INNOTECH publishes Multigrade Schools Case Studies

Capping off the Technical Support to Multigrade Program in Philippine Education (TS-MPPE) project, INNOTECH launched its publication, “Current Situation and Practices of Multigrade Schools in the Philippines: Case Studies.” This compilation of case studies completes the suite of TS-MPPE project knowledge products.

(Related article: MPPE Review full report now available on the INNOTECH website)

In 2017, SEAMEO INNOTECH, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd), entered a tripartite agreement to evaluate, modify, and strengthen the country’s multigrade program. One of the main components of the project is the Review of the Current Situation and Practices of Multigrade Schools in the Philippines conducted from 2017 to 2019. To increase the validity of the research findings, a qualitative study of 11 multigrade schools was undertaken through classroom observations (including 2 teachers per school) and interviews of  the school-community stakeholders about the status of multigrade education in the Philippines. These eleven multigrade schools are featured in the publication, “Current Situation and Practices of Multigrade Schools in the Philippines: Case Studies.”

The case studies identified various factors affecting multigrade instruction as a means to increase access to inclusive, equitable, and quality education. It also determined how enabling environment—comprising of instructional leadership, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, learning facilities, and parents and community participation—contributes to effective teaching and learning in a multigrade setting.

The project involved site visits, classroom observations, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. A qualitative approach was used for this study to gather more personal narratives and experiences from the field. Other key stakeholders, such as the learners, parents, and community members, were also interviewed to enrich responses gathered from the multigrade program implementers. The case study sites consist of 4 multigrade schools in Luzon, 3 in Visayas, and 4 in Mindanao.

To learn more about the 11 case study multigrade schools in the Philippines and how they implement the Multigrade Program, we encourage you to read the “Current Situation and Practices of Multigrade Schools in the Philippines: Case Studies,” accessible for free on the INNOTECH website.