Learning in
crowded classrooms

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor ERIC T. LORETIZO Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The National Statistical Coordination Board has come out with findings that students who are in small or average-sized classes learn better than those who are crowded in one classroom. This was based on the latest National Achievement Tests given to graduating students from both elementary and high schools all over the country.

We did not need to have the NSCB tell us that. Anybody who has gone to school, or who has recently seen the conditions in many of our public elementary and high schools, could have given that conclusion after a glance. For how can a single teacher control, much less impart everything she would like to to a classroom consisting of 50 students, maybe even more? It is doubtful that the teacher can even hear the voice of every single child reciting or replying to a question being asked in a whole week of classes.

And it becomes a vicious cycle, because, with so many pupils or students, the teacher can also hardly find enough time to individually observe how each member of her class is progressing. Would the teacher ever find the time, too, to thoroughly go through the test papers or other output of the students, or become, at least familiar with them and find out in what areas they need to be further helped?

But then, this problem has been aired over and over, with the comments and complaints intensifying whenever school opens in June, but it remains the same. In fact, it became an ironic joke to the academe when it was noted that the suggestion to solve the classroom lack by just piling more pupils into each room had come from the highest officials of the land.

It is a good try for the NSCB to disclose its findings now. Perhaps they will touch a chord in the consciousness of those who are in a position to institute improvements. It's still a long shot, but who knows? Perhaps some philanthropic men and women will come out to solve the problem with donations and grants. Or perhaps our government officials are now starting to realize how important education is and give the attention it deserves this time.*