SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian proposed refinements in the kindergarten to grade 3 curriculum to make it more focused on literacy and numeracy.

Gatchalian said large scale international assessments showed that the country’s learners are struggling in math and reading.

“This will have negative and long-term consequences on their future and the country as a whole,” the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture Chairman said.

The senator also cited the observation of experts that the K to 12 curriculum is too overcrowded and needs decongesting because learners are required to learn too many competencies and this affects their ability to master basic competencies.

To address learning loss because of school closures due to Covid19, Gatchalian proposed learning recovery programs that are intensive on reading and numeracy.

In Senate Bill 2355 or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act, Gatchalian’s proposed learning recovery program covers the most essential learning competencies under Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10 and Science for Grades 3 to 10.

Reading will also be prioritized to develop critical and analytical thinking skills of learners.

Literacy and numeracy competencies will be given focus for Kindergarten learners to build on their foundational competencies.

“Upang matugunan natin ang krisis sa sektor ng edukasyon, kailangang tutukan natin ang ating mga mag-aaral at tiyaking natututo sila nang husto. Kailangang matiyak natin na matatag ang kanilang pundasyon lalo na pagdating sa pagbasa at mga numero dahil dito nakasalalay ang marami pang mga bagay na dapat nilang matutunan,” Gatchalian said.