the song.” According to Dennis, he spoke to Rico on January 6 and Rico accepted his explanation.
Today, Warner Music Philippines came out with a statement saying, “This use of Posible is unauthorized. Rico Blanco is the composer and reserved all intellectual property rights to it. He has not licensed the use of the composition to any political ad campaign, nor has he assigned any of his rights to another party or to a music publisher… Rico Blanco and Warner Music Philippines Artist Management have requested that the campaign cease and desist from any further broadcast of Posible, and are hopeful that the concerned parties will act appropriately to avoid legal action.”
In a follow-up Facebook note today, Dennis posted the certificate of copyright registration and deposit for the song, which lists Lizza G. Nakpil as the copyright owner.
Sounds like there’s a dispute between Rico and his publisher over who owns the rights to the song. If that’s the case, I don’t think the controversy should reflect badly on Gibo’s campaign, which appears to have gone through the proper channels to obtain the license to use the song.
Baby Names
A conversation with my best friends and the father of my as yet unconcieved children:
Me: Will my daughter hate me if I give her a Klingon name? I’ll raise her to think it’s cool! B’Elanna Ereñeta Sumo. It works!
Nix: Yes, she’ll hate you. Just like the guy who spoke nothing but Klingon to his kid for the first three years. Please don’t.
Plats: You should also massage her forehead so she develops those identifying marks. It would be like binding feet or clothespins on noses but on the forehead.
Ry: Okay, but only if I can name our son Han Sumo.
Lenard and Joanna (A Synergeia Love Story)
I met Lenard and Joanna at a training session we held for teachers in Sarangani last October. Their story makes me bawl like a baby every time. Teachers like these, who demonstrate such passion, dedication and courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, are my heroes.
LENARD AND JOANNA
by
Milwida M. Guevara
President, Synergeia FoundationThis is not a love story between Lenard and Joanna. Rather, it is a story about their love for B’laan children from Blat, Maasim.
Every Monday morning, Lenard and Joanna leave their homes in General Santos City to teach in Blat. Their school is up on the mountains and they have to bring with them their one-week’ supply of food, medicine, clothes, and school supplies. It will take them another week to see their family again. Joanna’s son Jaz is six-months old and is left under the care of her sister-in-law during weekdays. Sometimes, Jaz takes time to warm up to her when she comes home during weekends. Lenards’ daughter, Denise, is two-month’s old. Her wife who is also a teacher has to leave Denise as soon as she resumes her work in another school in a faraway village.
There are 81 children in Blat Elementary School with only two teachers. Joanna handles the students who are in grades one, two, and three. Lenard handles those who are in grades four, five, and six. Joanna used to cluster the children into sessions, e.g. grade one children were taught in the morning, and grade two children were taught in the afternoon. But no children came in the afternoon. They joined their parents in clearing the land, planting corn, and harvesting camotes. So, she meets them all in the morning and groups them according to grade level. Lenard does the same. How they are able to deal with six grade levels in a cramped classroom blows my mind away. Lenard constantly counsels the parents to allow their children to attend school in the afternoon. But he has to compete with their need for food and livelihood, and often times, he loses. His battle is often harder in influencing parents to send the boys to school. Boys are stronger and more useful in the farms.
Lenard’s face is so sad. I asked him if it is because he misses his family every day especially in the evening. His face even grew sadder. He cannot even read a book or prepare his lesson plans in the evening. There is no electricity in the village and they have to get by with the light of a candle or an alcohol lamp. He is able to send text messages to his wife, but can only do so until Tuesday, because the battery in his cell phone runs dry. There is also no water in the village and the nearest spring is about an hour away. Lenard’s grade six school children help him fetch water everyday but they can only carry a gallon full.
Joanna brings her own supply of purified water from the town because she had amoebiasis. But she can only carry a maximum of 6 liters. Thus, she has to be efficient in rationing water for her many needs. She lives in a hut that was constructed for her by the parents. They insisted that the hut be in the center of the village so that they can keep an eye on her.
