Gatchalian wants inquiry on COVID-19 impact on PH basic education

MANILA, Philippines —Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking an inquiry on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the country’s basic education system, noting that there is a need to strengthen the capability of schools to provide quality education despite the health crisis.

Gatchalian who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture, has filed Senate Resolution No. 391 which calls for an inquiry to help identify recovery measures that the government could take in response to the pandemic and ensure that the country has a sustainable and a resilient education system during emergency situations.

“Hindi lamang natin sisikaping makabangon ang ating sistema ng edukasyon mula sa naging epekto ng COVID-19, kailangan nating patatagin ang kakayahan ng ating mga paaralan na ipagpatuloy ang pagbibigay ng dekalidad na edukasyon sa panahon ng mga krisis at sakuna,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

(We will not just strive for the recovery of our education system from the effects of COVID-19, we also need to strengthen the capability of our schools for them to provide quality education even during crises and calamities.)

“Higit sa lahat, kailangan din nating ihanda nang maigi ang mga mag-aaral sa tinatawag na new normal na sistema ng edukasyon,” he added.

(More importantly, we need to prepare our students for what we call as the new normal in the education system.)

Gatchalian said more than 28 million students from the pre-primary to the tertiary levels were affected by the coronavirus pandemic as schools suspended their classes.

Gatchalian added that the pandemic also “aggravated the plight of vulnerable and marginalized learners and the existing disparities within the education system.”

Gatchalian underscored the need to prepare learners, parents, and teachers to accept learning from home as the new norm. He also acknowledged the need to help private institutions amid the crisis.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that the opening of classes for the next school year will be on August 24, 2020. 

But this does not necessarily mean that students have to physically report to their schools. The DepEd said classes may be done virtually in some areas.

The school year ends on April 30, 2021.

/MUF