The Struggle to Teach Critical Thinking through Literature

Nuriza Jalani

doi:10.62596/eir.dp981523

Authors

Nuriza P. Jalani, MATESP Program Adviser Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zamboanga City 7000 Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62596/eir.dp981523

Keywords:

Critical Thinking, Literature Education, Teacher Training

Abstract

This essay examines the challenges of teaching critical thinking through literature in the Philippines. Key obstacles include weak reading comprehension, limited teacher training, a rigid curriculum, and a gap between theory and practice. Local studies highlight the promise of student-centered strategies like literature circles but reveal that traditional, memorization-focused approaches dominate. The paper calls for enhanced teacher preparation, curriculum reform, and inquiry-based learning to unlock literature’s potential as a tool for developing analytical and reflective thinkers.

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