SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday stressed the need for the government to immediately address the quality of distance learning and prioritize education in the country’s recovery efforts in this time of the pandemic.

The senator’s call came in the wake of a Pulse Asia survey stating that only less than half of parents or guardians think their children in basic education are learning.

The survey, conducted from February 22 to March 3, had 1,200 adult respondents nationwide, 63 percent of which have children in basic education.

Only 46 percent of the parents or guardians said their children are learning, while 25 percent or one in four said their children are not learning.

Three out of 10 or 30 percent cannot say if their children are learning or not.

Among the educational problems encountered during this pandemic, difficulty in answering modules is the most common or 53 percent for adults with children in basic education.

The problem is more common among respondents in Mindanao, comprising 74 percent.

The survey also pointed to educational inequalities across socioeconomic groups as respondents from Class E have greater difficulty in answering modules compared to their peers from Class D and Class ABC.

As far as Gatchalian is concerned, the results show the poor quality of distance learning.

He also pointed out the educational attainment of parents and guardians is also a factor on distance learning woes.

Under the 2015 Family Income and Expenditure Survey released in 2017, up to 54 percent of Filipino household heads have not completed high school.

While the Pulse Asia survey revealed 34 percent of parents or guardians have less or no time to guide their children, Gatchalian pointed out the remaining 66 percent who may have time to help could still be struggling because Filipino household heads have low educational attainment.

“Bagama’t pinagsisikapan nating ituloy ang edukasyon sa gitna ng pandemya, makikita nating marami pa rin sa mga mag-aaral ang hindi natututo sa ilalim ng distance learning at pati ang kanilang mga magulang ay nahihirapan din. Kung hindi natin tututukan ang pag-angat sa kalidad ng edukasyon sa kalagitnaan at sa pagtatapos ng pandemya, lalong mapag-iiwanan ang ating mga kabataan,” said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

While the country is rolling out the Covid19 vaccination program, Gatchalian emphasized the importance of preparing for the safe reopening of schools and the resumption of face-to-face classes, which will help address the effects of prolonged school closures in the country, including learning losses.