Gatchalian to new DepEd admin: Prioritize learners' skills, fix K-12

Improving the skills of learners, fixing the K-12 system, and upholding the welfare of teachers should be among the priorities of the Department of Education (DepEd) under the new administration, Senator Win Gatchalian suggested.

Gatchalian recalled that out of 79 countries that participated in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Philippines ranked last in Reading and second to the last in Mathematics and Science. The Philippines also ranked last out of 58 countries in two other international assessments: the 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) and the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics (TIMSS).

Before the pandemic struck, experts have been saying that the congested K-12 curriculum, which requires too many competencies, is preventing learners from mastering basic skills.

Gatchalian added that Filipinos are dissatisfied with the K-12 program. A December 2019 survey by Pulse Asia revealed that only 38% are satisfied with the K-12 program, while 47% are dissatisfied. Among those who are dissatisfied with the K-12 program, 78% said they have to shell out more money for transportation and education for two more years.

"Hindi na tayo maaaring bumalik sa business as usual kung nais nating tutukan ang krisis sa ating sektor ng edukasyon. Dapat nating ayusin ang programa ng K-12 at tiyaking natututo nang husto ang mga mag-aaral," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

The senator said upholding the welfare of teachers should include raising their salaries. He has proposed to increase the salary of Teacher I from Salary Grade 12 (P25,439) to Salary Grade 13 (P29,798) or Salary Grade 14 (PP32,321).

Improving teacher education and training entails ensuring the proper implementation of the Excellence in Teacher Education Act (Republic Act No. 11713), which Gatchalian authored and sponsored. The law seeks to revamp the Teacher Education Council by strengthening coordination between the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Other priorities for DepEd under the new administration should also include increasing local government participation, Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian sa bagong DepEd admin: Tutukan ang kakayahan ng mga mag-aaral, ayusin ang K-12

Pagpapaigting sa kakayahan ng mga mag-aaral, pagtaguyod sa kapakanan ng mga guro, at pag-ayos sa sistemang K-12. Para kay Senador Win Gatchalian, ang mga ito ang dapat tutukan ng Department of Education (DepEd) sa ilalim ng bagong administrasyon.

Pinaalala ni Gatchalian ang mga naging resulta noong 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment o PISA kung saan Pilipinas ang nakakuha ng pinakamababang marka pagdating sa Reading o pagbasa sa halos walumpung (79) bansa. Pilipinas din ang pangalawang pinakamababa pagdating sa Science at Mathematics. Batay naman sa 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), Pilipinas din ang may pinakamababang marka sa Math at Science sa halos animnapung (58) bansa.

Bago tumama ang pandemya, nagbabala na ang mga eksperto na masyadong masikip o congested ang K-12 curriculum. Dahil masyadong maraming competencies na kailangang matutunan ang mga mag-aaral, nahihirapan silang matutunan ang mga basic skills.

Dagdag pa ni Gatchalian, hindi kuntento ang mga Pilipino sa programang K-12. Ayon sa isang survey ng Pulse Asia noong December 2019, wala pang apatnapung (38) porsyento ang kuntento sa programang K-12, samantalang halos kalahati (47 porsyento) ang hindi kuntento sa programa. Sa mga hindi kuntento sa programang K-12, halos walumpung (78) porsyento ang nagsabing dagdag na gastos ang dulot ng programa pagdating sa edukasyon, transportasyon, at pagkain.

"Hindi na tayo maaaring bumalik sa business as usual kung nais nating tutukan ang krisis sa ating sektor ng edukasyon. Dapat nating ayusin ang programa ng K-12 at tiyaking natututo nang husto ang mga mag-aaral," ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Pagdating naman sa pagtaguyod ng kapakanan ng mga guro, dapat ding prayoridad ang pagtaas ng sweldo nila, ayon sa senador. Pinanukala ni Gatchalian na itaas ang sweldo ng Teacher I mula Salary Grade 12 (P25,439) tungo sa Salary Grade 13 (P29,798) o Salary Grade 14 (PP32,321).

Pagdating naman sa pagtaas ng kalidad ng edukasyon at training ng mga guro, kinakailangang tiyakin ang maayos na pagpapatupad ng Excellence in Teacher Education (Republic Act No. 11713) na isinulong ni Gatchalian. Layunin ng batas na patatagin ang Teacher Education Council sa pamamagitan ng mas maigting na ugnayan sa pagitan ng DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), at Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Dagdag pa ni Gatchalian, kabilang din sa mga dapat iprayoridad ng DepEd ang mas maigting na pakikilahok ng mga lokal na pamahalaan pagdating sa edukasyon.