The fate of math education in PHL

By Dr. Herman M. Lagon

MATHEMATICS education in the Philippines has been a cause for concern among educators and the nation.

As a math and physics professor, I aim to make these subjects engaging and enjoyable. But like many other teachers of the former subject, I face ongoing challenges. Traditional teaching methods and digital innovations struggle to captivate students, and the pandemic has further complicated the situation. Throughout the years, learners’ lack of foundational skills from Kindergarten to college has decreased their interest in math-related courses.

It is disheartening that the country ranks lowest in math performance, according to the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study or TIMSS 2019, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment or OECD-PISA 2018 assessments. To address this urgent issue, the Philippine educational system must implement comprehensive reforms in math education.

First and foremost, reducing the teacher-student ratio is crucial. Teachers can provide more individual attention by having fewer students in each class, enabling students to develop a deeper understanding of math concepts. Moreover, investing in teacher training and offering competitive salaries will attract highly qualified educators who are passionate about improving math education. Equipping teachers with innovative teaching methods and providing necessary support is vital.

Another essential aspect is addressing infrastructure gaps in schools. Creating additional classrooms and well-equipped laboratories will allow students to have practical, hands-on experiences that ignite their interest in math. Building an environment that fosters active participation in learning is a significant investment in the future of math education.

To spark students’ interest in math, emphasizing real-world applications of mathematical concepts is vital. Making math relatable by connecting it to everyday life experiences cultivates curiosity and problem-solving skills. Integrating project-based learning and interactive activities helps students understand the practical significance of math. As such, vontinuous teacher training is also essential.

Strong administration and governance in educational institutions are equally important. Effective leadership plays a crucial role in shaping the success of math education. Administrators should prioritize math as a core subject, allocate resources wisely, and implement policies encouraging collaboration among teachers, students, and parents.

Lastly, fostering partnerships between educational institutions and the private sector can drive transformative change. The business community can contribute through sponsorship programs, mentorship initiatives, and scholarships, providing students and teachers with additional resources and opportunities to enhance their mathematical abilities.

Improving math education in the country requires the collective effort of all stakeholders. Our shared responsibility is to ensure that future generations are equipped with the mathematical skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world. With the recommendations, we can pave the way for a brighter future in math education.

Let’s embrace this challenge together and empower the next generation with the knowledge and passion for math that will shape our nation’s future success.

Dr. Lagon fondly describes himself as a “student of, and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and “why-driven” world that is grounded in social justice. He is a physics and math professor of Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology; an educational leadership student of University of St. La Salle; a retired principal of Ateneo; and an alumnus of the University of the Philippines, University of Iloilo, and Western Visayas State University.

TWO universities from the United States and the Philippines have tied-up to create innovative virtual-student exchanges on disaster resilience in local communities.

On July 28, visiting Santa Fe College president Dr. Paul Broadie and Urdaneta City University president Dr. Amihan April Alcazar signed the partnership agreement at the conclusion of a symposium on technical-vocational (tech-voc) education held from July 25 to 28 in Makati City.

The linkage will enable the two higher education institutions’ (HEIs) students to exchange knowledge and propose solutions that address urgent disaster-related challenges faced by their respective communities, such as hurricanes and typhoons. One such is “STEMTank 2023,” which will train Filipino students to design resilient community essentials like disaster-response shelters using 3-D printers.

The partnership agreement signing stemmed from the US government-funded “Community College Administrator Program (CCAP):” a five-week program that enabled 21 Philippine tech-voc education delegates to discuss best practices and experiences in communitycollege operations and labor force development with US community college officials, legislative leaders, and senior policymakers in Florida last month.

“The CCAP is an exemplar of the evolving collaboration between US community colleges and Philippine post-secondary education sectors, which include both [HEIs and tech-voc] institutions,” Dr. Alcazar said.

