DepEd wants public apology from World Bank over ‘outdated’ education report
The Department of Education (DepEd) is demanding a public apology from the World Bank over an “outdated” report from 2019 regarding Filipino students’ proficiency levels.
On Monday, July 5, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said, “The country was insulted, was shamed and so on, we expect and look forward to a public apology.”
The World Bank released a report on June 28 saying 80% of Filipino schoolchildren rank below the minimum proficiency levels, putting the country second to the last among 79 countries, and the last in reading.
Briones also said the World Bank did not follow protocol by releasing the data to media without informing DepEd first. “Walang pasabi-sabi inuna sa media, so malaking kakulangan ito,” Briones added.
The World Bank and DepEd are in talks for a $100-milion loan for the department. “We are winding (down) negotiations na hindi pa napipirmahan ng secretary of education, itong $110 million na uutangin uli sa World Bank,” Briones said.
“Sa tingin ko apology muna,” she added.
The World Bank has yet to respond.
Banner photo from Leonor Briones’ Facebook page