SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government to prioritize addressing the region’s pressing education challenges, assuring the Bangsamoro Parliament of the Senate’s support for reforms in the education sector.

Gatchalian stressed that alongside efforts to achieve lasting peace and economic development, the region must address persistent gaps in education to ensure that no Bangsamoro learner is left behind.

“Kasabay ng paghangad natin ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran para sa mga kababayan natin sa BARMM, kailangan nating pagsikapan matugunan ang mga hinaharap nilang hamon pagdating sa edukasyon. Sa ganitong paraan, matitiyak nating hindi sila mapag-iiwanan,” Gatchalian said.

Following the inaugural session of the Bangsamoro Parliament, the senator expressed optimism that BARMM is moving toward lasting peace and economic progress.

He also called on civil society organizations and local government units to support the newly established regional government.

However, Gatchalian emphasized that achieving sustainable and inclusive development would require significant improvements in the region’s education system.

Citing the final report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), Gatchalian noted that BARMM has a functional literacy rate of only 64.7 percent.

The report also showed that 49.44 percent of learners in Key Stage 1, covering Kindergarten to Grade 3, are classified as low-emerging readers.

Meanwhile, BARMM recorded the country’s highest prevalence of stunting among children under five at 34.3 percent, as well as the highest rate of moderate to severe household food insecurity at 48.2 percent.

Gatchalian underscored the need to address these challenges, particularly learning gaps among young learners, who will eventually take on leadership roles in various sectors of the Bangsamoro community.

“Importanteng matugunan ang mga learning gaps sa BARMM para sa pag-asenso ng lahat, partikular ang mga kabataan na susunod na mamumuno sa iba’t ibang sektor ng rehiyon,” he added.