INCOMING Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara said he is hopeful that education will be uplifted and believes that Filipinos are competent as they have been able to join international competitions.

“Malaki ang pag-asa ko diyan dahil alam natin magaling, kung creative thinking, hindi nga ako naniniwala doon na hindi malikhain ang mga Pilipino dahil nakikita natin all over the world. ‘Yung mga imbensyon, mga creative ad campaign, mga sining. Nananalo tayo sa ibang contest all over the world,” Angara said in a radio interview when asked if he is hopeful that the education in the country will improve.

“Kailangan siguro makabago ang magiging approaches natin pero hindi ako naniniwala na tayo ay kulelat sa buong mundo,” he added.

According to the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Philippines is in the bottom four among the 64 countries when it comes to creative thinking. The Philippines has a mean score of 14.

Angara said that they will study which areas should be given focus and will immediately address such concerns.

Meanwhile, Angara said that he will look into the specifics of the MATATAG Curriculum established by DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio, adding that it is in the ‘right direction’.

“’Yung direksiyon kasi ng MATATAG is streamline din eh… Titingnan natin ‘yung specifics pero hindi pa naman tapos ‘yan, work in progress pa rin ‘yung MATATAG Curriculum. Tama ‘yung direksyon ng MATATAG Curriculum,” he said.