MANILA - Following reports that Filipino students ranked low in reading, math and science, Sen. Cynthia Villar on Thursday said there should be measures such as competitions to determine the performance of schools.

“Nalaman niyo na ba sino pinakamagaling na public school in the Philippines? Walang measure na ganun,” she told reporters on the sidelines of a Stratbase Group forum in Taguig.

(Do you know which public school is the best in the Philippines? There’s no measure for that.)

“Bigyan ng incentive 'yung magagaling at bigyan ng disincentive 'yung mahihina. Para naman magkaroon sila ng wish to excel to be better,” she added.

(We should give incentives to those who do well and give disincentives to those that rank low. So they strive to excel to be better.)

Villar said contests may be done annually to determine which schools are the best in the Philippines.

Recently, it was reported that the Philippines ranked lowest in reading comprehension among countries assessed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. It also ranked second to the last for math and science.

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“Okay lang na hindi naman natin ine-expect na we are the best but hindi naman kulelat. Second to the last?” Villar said. “Medyo nakakahiya naman 'yun.”

(We are not expecting that we are the best but we don’t want to be ranked lowest. Second to the last? That is quite embarrassing.)

Villar said there is a need to focus now on the quality of students.

• READ: Why Pinoy students ranked last in reading comprehension survey

She said there is no need for a new law as it can be made a policy of the Department of Education.

“They should give rewards to those that are good,” she said, and then wondered if there were any “requirements with regards to quality.”

“Ang mga principal, mga teachers they should be responsible. Dapat maging pride nila na magagaling ang mga estudyante,” she said.

(The principals, the teachers, they should be responsible. They should be proud of being able to have good students.)