Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian stressed the need for students to 'catch up' due to the impact of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the education sector of the Philippines
Gatchalian mentioned that a study by the United States Agency for International Development showed that 30 percent of learners in Metro Manila lack the competencies for his/her grade level.
"Naurong ang pag-aaral ng ating mga kabataan. Importante na makahabol tayo. Ito yung tinatawag nila na catch-up. Maraming maunlad na bansa meron silang catch-up programs," Gatcalian told DZRH on Sunday, January 29.
Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture, said that the same study shows that unprepared students in Bicol Region reached up to 70 percent.
"Kailangan meron tayong programa kung paano sila makakahabol. Kung hindi makakahabol iyan, babagsak iyan at, kapag bumagsak iyan, ay hindi iyan maka-graduate," the senator said.
"Importante na ang mga bata ay sabay-sabay na pumapasa at importante na tinutulungan natin. Ang objective natin ay hindi magbagsak. Ang objective natin ay tulungan silang makahabol," he added.
