“The question may be asked: Why is Eastern Visayas, which has numerous depressed rural towns, taking the lead in middle-level education with its four school divisions in the top 10?”
The Department of Education institutionalized National Achievement Test is a gauge of how learners are doing in their studies.
The test enables educators in the regional and national levels to assess the readiness of students in entering the next level of education.
In matters of income, reputation, educational facilities and finances, provincial cities are way behind the cities in highly urbanized centers of Metro Manila and Cebu. Compared to Makati or Quezon City, the Calbayog and Maasin cities in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) are way below in terms of income, not to mention economic status.
The nationwide results of the NAT for Grade 12 students showed the rankings of the Top 10 performing schools division offices for the school year 2022-2023. First place is Calbayog City (54.17 percent) in Region 8, followed by Western Samar province (52.61) of the same region, and third, Dapitan City (49.98) in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).
Also in the top 10, from fourth to 10 places, are Makati (49.54) in the National Capital Region or Metro Manila; Maasin City (49.31) in Region 8, San Juan City (48.90) in NCR, Baguio City (48.72) the in Cordillera Administrative Region, Manila (48.4) in NCR, Surigao City (48.07) in Region 12 or Caraga, and Southern Leyte (48.02) in Region 8.
In 2020, Calbayog City was the only school division in Region 8 which made it to the Top Ten in the national achievement test.
Four Eastern Visayas school divisions in top ten national achievement test
