DepEd Order 7, s. 2008 issued on January 29, 2008 by Secretary Jesli Lapus described in so many beautiful words the Department of Education's priority program for 2008. Entitled TURN which stands for Turning Around Low Performance in English, the program envisions to raise the mean percentage score (MPS) in English of Grade 6 pupils and Second Year students by 30% over the baseline MPS of the 2006-2007 National Achievement Test. (http://www.deped.gov.ph/cpanel/uploads/issuanceImg/DO%20No.%207,%20s.%202008.pdf).Among the features of TURN is the provision of a speech laboratory per division. A speech laboratory when properly used is a big help for language teaching, particulary if such laboratory is properly equipped, maintained and continuously updated. And this is where I see the problem why I believe TURN is a doomed program. With myriad of problems foremost of which deal with the basic requirements needed for teachers to be able to teach (materials, textbooks, chalkboard, tables and chairs, reading materials just to name a few) as well as much needed trainings, a speech laboratory I think is not and will not be able to address those basic requirements. I remember back during the time when I was still teaching in one of the two public schools in Legazpi City, we have to pack in a classroom built to accomodate a maximum of 35-40 students, 75-80 students without proper lighting nor ventillation, and to top it all only a piece of a 2m x 3 m lawanit for a chalkboard. I remember one time I need to write something and ended up writing on the wall. Over and above, I remember asking my students to share one book 2-3 students. If only officials in the National Office of the Education Department would find time and immerse themselves in the reality teachers daily have to live with.
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