This was the clarification made by Dr. Nelia Benito, head of the DECS’ National Education Testing and Research Center, in response to a report by The STAR that reviewers for the National Elementary Aptitude Test (NEAT) and the National Secondary Aptitude Test (NSAT) being sold in bookstores contain serious errors which make them dangerous to students.
"We don’t issue reviewers nor allow the publication of such by any private company," Benito said. "We only distribute brochures containing a rundown of the tests and this is for free."
The STAR’s managing editor Amy Pamintuan revealed in her column Tuesday that a reviewer published by a certain Palinsad General Merchandise and sold in one local bookstore was littered with errors of grammar, fact and spelling which were not merely typographical.
Among the errors Pamintuan cited was the spelling section where students were asked the right spelling for the word that denotes a "volcanic quake." The available answers – erruption, irruption, irroption etc. – were all wrong, she said.
Benito noted that the DECS is completely aware of the complexity of publishing test reviewers, thus it has never allowed anyone to print or sell these items.
"The content of reviewers ought to be based on our prescribed curriculum and must pass strict evaluation of the appropriate committees formed by DECS," she said.
Benito, however, could not comment on the liability of the publisher of the faulty reviewer.
"Our lawyers are the best persons to talk about this. We have a so-called free business enterprise. Maybe it will be different if they make a false claim that they are being endorsed by the DECS," she said.
The NEAT and NSAT are meant to test students’ basic knowledge and determine if they are qualified for higher learning.
The NSAT, in particular, replaced the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) which was abolished six years ago.
Benito noted that past NEAT and NSAT results showed that Filipino students were poor in reading comprehension.
"We use the tests to improve the quality of teaching in our schools," she said.