SENATOR Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla is pushing for a bill seeking to integrate media and information literacy in Basic Education Curriculum.

Under Senate Bill 1593, Revilla wants to equip young students with the necessary skills to properly navigate the vast social media and digital landscape, especially with advancement in technology making information readily accessible.

Revilla explained how with just a single click, information is literally at one’s fingertips. Yet, without the proper tools and mindset, one can be easily misled.

“Schools in different countries have already adjusted their educational methods in response to the ubiquity of the internet and the corollary deluge of available information to the youth,” said the senator.

The measure aims to incorporate in the students’ daily learning routine exercises on content analysis, fact checking, information validation, among others, that will be useful as they deal with the overwhelming amount of information online.

It also seeks to re-establish the social media, through education, as powerful platforms of intellectual exchange of ideas, source of empowering information and meaningful discourse, rather than channels of hatred, disunity, and confusion. Furthermore, the bill intends to develop a generation of creative and critical thinkers, and dynamic participants in the country’s democratic processes.

Once it becomes a law, media and information literacy shall be incorporated as an essential component into the teaching of core subjects and enrichment activities of the students.

The Department of Education is mandated to develop instructional strategies, tools and pedagogues in ensuring the promotion of active citizenship, respect for others, socio-cultural diversity, and honesty train and develop creative and critical thinking; and encourage responsible use of online platforms.

Also under the bill, DepEd shall conduct a periodic review of the integration of media and information literacy program into the basic education curriculum to ensure its proper implementation and assess student learning outcomes for the purpose of determining its efficacy.