Pia calls for Senate probe of error-filled textbooks

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today called for a Senate investigation of textbooks allegedly found to contain numerous errors but are still widely being used in elementary and secondary schools around the country.

The lady senator filed Philippine Senate Resolution No.86 in August last year to find out whether the error-riddled books exposed by educator and crusader Antonio Calipjo Go in a Senate hearing last January 23, 2007 were still being used in both public and private schools.

"What has the Department of Education (DepEd) done since then?" she asked, in reference to media reports that the latest series of error-filled books exposed by Go�"Simply Science in the Next Century Grades 1 to 6 (Reprint Edition 2007)" and "Harnessing English Arts Today Grades 1 to 6 (Reprint Edition 2007)" of Phoenix Publishing House Inc.�were still uncorrected and very much in circulation.

"It's been reported that DepEd issued a memorandum suspending the use of the textbook series on May 19 when the opening of classes was just three weeks away. But how effective will the memo be? I share the concern of parents who, by that time, have already enrolled their children and purchased these books. We also have to verify allegations that many schools have not yet received a copy of the DepEd memo at this late stage."

The senator questioned the system being used by DepEd in screening textbooks. She pointed out that in 2007, the errors have been thoroughly discussed in a Senate hearing. Go also stated that about 50 percent of the textbooks on English, Filipino and Social Studies used in public schools contain factual, conceptual and grammatical errors.

"The said textbooks supposedly passed the evaluation and inspection of the DepEd, yet the textbooks students will use this year are still ridded with the same errors," she said.

She said there are actually two agencies tasked with evaluating textbooks, namely the Instructional Materials Council Secretariat (IMCS) and the National Book Development Board (NBDB).

"The Senate should summon these two agencies, along with Secretary Lapus, as well as the publishers in question."