St. Anthony School Hosts Joint Seminar on Modern Assessment and Critical Thinking Strategies

Advancing classroom evaluation standards and fostering higher-order thinking skills among learners, St. Anthony School in Singalong, Manila, served as the host venue for a collaborative, multi-school seminar on 18 May 2026.

The day-long intensive learning event brought together the educators of three partner schools under the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila Educational System (RCAMES) network: St. Anthony School - Manila, St. Peter the Apostle School, and Holy Family Parochial School.

Fostering Critical and Analytical Assessment

The professional development initiative was made possible through St. Anthony School's partnership with Diwa Learning Systems Inc. and Bato Balani Foundation Inc. (BBFI), highlighting the school's commitment to providing its educators and sister institutions with top-tier academic resources and training.

The seminar-workshop focused on two core pillars of contemporary classroom instruction: "Principles and Guidelines in Developing Reliable and Valid Assessment" and "Developing HOTS: Strategies for Critical and Analytical Thinking in Students."

Throughout the sessions, teachers explored practical methodologies to refine their examination frameworks, ensuring that school assessments remain objective, reliable, and closely aligned with national curriculum goals. The training heavily emphasized the integration of Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) across various subject areas, providing teachers with actionable strategies to transition student learning from basic memorization to deep analytical and critical reasoning.

The seminar was facilitated by Mr. Juco Antonio Rivera, a seasoned educator, writer, author, and communications instructor at CIIT College of Arts and Technology. Mr. Rivera shared field-tested approaches on how to formulate creative yet rigorous classroom assessments that capture students' real-world capabilities.

By opening its doors to sister schools for continuous professional development, St. Anthony School strengthens inter-school collaboration within the RCAMES network. The insights gained from this seminar-workshop equip educators to instantly elevate their instructional designs and assessment methods as they prepare for upcoming academic challenges.