Win alarmed by World Bank study that ‘learning poverty’ worsened in PH

Senator Win Gatchalian sounded the alarm on a World Bank report showing that learning poverty in the Philippines has worsened and is now at 90 percent.

“Nakakabahalang malaman na siyam sa bawat sampu sa ating mga kabataang may edad na sampu ang hindi nakakapagbasa, lalo na’t nagsisilbi itong pundasyon ng kanilang kakayahan. Kung hindi natin ito matutugunan, lalong mapag-iiwanan ang ating mga kabataan,” the chair of the Senate basic education committee said.

For Gatchalian, the study shows the urgency of safely reopening schools for in-person learning and include more pilot schools instead of waiting for the expansion in March next year.

It should go hand in hand with the rollout of a learning recovery program, Gatchalian said.

Learning poverty is defined as being unable to read and understand a simple story by age 10.

This latest estimate on learning poverty in the country reflects new data from the 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM). In 2019, learning poverty for the Philippines was estimated at 69.5 percent based on 2003 outcomes of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

The WB report also shows that compared to in-person learning prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, learning outcomes have been generally worse with remote learning. According to the report titled

Gatchalian proposed the establishment of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, which will cover the most essential learning competencies under Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and Science for Grades 3 to 10.

The program also seeks to give focus on Reading.

Gatchalian also pressed the need to implement reforms that will boost the quality of education through the proposed Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which will assess the entire education sector’s performance.

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