NAT unaffected by face-to-face class halts

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Department of Education in Region 6 (DepEd-6) affirmed on Monday, April 1, that the National Achievement Test for Grade 6 students (NAT-G6) will be conducted throughout the region this week.

This announcement comes despite recent shifts to alternative learning methods in parts of Western Visayas, prompted by the extreme heat.

Hernani Escullar Jr., spokesperson for DepEd-6, communicated to the press through Messenger that while the department will comply with local government unit (LGU) instructions, the predetermined NAT-G6 schedule of April 1 to 5 will be followed.

A number of LGUs have paused in-person classes as of April 1 due to high temperatures, affecting several cities including Bacolod, Bago, Kabankalan, Iloilo, Roxas, and Silay, as well as the municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Hinoba-an in Negros Occidental and Dumangas in Iloilo.

“[Schools Division Offices] with suspension of in-person classes will administer the National Achievement Test once the in-person classes resume. For Iloilo City, NAT will be administered on April 3. We abide with the guidance from LGUs especially in ensuring learners’ well-being and health,” Escullar said.

Furthermore, Escullar said that DepEd-6 is in consultation with the central office in Pasig City regarding the continuation of testing if in-person classes are suspended past April 5.

The NAT-G6 serves as an exit assessment for all sixth-grade learners in both public and private schools across the country, fitting within the national assessment framework of the K to 12 Basic Education Program. It is designed to evaluate whether learners are achieving the standards set in the elementary curriculum.

The test scrutinizes 21st Century Skills, such as Problem-Solving, Information Literacy, and Critical Thinking, across key subjects including English, Math, Science, Filipino, and Araling Panlipunan.

Utilizing both English and Filipino, the test items range in skill level and are presented in a multiple-choice format.

Earlier this year, the NAT was also administered to Grade 12 students from March 18 to 22.