SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is urging the public and private schools to update their curriculum against misinformation, especially those that concern Covid19.

Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture chairman Sherwin Gatchalian said since learners are more exposed to various media because of online learning, they are prone to encountering inaccurate information that could lead to confusion and panic.

He pointed out, however, that since media and information literacy is part of the K to 12 curricula, schools are crucial in beating what the World Health Organization called the ‘infodemic’ crisis or the rise of misinformation and disinformation around the Covid19 pandemic.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, some of the most common themes of the infodemic include the origins and spread of the disease, false and misleading statistics and dangerous information about diagnosis and treatment.

Gatchalian proposed that the Department of Education also tap the expertise of seasoned journalists who were already involved in training the so-called teacher-broadcasters to boost programs aimed at enhancing media and information literacy.

At the local level, Gatchalian said partners from radio and television stations can also be tapped to help spread awareness stressing that media literacy is also seen playing a key role in providing age-appropriate health education.

He cited studies saying media literacy can empower students to be critical thinkers and makers, effective communicators and active citizens as he proposed student activities like the creation of public service announcements for social media, radio, and television.

“Ang pagkalat ng fake news o anumang maling impormasyon sa kalagitnaan ng isang pandemya ay kasing lala o mas malala pa sa isang malalang sakit na kailangan ding sugpuin. Mahalaga ang papel ng edukasyon sa pagbabahagi ng tamang impormasyon upang mas magabayan natin ang ating mga kababayan sa gitna ng kinakaharap nating krisis,” Gatchalian said.

“Sa pagsugpo natin sa Covid19, higit na kailangan nating maturuan ang ating mga mag-aaral na maging mapanuri at maging aktibo sa pag-angat ng kanilang kaalaman,” he added.