“This year, we are celebrating 75 years of the Fulbright program, [as well as the incredible legacy of US-Philippine academic and professional exchanges. We are proud to be part of the success of CCAP, and look] forward to increased academic exchanges between our countries in the future,” Public Engagement Officer Pauline Anderson of the US Embassy said.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand front-end development.”

R. Marcos Jr. recently identified IT-BPM, or information technology-business processing management, as a key industry that makes the Philippines a “service export powerhouse,” and called for support to continue nurturing the sector’s growth.

To enable such, GoIT—Europe’s leading company for educational technology or “edtech”—is offering a new Quality Assurance (QA) testing course, which is perfect for beginners in the IT industry.

Filipinos looking to maximize their opportunities and enter the IT industry can take the new QA testing course of GoIT. It is fully online with synchronous classes held every evening, led by a team of highly qualified local mentors who are established Filipino professionals working for major IT companies in the country and in the world.

AUGUST 14, 2023 was historic in the annals of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), as it launched its first-ever undergraduate program in its 55 years of existence.

Known for providing postgraduate degrees with an Asian focus since 1968, AIM has forayed into the undergraduate realm with a groundbreaking transnational double-degree program in Data Science, Business Administration and Management Information Systems with the Univ. of Houston’s C.T. Bauer College of Business.

The introduction of the revolutionary first-of-its-kind program to the region was made possible through the invaluable support of the Commission on Higher Education’s commissioner Dr. Prospero E. De Vera towards the vision of AIM president and dean Dr. Jikyeong Kang; C.T. Bauer dean Dr. Paul Pavlou; and AIM’s Aboitiz School of Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship—all of whom addressed the new students during the convocation on the said date.

The program features a Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Business Administration or BSDSBA from AIM, and a Bachelor of Business Administration Major in Management Information Systems or BBAMIS from the Univ. of Houston.

Data Science and Business Administration, coupled with a Management Information Systems degree, is the “ultimate solution to address future requirements for commerce and enterprise, as well as set the foundations upon which the institute pursues its mission to lead, inspire, and transform Asian businesses and societies,” according to a statement from AIM. As such, the institute continues to be at the forefront of quality education and celebrates its introduction of undergraduate programs with the debut of this course. AIM welcomed the first undergraduate cohort of 50 brilliant students who graduated with exemplary honors and awards. Its discerning requirements for the program saw the acceptance of the final class of students who achieved top-level academics, received distinctions for special awards and competitions, and were part of their schools’ honor rolls.

Donna Faith Go and Fianna Velasco represented the incoming class during the event. They will rally their classmates and highlight their roles as pioneers of this trailblazing program.

There remains plenty of opportunity in the sector, even for those who have zero background in coding and programming, according to GoIT group’s head of growth Khrystyna Gankevych.

For one, QA analysts do not require advanced knowledge in mathematics and web development, but are vital to any IT firm. They have the crucial task of checking software, ensuring they are working correctly, and finding possible issues.

A QA analyst can also fetch competitive salaries...that reach up to P35,000 every month, according to recent numbers from JobStreet.com.

“Being a QA analyst is the fastest way to get into IT without having advanced knowledge in programming or mathematics,” Gankevych explained. “As [one], you get the chance to work with big IT companies, and even make the transition to bigger roles in the future, such as in Web development or

Students will learn not only the basics of testing, but also the levels and types of the ones encountered in the line of work. The course will also help develop some of the soft skills expected of a QA analyst such as teamwork, time management, and communication acumen.

Since its launch earlier this year, GoIT has been training newly minted IT professionals in the Philippines through its Fullstack course. So far, more than 3,000 people have attended GoIT’s webinars—with the first batch of Fullstack course completers introduced to the IT industry back in June.

“The Filipino talent is unique, and has been instrumental in the IT industry all around the world,” said Gankevych, who hopes to encourage more Filipinos to explore a fulfilling career in IT.

“We are here to equip Filipinos with the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in IT, and the goal is that our Filipino students will make significant contributions to their country’s IT sector.”

Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan