EDITORIAL - A long overdue review

The year opens with the news that the Commission on Higher Education intends to step into the upgrading of textbooks used in elementary and high schools. Calls for an overhaul of textbooks started several years ago. But those tasked to ensure the integrity and quality of textbooks were more preoccupied with fending off criticism that they had failed in their job than correcting the errors.

Academic supervisor Antonio Calipjo-Go single-handedly took on those involved in producing and distributing the textbooks, including giant publishing houses, calling the attention of the public to glaring factual and grammatical errors in books used in both private and public schools. Along the way Calipjo-Go made enemies and received criticism himself for his critiques, but his advocacy has not been futile. In June last year the Department of Education banned private schools from using two textbooks whose errors had been pointed out by Calipjo-Go: “Simply Science in the Next Century” and “Harnessing Arts for English Today.” Both books were produced by Phoenix Publishing House Inc.

In 2004, a blistering critique by Calipjo-Go also led to a review and subsequent recall of the social studies textbook “Asya Noon, Ngayon at sa Hinaharap.” But the errors did not end there. Last year the education department had to issue a 21-page guide to correct factual, grammatical and other errors in 11 newly released social studies textbooks and teachers’ manuals.

The National Book Development Board reviews textbooks that are brought to it by publishers. Now the CHED is stepping in, promising a massive review of textbooks used in elementary and high schools. Emmanuel Angeles, who heads CHED and co-chairs a presidential task force on education, said he wanted to restore Philippine textbooks to pre-martial law quality. Back then Philippine education was the envy of Asia. Today it is not just the quality of textbooks but all other aspects of Philippine education that must be restored to their old glory. Raising the quality of textbooks is long overdue and must be done with urgency. Similar efforts must be undertaken in all other aspects of Philippine education.