UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City
MIDTERM EXAMINATION
DEM 409- POLICY FORMULATION AND ANALYSIS APPLIED TO EDUCATION
NAME: BLESILDA F. CORPIN SCORE: _____________________
YEAR & SECTION: PhD-EM 1A DATE : October 28, 2023
QUESTIONS:
1. What are the steps or the process to be taken in policy making? Discuss each step with
examples of actions to be done.
2. What DepEd policies would you like to change or amend and why? I you are given the
power to do it, Cite and discuss your proposal in three policies.
ANSWERS:
The policy making process is a complex and dynamic process that involves multiple stages.
According to Harold Lasswell, a policy making model still used today, there are five distinct
steps or stages in the policy-making cycle.
1. Agenda Setting: In this stage, a problem or challenge that impacts the public is initially
identified. Solutions are put forward by interested parties both inside and outside of the
government. Agenda setting typically goes through these stages:
o Systemic agenda: All issues public officials feel are worth addressing.
o Institutional agenda: Distilled from the systemic agenda list, these issues are
chosen as the ones policymakers should analyze and consider acting on.
o Discretionary agenda: This list comes directly from lawmakers, not from the
systemic and institutional agendas.
o Decision agenda: The final list of issues that policymakers will consider for
action.
Discussion/Explanation:
Agenda setting is a key concept in the study of policy development. It refers to the
capacity of an actor (individual, group, organization, institution) to define or influence
issues on the public agenda. In the context of education, agenda setting can be used to
identify and prioritize issues that need to be addressed in order to improve educational
outcomes. For example, a school board might use agenda setting to identify areas where
student performance is lagging and develop policies to address those issues.
In addition, agenda setting can be used to shape public opinion about education policy.
By framing issues in a particular way, policymakers can influence how the public
perceives those issues and what solutions are seen as viable. This can be particularly
important in situations where there is significant disagreement about the best way to
address a particular issue.
UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City
Overall, agenda setting plays an important role in education policy development by
helping policymakers identify and prioritize issues that need to be addressed and by
shaping public opinion about those issues.
An example of agenda setting in educational policy is the Education for All (EFA)
initiative launched by UNESCO in 1992. The initiative aimed to provide universal access
to basic education and improve educational quality around the world. The initiative
helped to raise awareness about the importance of education as a human right and led to
increased investment in education by governments and international organizations.
This example illustrates how agenda setting can be used to identify important issues in
education policy and shape public opinion about issues.
2. Policy Formation: This step involves the development of policy options within the
government. This occurs after officials narrow the range of possible policy choices by
excluding infeasible options.
Discussion/Explanation:
Policy formation is the second stage in the policy-making process, where
policymakers first develop and propose a policy. This occurs after officials narrow the
range of possible policy choices by excluding infeasible options. During this stage,
policymakers consider various policy options and evaluate their feasibility, effectiveness,
and potential impact. Brainstorming is common during policy formation, as most issues
have more than one potential solution.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has developed several policies to improve
the quality of education in the country. One such policy is the K-12 Basic Education
Program. The program was implemented in 2013 and aims to provide students with a
more comprehensive education that includes kindergarten, six years of elementary
school, four years of junior high school, and two years of senior high school.
Another example of policy formulation in Philippine education is the Alternative
Learning System (ALS). ALS is a program that provides out-of-school youth and adults
with basic education and life skills. The program was developed to address the problem
of illiteracy among adults in the country. ALS offers a flexible learning system that allows
students to learn at their own pace and schedule.
3. Decision Making: In this stage, policymakers select a policy option from among those
developed in the previous stage.
Discussion/Explanation:
Decision making is the third stage in the policy-making process, where
policymakers select a policy option from among those developed in the previous stage.
Decision making is a complex process that involves multiple factors, including political
UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City
considerations, public opinion, and the availability of resources. The decision-making
process can be influenced by various factors, such as the political climate, the interests of
stakeholders, and the availability of information.
4. Policy Implementation: This stage involves putting the selected policy into action. It
requires coordination among various government agencies and stakeholders.
