Many Filipinos believe that the Department of Education (DepEd) should prioritize improving students' performance in essential subjects, such as reading and math, before introducing coding into the Philippine curriculum.
This, as DepEd aims to integrate coding and utilize technology to enhance education, allowing teachers to focus more on instruction rather than administrative tasks.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara, speaking on September 19, said the plan aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s vision to boost education quality by incorporating digital literacy.
Angara emphasized the importance of learning from Singapore's success in teaching coding at an early age.
He explained that using educational technology, like real-time analytics, would enable teachers to dedicate more time to teaching, improving overall educational standards.
“Our people are our greatest asset. With President Marcos Jr.'s leadership, we envision creative, innovative Filipino learners, a boost for our industries,” Angara said.
However, some Filipinos voiced concerns, arguing that basic subjects such as reading, math, and science should be prioritized.
One online user commented, “Coding isn’t for everyone. First, fix the basics like reading comprehension and writing before introducing coding.”
Another echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for strong foundations in Filipino and English language, reading, and basic computer literacy, “Focus on math, science, and language first, especially when not all students even have access to computers.”
The debate follows a 2022 report from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which showed Filipino students significantly lagging in reading, math, and science compared to their global peers.
The Philippines ranked in the bottom 10 of 81 countries, with 15-year-olds found to be five to six years behind in learning competencies.
Filipinos have expressed that without strengthening the fundamentals first, introducing coding may overwhelm students and worsen existing educational challenges.
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