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Gatchalian pushes for learning recovery amid fears of economic scarring due to lack of face-to-face classes

PHILIPPINES, January 9 - Press Release January 9, 2022

Gatchalian pushes for learning recovery amid fears of economic scarring due to lack of face-to-face classes

Following the Department of Finance's (DOF) warning of an economic scarring because of a prolonged lack of face-to-face classes, Senator Win Gatchalian is pitching a nationwide remedial program to accelerate learning recovery.

Secretary of Finance Carlos Dominguez recently said that the government must find a way to regain the school days lost due to the pandemic, noting that the lack of face-to-face classes will affect the quality of education and eventually the youth's earning capacity. Under Senate Bill No. 2355 or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act, Gatchalian proposes well-systematized tutorial sessions for learners who are struggling to achieve the minimum level of mastery required in Language, Mathematics, and Science.

The proposed ARAL program aims to cover the most essential learning competencies on Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10 and Science for Grades 3 to 10. It also seeks to focus on Reading to develop learners' critical and analytical thinking skills. Numeracy and literacy skills will be given focus for Kindergarten learners. The proposed program also aims to target learners who did not enroll for School Year (SY) 2020-2021.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) estimated that the yearlong lack of face-to-face classes will cost the Philippine economy P11 trillion in productivity losses over the next 40 years.

Based on the results of the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) where the Philippines ranked last among 58 countries in mathematics and science assessment for Grade 4 students, the World Bank has estimated that learning poverty in the country was at 90% in 2021. Learning poverty could worsen because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Bank warned last year. Learning poverty is defined as the percentage of children aged 10 who could not read or understand a simple story.

"Hindi lamang ang pag-aaral ng mga bata ang maaapektuhan sa kawalan ng face-to-face classes. Mapipinsala rin ang kanilang kakayahang magkaroon ng maayos na hanapbuhay dahil hindi sila nakatanggap ng epektibo at dekalidad na edukasyon. Kaya naman isinusulong natin ang programang ARAL upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating mga kabataang makahabol sa kanilang edukasyon," said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture.

The pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes started in November 2021, with 28 schools in Metro Manila joining the pilot run last December. Following the imposition of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the Department of Education (DepEd) deferred the expansion of limited face-to-face classes.


Learning Recovery isinusulong ni Gatchalian kasunod ng dagok sa ekonomiya ng kawalan ng face-to-face classes

Matapos mag babala ng Department of Finance (DOF) na magdudulot ng "economic scarring" o pinsala sa ekonomiya ang kawalan ng face-to-face classes, isinusulong naman ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang remedial program sa buong bansa upang paigtingin ang muling pagbangon ng sektor ng edukasyon.

Kamakailan ay sinabi ni Secretary of Finance Carlos Dominguez na kailangang humanap ang gobyerno ng paraan upang mabawi ang mga nawalang araw na walang klase dahil sa pandemya. Giit ng kalihim, makakaapekto ang kawalan ng face-to-face classes sa kalidad ng edukasyon at sa kakayahan ng mga kabataang magkaroon ng maayos na hanapbuhay. Sa ilalim ng Senate Bill No. 2355, isinusulong ni Gatchalian ang mga tutorial sessions para sa mga mag-aaral na nahihirapan sa Language, Mathematics, at Science.

Layon ng panukalang Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning o ARAL na tutukan ang mga most essential learning competencies sa Language and Mathematics para sa Grades 1 hanggang 10 at Science para sa Grades 3 hanggang 10. Layon din ng naturang panukala na tutukan ang Reading o Pagbasa upang hasain ang critical at analytical thinking skills ng mga mag-aaral. Para naman sa mga mag-aaral sa Kindergarten, numeracy at literacy ang bibigyan ng prayoridad. Layon ng panukalang programa na tulungan ang mga mag-aaral na hindi nag-enroll noong School Year (SY) 2020-2021.

Tinataya ng National Economic and Development Authority na dahil sa mahigit isang taong walang face-to-face classes, labing isang trilyong piso ang mawawala sa bansa sa susunod na apatnapung taon.

Batay sa naging resulta ng 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), tinataya ng World Bank na ang learning poverty sa Pilipinas para sa taong 2021 ay umabot na sa siyamnapung porsyento. Sa halos animnapung bansang nakilahok sa TIMSS, ang Pilipinas ang nakakuha ng pinakamababang marka ng mga mag-aaral sa Grade 4 sa larangan ng mathematics at science.

Babala pa rin ng World Bank noong nakaraang taon, maaaring lumala ang learning poverty dahil sa epekto ng pandemya. Ang learning poverty ay ang porsyento ng mga batang sampung taong gulang na hindi makapagbasa o makaunawa ng isang simpleng kwento.

"Hindi lamang ang pag-aaral ng mga bata ang maaapektuhan sa kawalan ng face-to-face classes. Mapipinsala rin ang kanilang kakayahang magkaroon ng maayos na hanapbuhay dahil hindi sila nakatanggap ng epektibo at dekalidad na edukasyon. Kaya naman isinusulong natin ang programang ARAL upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating mga kabataang makahabol sa kanilang edukasyon," ani Gatchalian, chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture.

Ang pilot implementation ng limited face-to-face classes ay nagsimula noong November 2021, samantalang 28 na mga paaralan sa Metro Manila ang nagsagawa ng pilot run noong Disyembre. Matapos ipataw sa Metro Manila at mga kalapit na probinsya ang Alert Level 3, ipinagpaliban ng Department of Education (DepEd) ang pagpapalawig sa limited face-to-face classes.