Discussion/Explanation:
Policy implementation is the fourth stage in the policy-making process, where the
policy is put into action and carried out. It requires coordination among various
government agencies and stakeholders. The implementing organization and stakeholders
may educate the people or organizations affected by the new policy, change pre-existing
administrative operations and systems (or create new ones), and monitor and/or enforce
the policy as needed .
5. Policy Evaluation: In this final stage, policymakers assess whether the policy has
achieved its intended goals and objectives. They also identify any unintended
consequences and make necessary adjustments.
Discussion/Explanation:
Policy evaluation is the systematic process of determining whether a policy is
achieving its desired outcomes. Evaluation involves collecting and analyzing data to assess
whether the policy is having its intended effect and whether it is cost-effective .
There are several types of policy evaluation, including process evaluation, which
examines how well a policy is being implemented; impact evaluation, which assesses the
effects of a policy on the target population; and outcome evaluation, which measures the
overall effectiveness of a policy 2.
Policy evaluation is important because it helps policymakers determine whether a policy
is achieving its intended goals and objectives. It also helps policymakers identify areas
where the policy can be improved and make necessary adjustments .
ANSWER TO QUESTION NUMBER 2
The Department of Education (DepEd) released a memo, DepEd Order No. 49, which
was signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on November 2, 2022. The
memo was intended to promote professionalism in the DepEd and remind employees to raise
issues and concerns on basic education through formal channels without resorting to any
political or third-party intervention or accommodation. However, some of the provisions of DO
No. 49 were deemed to expand and even exceed the limits set in the Code of Conduct and
Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the Philippine Teachers
Professionalization Act of 1994. The memo included additional provisions on employment and
UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City
personnel relations, as well as the responsible use of social media. One provision that drew
criticism from the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) was the restriction on teachers’
freedom of expression and right to self-organization. The ACT argued that this provision could
limit teachers’ ability to raise concerns about basic education issues through social media or
other means outside formal channels.
Two things caught my attention.
The first thing, it seems DepEd doesn’t believe that teachers can set their own social
boundaries with students.
Teachers and students have been interacting and having friendly relations outside of school
since there have been teachers and students. There is nothing wrong with this. All people are
social animals.
We do understand discouraging social media connections between teacher and student. We are
actually for this. Your friends in social media are supposed to be your peers and equals, but we
all know this isn’t the case all the time. And sometimes when people rant against something or
someone, they forget that those who aren’t supposed to read those posts can.
But discouraging relationships outside social media? You cannot stop two people from
becoming friends or establishing a close and friendly relationship, no matter the age gap, social
standing, or other factors, again with set boundaries.
Also, the order says teachers should avoid “interaction, communication” with students. Are
teachers to snub the students they meet outside school? Are they to ignore them, pretend they
don’t exist, and walk away? Or turn their back and hide if they see them coming?
We don’t know what kind of experience Vice President Carpio had with her teachers, but
acknowledging and even chatting with teachers when people see them in public is perfectly
acceptable behavior throughout the world.
The second thing, the DepEd seems to be treating teachers like criminals and opportunists just
waiting to take advantage of students.
This actually started two months ago when Carpio wanted DepEd to have confidential funds. It
was so that DepEd could conduct “surveillance and intelligence” on, we assume, the teachers.
Carpio should get her head in the game. This is the DepEd; not the police, not the intelligence-
gathering agencies.
But then again, what can we expect with a DepEd helmed by someone who has no teaching
experience whatsoever and is more interested in enforcing security and espionage than
education?
Policy suggestions:
1. Simplify the language: The language used in the order can be difficult to understand
for some people. Simplifying the language can make it more accessible and easier to
follow. It should be explained in a detailed or specific manner.
UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Biglang-Awa St. Corner Catleya St., Caloocan City
2. Provide examples: Providing examples of what is considered professional behavior
can help clarify expectations for DepEd personnel. The code of ethics for professional
teachers should be upgraded and include ethics on the use of social media platforms.
3. Encourage feedback: Encouraging feedback from DepEd personnel and other
stakeholders can help identify areas for improvement and ensure that the order is
effective.