I asked Joanna what keeps her going. She recalled that her childhood dream was to be a teacher. Her face lit up as she recited the poem “To be a Filipino” which she asks her pupils to constantly read. She draws her inspiration from the poem as she reaffirms that being Filipino is enabling the B’laan children to learn well. Her eyes welled with tears as she remembers the challenges she faces. The children have no paper or pencils. She used to devote her salary for school supplies but she now has to use her money for milk and needs of her baby. With a tinge of guilt, her tears started falling down as she recalls that her grade one children have to contend with pencils that were used by her former grade one students. The pencils are so short and the children’s fingers are not big enough to hold them. Joanna’s tears came with the tears of her principal, Ms. Angelina, and also with mine.
Ms. Angelina is the cluster head of three schools. She was ever so embarrassed that the NAT scores of Blat children were the lowest in the province. The children’s average was only 20 percent, i.e. they can only answer 2 out of 10 questions correctly. She was also so upset by the failure of Lenard and Joanna to submit their reports on time. She called them on their cell phones, but there was no response. So, she sent a message to the two of them to report to her office to give them a reprimand. Lenard listened to her with a stoic expression. But Joanna was unable to contain her tears. The session turned out to be a crying session. The month following, Ms. Angelina went to visit the Blat school carrying with her “10 lechon manok” as her share in the village’ celebration of the new school building that the provincial government constructed. Ms. Angelina scolded Joanna again, but for a different reason. Joan was in labor but insisted on helping Lenard. Ms. Angelina sent her to the hospital and took her place. Since then, the principal has become a mentor, a principal, and a mother.
We had a box of crayons, paper, pentel pen, and scissors that we used for the teachers’ workshop. I turned them over to Ms. Angelina who gave them to Lenard and Joanna. Lenard hugged the box and Joanna hugged me. It was as if I gave them a treasure. It was my turn to feel guilty for being unable to appreciate so many things in life and for splurging on things that catch my fancy.
Later in the day, Governor Migs Dominguez gave them more hope as he promised to build a water supply system and devise means to supply the village with electricity. I saw Lenard smile for the first time. Joanna said that the scores of the children went up to 30 percent last year. With the help of the governor, the three of them will be able to move mountains. I think Lenard and Joanna will live happily ever after.
Error 404* Gang Sign
Error 404: The geeks you don’t want to encounter in a dark alley.
*Error 404 is the name of our GeekFight team.
On Noynoy
Food for thought. Text messages from my mentor and former Department Chair, Clem Camposano (Director of the Institute of Political Economy at the University of Asia and the Pacific):
Anyone who shines on borrowed light should have the common sense not to plunge into the dark and forbidding pit of presidential politics.
Aside from good vs evil, other equally plausible dyads: from the poor vs. from the rich, astute vs. naive, competent vs. incompetent, masipag vs. tamad, talagang may kakayahan vs. may pangalan lang, self-made vs. privileged, his own man vs. a puppet, genuine leader vs. figure head, reality vs. illusion, practical politics vs. emotionalism.
My thoughts on the issue to follow, when I finally get around to finishing the half-written post that’s been sitting in my drafts folder.
PhilSTAR.com and MGG Talakayan 20.10 Partnership
On the front page today:
See, I’m a big fan of Facebook/Twitter/the internet in general! Who says I don’t appreciate the power of new media? 
On CyberPatriotism
“Don’t want to fight for a feeling… We need a better kinder dreaming… Don’t need another fool, a faker… Be a mover and a shaker.” – Matthew Herbert, The Movers And The Shakers
Facebook responses to my previous post (sans the Ako Mismo drama because that just went on way too long)
CyberPatriot1:
Enough said about SLACKTIVISM…just do what needs to be done…at the right time, CyberPatriots will just rise up to situation when they are most needed…as far as i know, meron pupuntahan ang Filipino CyberPatriots Society!
