Gatchalian: Distance learning woes highlight digital divide

Senator Win Gatchalian on Sunday said a new poll on distance learning woes reveals how the digital divide hounds parents and learners nationwide amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The chair of the Senate basic education committee said the basic education sector’s recovery should accelerate efforts in expanding access to both internet connectivity and gadgets for learning.

Out of 1,200 adults surveyed nationwide in a Pulse Asia survey conducted from February 22 to March 3, 63 percent have a child in basic education, Gatchalian said.

When asked about the educational problems they encountered during the pandemic, issues related to internet connectivity and access to gadgets were among the most common, with 43 percent of the respondents saying intermittent internet connection is usually their problem at home, 36 percent identified the lack of gadgets like cellphones, tablets or laptops, and 30 percent said they struggle with expensive internet fees, he noted.

“Sa gitna ng ating pagsisikap na ipagpatuloy ang edukasyon sa panahon ng pandemya, nakita natin na ang gadgets at internet ay para na ring tubig at kuryente para sa ating mga mag-aaral at kanilang mga pamilya,” Gatchalian said.

“Sa pagbangon ng sektor ng edukasyon mula sa pandemya, dapat pagsikapan natin na walang mag-aaral ang mapag-iiwanan dahil lang hindi sila konektado sa internet o kaya naman ay wala silang magamit na gadgets para sa pag-aaral,” he said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)