Conduct of NAT Reliable?

The Department of Education (DepEd) through the National Education and Testing Research Center (NETRC) is administering the National Achievement Test (NAT) nationwide as scheduled.

This is to determine the academic performance of elementary pupils and secondary students in their basic learning areas like English, Filipino, Science, Mathematics, and Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies).

Does the results of this NAT reliable? It seems that the National Achievement Test (NAT) conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd) posed in some aspect a suspicion as to reliability and validity as what one commented on a news report online.

This observant alleged that there were results in public schools, which are not "real score" of the students. But the results were rather "doctored" by the teachers themselves.

I don't know what is the bases for this allegation. This is quite misleading, inappropriate generalization. In our own division here in La Carlota, we have conducted an intensive review for our NAT takers every Saturday and in several minutes before the pupils go home in the afternoon.

Probably she aired this unfavorable general observation for she's affected by the higher Mean Percentage Score which the public schools got in the said NAT, while theirs in private schools, their MPS scored lower.

As a matter of standard operating procedure, the public school teachers especially who are assigned to conduct the test, are oriented carefully as to observe faithfully the honesty in the conduct of the said test.

Pre-Conference

In fact, before the conduct of this test, a conference was held on the proper conduct/administration of the test, the standard procedure, the security of test materials, among others.

Meaning everything is ironed out before the proper conduct of the test. Now which part is suspicious? the intensive supervision? Or other else?

Division Testing Coordinator  G. Tionsay Monitoring  the Pre_NAT

Directive to All Divisions and District Supervisors

The public school teachers are doing their best to excel in this NAT but not to cheat nor to "correct" the lower score to a higher one. The DepEd is aware of every result of the test and wants "to raise the learning outcomes among the schools which were classified under the Poor Achievement and Lower Average rate."

Therefore, Secretary Luistro issued DepEd Order # 72, s. 2011 directing all the divisions and the district supervisors to provide intensive supervision to those school which are poor achiever and with lower average rates. Now in complying this directive, the schools in public have shown a better development and even a notable achievement in this national achievement test.

This year's National Achievement Test is scheduled in the following dates:

March 6 is for the 4th year students of public and private schools. March 12 is for Grade 3 pupils of public and Madrasah schools. March 13 is for Grade 6 pupils of public and private schools

Conduct of Pre-NAT

Meanwhile, the Division of La Carlota has conducted its pre-NAT in Grade 3 and Grade 6, while the 4th students are having their actually testing today.

Ms. Gloria G. Tionsay, the Division Testing Coordinator with Ma'm Ruth Convite, EPS-Math and District 3 Supervisor Salvacion Espanola and planning officer Francisca Nabor monitored the conduct of the test to check that the correct procedures and proper conduct of the test are followed.