CyberPatriot2:
@CyberPatriot1.. I am with you.. when the time is ripe… as I can see more hardships for the future generation now… we have to do something even if it will cost our lives!
Me:
“Often enough, if you just lived for country, you need not die for it.” (Conrado de Quiros, True Measure)
Ryan:
I have no doubt that many of us would be willing to put our lives on the line for our country.
However, the time for that is not now. I feel sometimes like the democratic action that took place during the original EDSA has created a nation of “war veterans” that no longer have a war to fight. Like old soldiers, old rallyists still insist on waging a war that no longer exists. Do we live in a corrupt country? Yes. Are we on the verge of collapse due to a violent dictatorship? Hardly.
We exist in a limbo where I honestly believe that the better action to take is to put down your figurative swords and find areas or causes that you want to support with concrete measures. WorldVision, Habitat for Humanity, Gawad Kalinga, Greenpeace, WWF, Haribon, take your pick. There are many ways for you to contribute beyond the pressing of a button to join what is in essence a virtual rally.
Me:
Another example: what students are doing for Project Citizen
CyberPatriot3:
Participating through advocacy groups now normally coursed through various (Facebook is the most popular) social networking sites helps in making people more aware about the issues that matter. You can’t do anything or for that matter fight for anything at all without first having proper and sufficient knowledge about it. I believe actual physical participation say, in rallies or any practical activity for that matter and “slacktivism” (as it is popularly referred to nowadays) are mutually reinforcing. “Slacktivism” (without seeing it as a pejorative term) in fact augments efforts to mobilize people toward a certain direction or goal, whatever it may be. Social networking sites, doubtless, further animates, intensifies, and certainly expands public discourse that leads to the next level of engagement on the part of willing participants. That in itself is a very positive contribution.
CyberPatriot4:
People have commitments not only to this country but to their families as well. People will focus first on their day to day sustenance before they can focus on anything else… If a person can only air their protests on line, then thank God the forum is available for them.
Me:
I don’t have anything against Facebook campaigns or similar activities. I do recognize their value. MGG is on Facebook and Twitter for a reason. And I love public discourse. As I mentioned in my post, “Awareness and information are definitely key to any kind of social transformation…”
My simple point is this: Civic participation shouldn’t end with clicking a button or buying into slick marketing campaigns. It’s a start and I welcome it, but people need to do more.
It’s actually not that hard to do something that has direct social impact. For example, there are people who supposedly care about HIV/AIDS, but the most significant thing they’ve done is attend a benefit concert or join a Facebook cause. But there are concrete things people can do to help prevent the spread of the disease or help make the lives of HIV/AIDS victims a little better. I know people who organize seminars in barangays to provide information on safe practices etc. I know someone who organizes fun activities for HIV/AIDS victims to help make their lives a littler happier. I think it’s small things like that, pooled together, that are going to produce real change.
Ryan:
@CyberPatriot1 I think you need to step back and take a look at what people who use the word slacktivism as a pejorative are frustrated about. They are frustrated because slacktivists’ actions end after the press of a button. All guilt has been assuaged. They have done their part for the greater good, and announce it to the world via Twitter, Facebook, and friendster. “look at me, I are changing d world.”
Awareness is great, but what you decide to do with that awareness is what really matters.
And let’s be clear, there are slacktivists out there. While it may be romantic to think that these people spread awareness of an an idea, let’s be honest and admit that once that button is pressed most people don’t bother thinking about it anymore. And that’s fine. They have responsibilities, as your fellow cyberpatriot said.
However, I personally feel that if that’s the level of commitment someone can give to a cause, then he/she might as well be honest with and admit that he doesn’t care enough.
Dante:
I saw that a lot back in UP, when I was a student and later an instructor. Certain people have this peculiar compulsion to be ‘part of something important’ yet not actually do enough of the mental or physical legwork. And it would really be a cause du jour situation for them because they’d just cause-hop constantly, like following fashion trends. It’s less about the cause than it is about defining your identity.
