Gatchalian cites measures to support education recovery in PH Development Plan

To achieve the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028's goals of implementing catch-up programs that will address learning losses, Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for the passage of measures that will accelerate the education sector's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of these measures is a priority bill of Gatchalian for the 19th Congress: Senate Bill No. 1604 or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act, which seeks to establish a national learning intervention program that will address learning loss. The ARAL Program shall be grounded on well-systematized tutorial sessions, well-designed intervention plans and learning resources, and careful determination and assessment of learners, among others.

The proposed ARAL Program shall cover essential learning competencies in Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and Science for Grades 3 to 10. It will also prioritize reading and literacy. For Kindergarten learners, the ARAL program shall focus on strengthening literacy and numeracy.

While learners were already struggling to master basic competencies even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Gatchalian emphasized the impact of the prolonged lack of face-to-face classes on learners' performance.

The World Bank estimates that learning poverty in the Philippines is at 90.9%. Learning poverty in the Philippines is defined as the percentage of 10-year-old children who cannot read or understand a simple story.

The PDP 2023-2028 also eyes expanded access to the Alternative Learning System (ALS) by establishing additional community learning centers in municipalities and cities. According to Gatchalian, this is consistent with Republic Act No. 11510 or the Alternative Learning System Act, which he sponsored during the 18th Congress.

Gatchalian has been pushing for increased enrollment in ALS. As of March 14, 2022, there were 472,869 ALS learners enrolled for SY 2021-2022, 38% lower compared to pre-pandemic levels.

"Patuloy nating isusulong ang mga programang tutugon sa mga naging pinsala ng pandemya sa sektor ng edukasyon, lalong lalo na sa ating mga mag-aaral na matagal nang hindi nakabalik sa kanilang mga silid-aralan. Titiyakin natin ang suporta sa ating mga mag-aaral upan makamit nila ang sapat na kaalaman at kakayahan," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

'Education recovery' na bahagi ng PH Development Plan suportado ni Gatchalian

Upang makamit ang layuning nakasaad sa Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 na magpatupad ng mga catch-up programs na tutugon sa learning loss, isinusulong ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang mga panukalang batas upang mapaigting ang pabangon ng sektor ng edukasyon mula sa pinsalang dinulot ng pandemya ng COVID-19.

Isa sa mga panukalang batas na ito ang Senate Bill No. 1604 o ang Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act. Layon nitong magpatupad ng pambansang learning intervention program upang tugunan ang learning loss. Magiging bahagi ng naturang programa ang mga organisadong tutorial sessions, mga maayos na intervention plans at learning resources, at masusing pagsusuri sa mga mag-aaral.

Saklaw ng panukalang ARAL Program ang essential learning competencies sa Language at Mathematics para sa Grades 1 hanggang 10, at Science para sa Grades 3 hanggang 10. Binibigyang prayoridad sa naturang panukala ang reading at literacy para sa mga mag-aaral sa Kindergarten, Nakatutok din ang ARAL program sa pagpapatatag ng literacy at numeracy.

Paliwanag ni Gatchalian, hirap na ang mga mag-aaral sa bansa bago pa tumama ang pandemya ng COVID-19. Nasundan pa aniya ito ng kawalan ng face-to-face classes dahil sa pandemya, bagay na lalong nakaapekto sa performance ng mga mag-aaral.

Tinataya ng World Bank na umabot na sa 90.9% ang learning poverty sa Pilipinas. Ang learning poverty ang porsyento ng mga batang sampung taong gulang na hindi marunong bumasa o umunawa ng maikling kwento.

Layon din ng PDP 2023-2028 na palawigin ang access sa Alternative Learning System (ALS) sa pamamagitan ng dagdag na community learning centers sa mga munisipalidad at mga lungsod. Ayon kay Gatchalian, naaayon ito sa Republic Act No. 11510 o ang Alternative Learning System Act na kanyang isinulong noong 18th Congress.

Kaugnay nito, isinusulong ni Gatchalian ang pagpapataas ng enrollment sa ALS. Batay sa datos ng DepEd noong Marso 14, 2022, may 472,869 ALS learners na enrolled noong SY 2021-2022, mas mababa ng 38% kung ihahambing sa naitala bago sumiklab ang pandemya.

"Patuloy nating isusulong ang mga programang tutugon sa mga naging pinsala ng pandemya sa sektor ng edukasyon, lalong lalo na sa ating mga mag-aaral na matagal nang hindi nakabalik sa kanilang mga silid-aralan. Titiyakin natin ang suporta sa ating mga mag-aaral upang makamit nila ang sapat na kaalaman at kakayahan," ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education.