The Benigno Ninoy Aquino High School (BNAHS) has excelled in the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), due to Makati City’s investments in innovative and inclusive learning interventions before and during the pandemic.
Out of all the public schools in Metro Manila, BNAHS was the only one to pass Level 2 in the international test, despite having no face-to-face classes for over two years.
“Considering that there had been no face-to-face classes for over two years when the test was conducted, this achievement speaks volumes of the success of Makati’s innovative and inclusive programs for our public school students,” Mayor Abigail Binay said in a statement.
Binay explained that her administration invested P31 million for the full implementation of Project MILES (Mathematics Intensive Learning Enhancement for Students) for Grades 1 to 10 before the pandemic.
The program aimed to develop numeracy skills through free Saturday classes and locally-developed learning materials. Over 700 teachers handled both onsite and online sessions, and the subscription to Math software Koobits, popular in Singapore, was provided for free.
Binay highlighted the inclusivity of Project MILES, which was free for everyone who needed or wanted to improve their Math skills, unlike some private sector-led learning interventions that charge fees.
The city also implemented innovative measures during the pandemic, such as the Dyip ni Maki Project, which converted passenger jeepneys into mobile learning hubs with teachers, learning materials, and internet-connected laptops on board. The city government and DepEd Makati also developed, digitized, and printed local learning materials that were made available to the students for their online classes and asynchronous learning sessions.
Mayor Binay also announced that the city has converted 50 percent of its initial target of 400 classrooms into “smart classrooms” as part of its continuing school modernization program. Each smart classroom is being installed with a hybrid whiteboard, and students will be provided with notebook tablets and unlimited internet access.
PISA assesses the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students (Grade 9) in mathematics, reading, and science and explores how well students can solve complex problems, think critically, and communicate effectively. Makati has consistently ranked high in annual tests like PISA, the Test of Functional Academic Skills (TOFAS), and the National Achievement Test (NAT).
This year, the city allocated P3.25 billion of its general fund for the education sub-sector covering city-funded programs and projects of DepEd Makati, the operations of the University of Makati, and initiatives implemented by the city Education Department and Museum and Cultural Affairs Office.
Another P1.89-billion under the Special Education Fund covers free school uniforms and supplies provided from preschool to senior high school and students’ competency enhancement programs.