Speaking before private educators in a conference, Abad revealed the last comparative study made by the education sector from 1993 to 1997 showed a wide disparity between private and public schools.
In the absence of any new data and assessment of how private schools perform, he said one could not scientifically determine if this disparity still exists.
"But I personally am inclined to think so. I’m actually inclined to think the disparity has in fact widened to the disadvantage of the 17 million students in our public schools," Abad said in a speech at the First National Congress of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) held at the Manila Hotel.
"I’m here today to tell what each and every one of you already knows… that there is a crisis in Philippine education," he stressed.
Figures don’t lie in this case.
In the Trends in Mathematics Survey conducted in 2003 participated in by both private and public schools, the Philippines ranked 41st in a field of 45 countries for high school math, and 42nd place for high school science.
In the same study, the Philippines placed 23rd out of 25 countries for both math and science in the grade four level, performing slightly better than Morocco and Tunisia.
Abad said only 32 out of 100 students graduate from high school in the Philippines.
In the 2004 high school readiness test, only 0.6 percent scored 75 percent or better. "That’s about 8,000 students out of 1.2 million examinees," Abad said.
He also noted that the competency of these students is only at the grade four level in public schools.
In the self-assessment test on English for teachers, only 19 percent of public school teachers scored 75 percent or better.
"That’s no more than 10,000 out of around 51,000 teachers. That means some 41,000 of our teachers have inadequate proficiency in the English language," Abad told congress delegates of COCOPEA, which represents over 1,500 private schools, colleges and universities nationwide.
To counter the deteriorating quality of education in the country, Abad urged private schools to help the Department of Education (DepEd) implement the "Schools First Initiative."
"Guided by example of the private education sector, the Schools First Initiative recognizes the potential of our public schools and our public school teachers to improve education as they are empowered to provide solutions at their level," the DepEd chief said.
"Schools First Initiative provide our schools with an environment that is conducive to reform where teachers and learners enhance learning in all learning situations, be it in early childhood centers, elementary and secondary schools or through an informal learning environment," he said.
The program aims at having Filipino children read with comprehension by grade three and for all students to get adequate instruction at all levels. It also aims to have teachers meet acceptable standards in both English language and subject matter proficiency while underprivileged families are given the opportunity to keep their children in school.
In his speech, Abad also asked private schools to find a healthy balance between their responsibility to their trustees and shareholders, and to community and country.
Of their high tuition fees, Abad said: "Try to ease their financial burdens. Help us in helping them ease their pain. Help us decongest our crowded public school classrooms by allowing more parents to benefit from your private schools through our education service contracting, or through other more equitable tuition arrangements."
He challenged private schools to take the lead in the country’s quest for excellence in education. Their participation in the Schools First Initiative is essential to its success, Abad said.