SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday stressed the need to bridge learning inequalities and address the challenges of distance learning especially among K to 12 students to boost the recovery of the education sector.

Gatchalian made the call as he cited the results of a survey conducted by Pulse Asia from February 22 to March 3 where 53 percent of the parents surveyed nationwide said they found it difficult to answer modules.

The problem with modules is more common among respondents in Mindanao, 74 percent, compared to those in the National Capital Region, 32%; the rest of Luzon, 43 percent, and Visayas, 62 percent.

While 23 percent of respondents nationwide reported that they don’t understand what the teacher is teaching, this problem is  more common among respondents from Mindanao, 33 percent compared to the National Capital Region, 17 percent; the rest of Luzon, 24 percent, and Visayas, 10 percent.

“Kung susuriin natin ang datos, marami sa ating mga kababayan sa Mindanao ang napag-iiwanan sa pagpapatupad ng distance learning at hindi natin ito dapat hayaang magpatuloy,” Gatchalian said.

“Sa ating pagpapatupad ng distance learning at sa pagbangon ng ating sektor ng edukasyon mula sa pinsala ng pandemya, kailangang siguruhin natin na abot ng bawat mag-aaral ang dekalidad na edukasyon saan man sila nagmula,” he added.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture said that while it is important to have quality learning materials, the safe reopening of schools, and bridging the digital divide in recovery efforts, it is also crucial to have highly-qualified teachers.

Gatchalian earlier filed Senate Bill 1887 or the Teacher Education Council Act, which aims to reform teacher education and training in the country.

The measure seeks to strengthen the collaboration between the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Professional Regulation Commission to improve the quality of teacher education.