Press Release
April 4, 2022

Gatchalian presses need for resumption of face-to-face classes, learning recovery program

A new study revealed the persistence of high learning poverty in the Philippines amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate the impact of prolonged school closures, re-electionist Senator Win Gatchalian presses the need to open all schools for limited face-to-face classes and implement a learning recovery program.

According to a joint report by UNICEF with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Bank titled "Where are We on Education Recovery?", less than 15% of 10-year old children in the Philippines can read or understand a simple story. This translates to a learning poverty of more than 85%, slightly lower than the World Bank estimate of 90% from last year. In 2019, learning poverty in the Philippines was estimated at 69.5%

The report also pointed out that the Philippines has the longest period of school closures. Next to the Philippines is Uganda, where the period of school closures is nearing the 70-week mark.

For Gatchalian, opening all schools for limited face-to-face classes is the first step to address the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector. To address learning losses resulting from the pandemic, Gatchalian pressed the need for a comprehensive learning recovery program nationwide.

Last year, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 2355. The proposed measure seeks to institute a learning recovery program to be known as the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, which will include well-systematized tutorial sessions. The proposed ARAL Program will cover the most essential learning competencies under Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and Science for Grades 3 to 10. The ARAL Program also seeks to prioritize Reading to develop the critical and analytical thinking skills of learners.

For Kindergarten learners, literacy and numeracy competencies will be given focus to build on their foundational competencies.

While the Department of Education is already planning to implement its learning recovery program, Gatchalian eyes refiling the bill should he get re-elected to a second Senate term.

"Kailangang tutukan natin ang pagbangon ng sektor ng edukasyon upang matiyak na natututo nang husto ang ating mga mag-aaral. Sa ating pagbangon, dapat nating tiyakin ang ligtas na pagbabalik ng mga mag-aaral sa mga paaralan bilang pangunahing hakbang," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

As of March 22, 10,206 out of 14,396 nominated schools have started limited face-to-face classes. There are more than 2.6 million learners participating in limited face-to-face classes, an equivalent of around 10% of enrollment for SY 2021-2022.


Pagbabalik sa face-to-face classes at learning recovery program muling iginiit ni Gatchalian

Lumabas sa isang pag-aaral na sa gitna ng pandemya ng COVID-19, nananatiling mataas sa bansa ang learning poverty o ang porsyento ng mga batang sampung taong gulang na hindi nakakabasa o nakakaunawa ng maikling kwento.

Upang tugunan ang pinsalang dulot ng pandemya sa sektor ng edukasyon, muling binigyang diin ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang pangangailangan para sa pagbubukas ng lahat ng paaralan para sa limited face-to-face classes, pati na rin ang pagpapatupad ng programa para sa learning recovery.

Ayon sa ulat ng UNICEF, World Bank, at United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) na pinamagatang "Where are We on Education Recovery?" lumalabas na wala pang 15% porsyento ng mga mag-aaral na may edad na sampu ang marunong bumasa o umunawa ng maikling kwento. Dahil dito, lumalabas na higit sa 85 porsyento ang learning poverty sa bansa, mas mababa sa 90 porsyentong naitala noong nakaraang taon. Noong 2019, nasa 69.5 porsyento ang learning poverty sa bansa.

Binigyang diin pa ng naturang ulat na ang Pilipinas ang nagkaroon ng pinakamahabang panahon ng pagsasara ng mga paaralan. Kasunod ng Pilipinas ang Uganda, kung saan umabot na sa halos 70 linggong sarado ang mga paaralan.

Para kay Gatchalian, unang hakbang ang pagbubukas ng lahat ng mga paaralan para sa limited face-to-face classes upang matugunan ang pinsalang dulot ng pandemya. Upang matugunan naman ang learning loss o pag-urong ng kaalaman, isinusulong ni Gatchalian ang pagkakaroon ng programa para sa learning recovery.

Noong nakaraang taon, inihain ni Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 2355, kung saan ipinanukala niya ang pagpapatupad ng learning recovery program na tatawaging Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program. Bahagi ng programang ito ang malawakang tutorial sessions kung saan tututukan ang most essential learning competencies sa Language at Mathematics para sa Grade 1 hanggang Grade 10, at Science para sa Grade 3 hanggang Grade 10. Bibigyang prayoridad naman ang Reading o Pagbasa upang mahasa ang critical at analytical thinking skills ng mga mag-aaral.

Para naman sa mga mag-aaral sa Kindergarten, tutukan ang mga literacy at numeracy skills.

Habang nakatakda ang Department of Education (DepEd) na magpatupad ng learning recovery program, balak naman ni Gatchalian na muling ihain ang kanyang panukala kung siya ay mahalal sa ikalawang termino sa Senado.

"Kailangang tutukan natin ang pagbangon ng sektor ng edukasyon upang matiyak na natututo nang husto ang ating mga mag-aaral. Sa ating pagbangon, dapat nating tiyakin ang ligtas na pagbabalik ng mga mag-aaral sa mga paaralan bilang pangunahing hakbang," pahayag ng Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Sa kabuuang 14,396 na mga paaralang nominado para sa limited face-to-face classes, 10,206 ang nakapagsimula na buhat noong Marso 22. May 2.6 milyon namang mag-aaral ang kasalukuyang nagsasagawa ng limited face-to-face classes, katumbas ng halos 10 porsyento ng enrollment para sa School Year 2021-2022.

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