SECOND Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM 2 stressed the need to make remediation mandatory, alongside with other complementary interventions to help learners that are not ready to advance to the next grade level, and learners who are lagging years behind.

The commission made the statement following their observation on the actual conduct of intervention and consolidation classes under the learning camp in Tinajeros National High School in Malabon City.

While the teachers of Tinajeros were able to conduct National Learning Recovery Program national assessment to screen learners that will be participating in the learning recovery programs, they shared that only Grades 7 and 8 results came out in time to inform the targeting of learners while for Grades 9 and 10 came out late.

This prompted the Commission to inquire if assessments could be handled at the school level so that teachers are able to immediately get hold of the assessment results.

“Maganda siya, but it is not achieving what we want to achieve. What we want to achieve is to eliminate- erase learning loss, whether learning loss because of the pandemic or learning loss because of whatever reason there is. But the main objective of the National Learning Camp should address those who are in need of the interventions. Kasi ang resources natin konti lang e, so dapat i-target muna natin ang mga estudyanteng nangangailangan,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said.

“Our previous consultations also show that because participation is voluntary, some learners who were supposed to be in intervention camps do not participate. This is just among the other factors why learning camps are not as effective,” EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee explained.

“Itong learning camp, hindi siya mandatory e, voluntary siya. In my opinion, nasa crisis na tayo. Kailangan nating gawing mandatory para makahabol lahat ng mga estudyante,” Gatchalian added.

Considering the complexity of the problem and the learning crisis that the country is facing, the commission also stressed the need to support and empower teachers and make available the trainings and resources they need to better equip them in teaching all learners, especially those who are lagging behind.

The government must ensure that teachers are not only empowered and equipped by training them in different types of interventions, but are also supported with budget, materials, and other resources.