𝗣𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮: 𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

While almost all other countries continue to make remarkable progress in various competency areas, the Philippines remains one of the worst-performing countries, as evidenced by the results of the global tests administered in PISA 2022. Creative thinking, in particular, is scored poorly by 15-year-old Filipino Junior High School students, with a 28-point deficit from the best-performing country. This prompts us to ask “What fundamental flaws in our society have limited our ability to foster a more creative and forward-thinking community?”

The results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 are there for us to ponder. Being ranked at the bottom indicates serious issues with the country’s educational system and culture. A multifaceted approach that covers educational reform and increased support for innovation is therefore essential to mold a generation of creative thinkers.

𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑠

Recently, the results of the global benchmarking test for creative thinking were released, with nearly 700,000 students as its participants from 64 different countries. The report showed that Filipino students aged 15 have among the weakest creative thinking skills globally, with a score of 14, much below the global average of 33. Southeast Asian neighbors Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brunei ranked higher than the Philippines, while Singapore topped the global rankings. These raise grave worries among citizens not simply because we are outperformed by neighboring countries, but because we have failed to at least meet the criteria for an average performance.

Prior to this, the Philippines ranked in the bottom ten of 81 countries in the test on mathematics, science, and comprehension released in December 2023. This adds to the piling list of indicators about the country’s state of basic education. Instead of learning to overcome the setback of being at the bottom of the PISA 2018 and 2022 rankings, there have been little to no improvements, which may lead to us falling further behind in terms of competences.

𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐸𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑆𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚

Earlier, it was reported that the Philippines’ education system continues to face alarming challenges that not only limit from the lack of funds and resources but also extend to a shortage of qualified teachers and outdated curriculum in many schools. Although there have been efforts to revise the curriculum, it is fair to say that much of it still strongly adheres to rote memorization and traditional teaching methods rather than fostering creativity. The PISA Creative Thinking Test assesses students’ ability to generate original and diverse ideas for a variety of problem-solving tasks, and with the Philippines being one of the lowest performing countries, it exposes the conformity that Filipinos exhibit. The traditional curriculum hinders creative expression and critical thinking, teaching students to study for the sake of passing grades rather than for innovative thinking and practical life application.

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡

Aside from that, the education system is not the sole factor at play but also community and family support. In a dispute over whether creative thinking should be taught in a formal school curriculum or not, the importance of the surrounding environment in nurturing and recognizing students’ creativity was highlighted. The idea that professions in mathematics and science are prestigious and the only ones deserving of respect has long persisted in Filipino culture, burying the arts and humanities neglected to the ground. It shows how Filipinos are clearly inconsistent in their support for a culture of innovation.

In an interview with Singapore’s top-scoring students, they stated that their teachers value their creativity and help them cultivate their creative thinking. Indeed, individuals must be encouraged and motivated by their community and family to freely explore and express their ideas in order to maximize potential and avoid contributing to the depletion of the local talent pool, which limits innovation and creativity inside the country.

𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

Nevertheless, many groups have varying claims, with some assuming that creative thinking is learned outside of school and others believing that educational institutions should be used as an avenue to teach creativity. However, a more creative and innovative society can only be achieved when multiple areas are given attention, not just one or a few. Addressing the Philippines’ position in the bottom four of the global creative thinking test requires a multifaceted approach encompassing the integration of a creativity-focused curricula, the fostering of a safe space where creativity is valued and rewarded, and the development of policies. All of these factors must be considered in order to create a shift that prioritizes critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity.

𝐼𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛

Ultimately, recognizing the strengths and the flaws in the education sector and the culture of the Filipino community is what will lead to a creative and innovative society. The centrality of creativity is evident in many disciplines in our society, which is all the more reason to make changes in the outdated education system and encourage risk-taking and non-traditional experiments in order to unleash the creativity in all individuals and significantly boost the Philippines’ global standing. In the long-running battle between prioritizing rote learning over creative thinking and valuing conformity over creativity, may we come to realize that things need to change and have to be changed in order for us to constantly reinvent methods of adaptation and not perpetuate a cycle of limited and repetitive innovation and development.