SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian pressed the need for programs and interventions that would improve Filipino learners’ proficiency in reading as the country celebrates National Book Week.

Gatchalian recalled even before Covid19 pandemic struck, international large-scale assessments show Filipino learners are already struggling to meet the minimum required proficiency in Reading.

During the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment, the Philippines scored lowest in Reading out of 79 countries that participated.

Results of PISA further show only one out five Filipino learners aged 15 achieved at least the minimum proficiency level in Overall Reading Literacy.

Results of the 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics, on the other hand, show only 10 percent of the country’s Grade 5 learners achieved the minimum proficiency at the end of primary education.

The World Bank also estimates as of June 2022, learning poverty in the Philippines is 90.9 percent as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education also pointed out the lack of face-to-face classes during the pandemic resulted in learning loss.

“Ang pagbabasa ay isa sa mga pundasyon na dapat nating pagtibayin sa ating mga kabataan at mag-aaral. Ngayon natin higit na kinakailangang tutukan ang kanilang pagbabasa lalo na’t pinalala ng pandemya ang problema sa ating sektor ng edukasyon,” said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

To address the impact of Covid19 pandemic, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 150 or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Act, which seeks to institute a nationwide learning recovery program that will include well-systematized tutorial sessions and well-designed remediation plans.

Gatchalian is also proposing to officially declare November as the National Reading Month and be celebrated through the conduct of nationwide reading programs and activities, which will inculcate a culture of reading among basic education learners and their communities.