On Slacktivism
(above image taken from Fcuk Earth Hour)
“I think that one of the greatest fallacies of our time — and one of the greatest leaps in logic that is made again and again by people who involve themselves in the worthwhile struggle to bring equality to all people — is the notion that awareness equals involvement. ” – Joshua Ellis, The Kitty Genovese Model
Excerpts from an exchange I had on Twitter that progressed onto e-mail:
Me:
I think Filipinos need to go beyond mere expressions of outrage/concern and actually do concrete things to contribute to society.
Jed:
Good point. But action begins somewhere. If they’re not willing to speak, how can we expect them to act?
Me:
If these aren’t followed by action, talk is cheap. I’m just annoyed by slacktivism.
Jed:
Before the word “slacktivism” was invented, there was a similar term used by those in The Movement to refer to the comrades or kasama who were averse to the more traditional modes of pagkikilos (e.g., rallies, organizing, immersions), and preferred more “intellectual” forms of activism like writing and educational discussions. These kasama were disparagingly called “Armchair Activists,” and it was also used by many in the Left to put down left-leaning “moderate” activists who did not interact with the masses and instead chose to fight for their advocacies from the comfortable, airconditioned rooms of their houses.
…Your views on slacktivism are shared by many, especially those like yourself who are really DOING SOMETHING to make the world a better place. To a certain extent, your opinion of people who engage in (to quote from the Wikipedia entry) “feel-good measures, in support of an issue or social cause, that have little or no practical effect other than to make the person doing it feel satisfaction” like “signing internet petitions, the wearing of wristbands (“awareness bracelets”) with political messages, putting a ribbon magnet on a vehicle, joining a Facebook group, posting issue-oriented YouTube videos, altering one’s personal data or avatar on social network services, or taking part in short-term boycotts such as Buy Nothing Day or Earth Hour” is justified. Again, to a certain extent.
However, I’ve always subscribed to the belief that ANYTHING is better than outright apathy… Let’s keep in mind that no matter how disparaging the term “slacktivism” is, the word “act” can still be found in it––you just have to knock out a couple of letters to get it.
As inconsequential as these “feel-good measures” are, one has to give credit to the people doing these because at least they care enough to do something to assuage the guilt they feel from doing nothing at all. Kung tibak ka noon sa UP, magandang sign na yan. Freshmen students who wore issue-related pins (Ibasura ang TFI!) and attended EDs were considered ripe for organizing; writers who showed some concern for the marginalized in their essays in the school paper were potential recruits. If I were organizing today, I would look at my FB contacts who consistently join FB causes and post “issue-oriented YouTube videos” and invite them to an ED. Then I would invite them to another meeting. And another. Then I would ask them to do some small task––say, maybe, distribute flyers at a particular college––then another, until before you know it, sobrang involved na ang tao na sya na mismo gagalaw ng kusa.
I agree that people aren’t DOING enough, and that talk is CHEAP. But to get people involved enough to convince them to cross the huge divide that separates sentiment from concrete action, one has to take advantage of the means available to sow the seeds of true ACTivism. Kung ang rally o mobilasyon ngayon ay nakikitang laos na porma ng pakikibaka, dapat handa ang mga organiser na magbago ng stratehiya upang mapaunawa sa masa ang isyu at mapakilos ito. Kung tingin ng iba na ang social networking sites ay pwedeng gamitin para mapalahok ang kabataan, di gamitin natin.
Me:
I’ve got nothing against “intellectual” forms of activism. In fact, a lot of my activities would fall under that category… I spend a LOT of time talking about democracy and civic duty and social responsibility and volunteerism etc…
No argument between us on the importance of public discourse. You can’t care about things you don’t understand. Awareness and information are definitely key to any kind of social transformation. The more people who understand an issue, the greater their capacity to care about it. (Of course, it doesn’t necessarily follow that if one understands an issue one will have an emotional response and be moved to action, but understanding is a necessary pre-condition for meaningful participation.)
