SENATOR Francis ‘Kiko’  Pangilinan called on the government to prepare for the resumption of physical classes as he noted that delaying normal learning would have dire consequences.

He cited the statement of the Philippine Pediatric Society that students would need two years of make-up classes to catch up because of the class disruptions caused by the pandemic.

“Dalawang taon na po halos ang kailangang habulin ng ating mga paaralan at mga mag-aaral. At bawat pagpapatagal natin sa pagbubukas ng klase ay mas dumadagdag pa ito,” Pangilinan said.

The PPS said a short-term effect of school closures leads to a summer slide or learning loss during a break.

“Hindi pa po riyan natatapos, dahil mayroon pa raw mga long-term effects. Malaki ang posibilidad ng pagdami ng mga drop-outs, nababawasan ang kagustuhang matuto, nabawasan daw ang mga ‘foundational skills’ na mahirap i-regain at reintegrate sa loob ng education system,” the senator added.

“Sa isang normal na classroom situation daw, 22 percent ang learning gain. Pero sa ilalim ng distance education, there is 78 percent less learning. Nakakaalarma,” he stressed.

Pangilinan and other senators pushed for the pilot-testing of face-to-face classes in low-risk areas.

“Isang taon na po ang nakakalipas, pero karamihan ng mga problemang hinaharap ng ating education system ay pareho pa rin hanggang ngayon. In fact, mas nadagdagan pa,” he said.

“We owe it to our students, their parents, school faculty and staff, to be able to provide a safe environment to resume classes. We can only do that if we have the experience — kung alam na natin kung ano ang epektibo, dapat at ligtas na gawin, at kung paano ito gagawin,” he added.

The senator stressed that the intermittent internet connection, the added cost of mobile data to daily expenses and the lack of proper gadgets are some of the problems that come with the Department of Education’s blended distance learning program.

“‘Wag na po sana nating idagdag ang krisis sa edukasyon sa marami nang krisis na hinaharap ng ating bansa ngayong pandemya. Umaksyon na agad tayo,” Pangilinan said.