UP high Principal: Student materials, teachers' training needed for K to 12

CEBU, Philippines - There should be more materials for every student who is learning English under the new K-12 Basic Education System.

This was according to a research done by University of the Philippines - Cebu High School principal Aurelio Vilbar.

Vilbar's study titled “Monitoring and Evaluating the Grade 7 English Curriculum Implementation among Selected Schools in Cebu City” discusses the effectiveness of the way English language is being taught.

The study involved interviews and surveys of 20 English high school teachers from regular, vocational and night high schools in Cebu City.

It concluded that more than half of the population of the teachers believes that English as a subject is more difficult to teach now than it was. This is because there is a lack of materials and resources for every school.

Vilbar showed the English book used for all the public high schools. There is only one book for one teacher and the students are supposed to be given print outs. However, with the current wage situation for teachers and the student to teacher ratio, it will be too costly.

Teachers will also be exhausted writing the lessons on Manila paper or on the blackboard.

Vilbar also found out that the teachers lack training in the new curriculum.

“The DepEd is always conducting training. But the echo model training is not effective enough,” Vilbar said. From his survey, it was interpreted that some of the trainers are not efficient in English nor have interest in the subject.

“We are hoping to have materials for each student, not just for one teacher,” Vilbar said. “If there will be more materials, then this would really enrich our education in the Philippines,” he added.

The analysis of the new English Curriculum was done under the University of the Philippines Cebu Central Visayas Studies Center headed by Dr. Mary Joyce Flores. (FREEMAN)