SENATOR Leila de Lima on Monday underscored the need to improve teachers’ and students’ access and use of modern technology, especially the internet, to help strengthen the education sector.

The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development said that the proper use of technology can help support the learning of Filipino students.

“Ang ultimate goal po natin para sa ating edukasyon ay magkaroon ng sapat na guro at pasilidad para sa lumalaking populasyon ng ating kabataan,” she said.

“Subalit habang tuloy-tuloy ang pagtatayo natin ng mga gusali at pagpapa-graduate sa ating mga guro, maaari nating palawakin ang kakayahan ng kasalukuyang mga guro sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng makabagong teknolohiya,” she added.

In 2019, a study revealed that Filipino students lagged behind those in other countries in the international assessment for Mathematics and Science for Grade 4 students.

A key insight from the study implied that those tested mostly came from public schools, likewise noting that the crisis is further compounded by the fact that the Philippines doesn’t invest on topnotch learning.

De Lima said the government should ensure that every school will have good internet access so that they can use online resources approved by the Department of Education.

“Ibig sabihin nito ay dapat ma-incorporate sa ating curriculum ang tamang paggamit ng internet upang magsaliksik ng impormasyon. Dapat maturuan ang mga kabataan kung paano mag-isip nang kritikal at kung paano i-proseso ang mga impormasyon na kanilang nakukuha sa internet,” she said.

The senator co-authored RA 11314 or An Act Institutionalizing the Grant of Student Fare Discount Privileges on Public Transportation and For Other Purposes, as well as RA 10931 or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education.

Last January, she filed Senate Bill 2497, seeking to promote, protect and uphold the rights of public teachers by instituting a Revised Magna Carta for Public Teachers that can respond better to their present needs.