DepEd Targets K-3 Learners to Fix Crisis

The Department of Education (DepEd) is ramping up efforts to strengthen foundational learning from Kindergarten to Grade 3 as part of its strategy to address the country's learning crisis.

- By BELLA CARIASO

Education Assistant Secretary for Strategic Management Roger Masapol, in a dZMM interview yesterday, said the department acknowledges the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)'s warning of a "real and widespread learning crisis" in the Philippines, following recent assessments showing students falling behind in reading and mathematics.

"We saw the results of the international large-scale assessment like PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) and SEA-PLM (Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics). There is a real problem with literacy, especially in our early graders, the Kinder to Grade 3. This is being addressed by Secretary (Sonny Angara) and the entire department to improve the literacy of our students," Masapol said.

Citing data from a 2019 study, UNICEF Education chief Akihiro Fushimi said that 90 percent of Grade 5 Filipino students are unable to read at their expected level, and 83 percent continue to struggle with basic math skills.

Masapol said interventions will be concentrated on Key Stage 1 (Kinder to Grade 3) and will be supported by increased budget allocations.

"With the help of our President, we will focus on foundational learning, meaning from Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) to Grade 3, will center our interventions and we will increase our budget on key stage 1, the K to 3 (Kinder to Grade 3) basic education," he said.

Foundational learning also includes early nutrition, particularly in the first 1,000 days of life, starting from pregnancy.