SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian backed the full resumption of face-to-face classes next school year to boost the recovery of the basic education sector from the impacts of the Covid19 pandemic.

Gatchalian said that the first step is the full resumption of in-person learning but he maintained there is a need to implement a massive learning recovery program as the lack of face-to-face classes for two years resulted in learning loss.

The National Economic and Development Authority estimated that two years without face-to-face learning would result in P22 trillion in productivity losses.

Gatchalian’s proposed learning recovery program includes well-systematized tutorial sessions for struggling learners.

The program will cover the most essential learning competencies under Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10 and Science for Grades 3 to 10.

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

The Department of Education reported that as of May 26, there were 34,238 schools nominated to conduct face-to-face classes, 1,174 of which are private schools. Over 33,000 or 73.28% of public schools are already holding in-person classes.

“Matapos ang halos dalawang taon ng pagtugon natin sa mga hamon ng pandemya, napapanahon nang buksan natin ang lahat ng mga paaralan upang makabalik na ang mga mag-aaral. Habang patuloy ang pagbangon ng iba’t ibang sektor, dapat nating tiyaking hindi mapag-iiwanan ang sektor ng edukasyon,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Gatchalian vowed to pursue legislation to improve the quality of education and accelerate the sector’s recovery from the pandemic’s impact in the next Congress.