This time of the year means, for many fourth year high school students, preparing for college entrance examinations. So I wasn't surprised when a group of high school students asked me if I could help them prepare for their college entrance exam. I learned that they wanted to take the Polytechnic University of the Philippines College Entrance Test (PUPCET), which is set on January 30, 2011. I took the test a few years back, though I didn't study there, and passed it 99++, so I said OK. Besides, what's wrong with a few hundred bucks?
Okay, it was my brother and his classmates, but the classmates still get to pay. Because I don't normally do review sessions, I don't have many tools. The students then showed me some review materials that they said they used to review for the NCAE. That's the National Career Assessment Examination, a test administered by the Department of Education "to assess the aptitudes of fourth year high school students and guide them in choosing an appropriate career path after graduation." The review materials were provided by their school. I leafed through materials and found the English aptitude section a bit disturbing. Under the English Comprehension section of the test, I saw some almost incomprehensible paragraphs followed by comprehension questions. Talk about ironic.... It got me wondering: If the teachers are not able to identify that these are errors, how can their students learn proper English? Some congressmen have raised the issue of textbook errors with the Department of Education. I hope the DepEd also checks the school-provided review materials, or that the school itself checks the materials provided by teachers.
See the snapshots below.
These are from the English Comprehension section of the material. | |
Unfortunately, the NCAE this year is over. These students have taken the test; to prepare for that they had used this material. I just hope they made it to the Elite Club 99++, which the DepEd proudly talks about.
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