Pinyahan Elementary School, Quezon City (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday assured that the learning recovery of Filipino students from delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will remain a priority under his administration.
Under the helm of Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte, the President is confident that every Filipino student will get quality education.
"We have renewed hope in giving the best to our next batches of students, especially the 28.4 million learners who returned to school this year. Learning recovery will be at the forefront of our education agenda," Marcos said during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The “Matatag Agenda” for basic education, the President said, will continue to focus on the relevance of curriculum, rapid and responsive delivery, and the welfare of both learners and teachers.
"We are augmenting our school workforce," Marcos said, noting that 90 percent of the newly created teaching positions have been filled, while additional administrative personnel have been hired to unburden the teachers.
“Matatag” (Stable) involves making the curriculum relevant to produce competent and job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; taking steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education facilities and services, including plans to build more resilient schools and classrooms in 2023 and around 6,000 classrooms; taking good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and giving support to teachers to teach better.
“We will rally for an improved learning system in the country. Together, we will rally for every Filipino child,” Duterte said during the release of the Basic Education Report 2023 on Jan. 30.
Marcos said DepEd's implementation of alternative delivery modes and blended learning methodologies will continue to ensure unhampered learning with additional social safety nets, such as school-based feeding programs.
To make learners more resilient, he said public schools and its facilities are being increased and fortified.
"The shortage of classrooms and facilities is being addressed. Aside from new constructions, schools and facilities are being retrofitted to become ready for the future -- ready for hybrid and high-tech learning, and also climate-ready and disaster-proof. Through the DepEd Partnership Assistance Portal, private sector partners continue their assistance in the rehabilitation and improvement of schools, as part of their corporate social responsibility programs," the Chief Executive said.
The President said recalibration of basic education to the K to 10 curriculum will continue to be always relevant, responsive, and at par with international standards.
"Literacy and numeracy skills are to be strengthened. The virtue of good citizenship and sense of community are also integrated in our curriculum," he said.
Under Duterte, the DepEd has adopted the National Learning Recovery Plan (NLRP) to address learning losses due to the pandemic.
DepEd ordered the mandatory conduct of full in-person classes for School Year 2022-2023 with blended learning or other alternative modes of learning delivery being implemented during natural or man-made calamities.
As part of the NLRP, the agency has also set up the National Learning Camp, an end-of-school year voluntary program aimed to provide enrichment, consolidation, and intervention sessions for learners. (PNA)
