By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian urgently calls for swift action to enhance reading proficiency as students return to school.
Gatchalian cited that a nationwide reading program will be implemented starting January 12 this year in all public schools as part of the government’s initiatives to improve the literacy skills of basic education students.
“Sa pag-angat natin sa kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa, kailangang tutukan at bigyan ng prayoridad ang mga programang hahasa sa kakayahan ng ating mga mag-aaral pagdating sa pagbabasa,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
The senator emphasized the urgency of addressing students’ reading skills as highlighted in the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
Gatchalian has been pushing for measures to strengthen reading programs and learning recovery interventions.
One of these is the ARAL Program Act (Senate Bill No. 1604), which seeks to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It aims to cover the essential learning competencies under Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and Science for Grades 3 to 10.
For kindergarten learners, the program shall focus on strengthening literacy and numeracy.
(el Amigo/MNM)