It’s not so much the “feel-good measures” themselves that annoy me. It’s the over-blown sense of self-importance of some of the people who engage in them. Go ahead and wear your IAmNinoy shirt or AkoMismo dog tag or who create a Facebook page for the cause du jour but don’t delude yourself that you’re making some huge contribution to society. Those “feel-good measures” have their place but let’s keep things in perspective. In the greater scheme of things, they mean very little…
I agree that caring a little is better than not caring at all. And that these token expressions of concern are opportunities to engage “slacktivists” in more substantial activities. I’m just petty and irate.
…I feel that if people just do what they can, in the place that they are, in the time that they have, collectively we can do great things.
TindigNation: A Concert Rally Against Con-Ass
Multi-sectoral groups wave their banners in protest
I haven’t joined a rally since Edsa II. I was in college then, and I’ve since come to realize that there are more productive ways to expend time and energy if you really want to contribute to positive social change. Which is not to say that I don’t see the value in protest actions, because I do. It’s just that in the Philippines it seems like we’re marching onto the streets every other day and somehow the frequency lessens the impact.
But anyway, I was at the anti-con-ass rally on Ayala last June 10 because I felt strongly about the cause. I will not stand for a charter change that does not reflect the will of the people, for term extensions, for no elections in 2010 and for further abuses in government. I wanted to take part in an opportunity to raise awareness about the implications of con-ass.
It started out okay. I particularly liked the skit of Paq Yu (Gabe Mercado) and Juana Change (Mae Paner); I thought they summed up the issues nicely. It started going downhill for me when the politicians started talking. I would have much preferred it if the organizers had invited on stage more representatives of the various groups present, or even just ordinary citizens from different walks of life.
Political rivals sharing the stage: a show of solidarity for a common cause or just another campaign opportunity?
Chiz Escudero, Mar Roxas, Loren Legarda, Among Ed Panlilio among others addressed the crowd. Kiko Aquino Dy read a letter from his grandmother. (I’m sorry Tita Cory, but you lost credibility with me when you started hanging out with the shadier members of the opposition. I thank you for your service to and sacrifice for the country, but you are not the moral compass of the Philippines.) JV Ejercito relayed a message from Erap. (Your father was convicted of plunder and you have the gall to get up there and pontificate?) JV was the last straw for me. I left shortly after.
A banner with the faces of the representatives who supposedly voted for HR 1109
HR 1109 was approved through a viva voce vote. The ayes won simply because they were louder than the nays. There is no official record of who voted what, so we’re not sure if the lists floating around on the internet are accurate. Our best bet is the list of those who signed as co-authors of HR 1109. Obviously (with the exemption of Rep. Luis Villafuerte, who withdrew his signature), legislators will not vote against the measure they authored. I feel that propagating a list that has not been verified is unfair to the congressmen who may not have supported the resolution.
It seemed to me that people at the rally spent more time bashing PGMA and the con-ass congressmen than talking about con-ass itself. I wasn’t expecting a scholarly debate, but is it too much to ask that we focus a little more on issues and a little less on personalities? The backdrop of the stage read “Stop Gloria’s Con-Ass” as did many of the signs and banners people were carrying. I personally am against not just Gloria’s con-ass, but I’m against any attempt to violate our democratic institutions. It’s not just about the people involved in these shenanigans, it’s about what they represent. I don’t want to see just a change in political leadership, I want to see change in our entire political culture.
This will be my last rally for a while, unless something of Edsa I proportions happens.
On a lighter note, I thought this “Amazing Map of the Philippines” was really funny, though I’m not sure why someone was carrying it around at the rally:
“SHAPE LOOK LIKE ALIEN”
Earlier that day, at an MGG meeting in the Ayala Foundation conference room:
The view of Ayala at around 4:00 PM from 10th floor of the BPI building
Me, Paeng and Quintin with the crowd growing on Paseo de Roxas in the background,
Posing with Mae in her full Juana Change glory before the rally
View the full set of photos on Flickr.
Aissa is a rebel with too many causes. 