Manila: Senators Bam Aquino and Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday lauded the gains in education, vowing measures to address classroom shortages and further improve learning outcomes. Gatchalian said the improvement in learners’ reading proficiency is proof that ongoing programs such as the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program are working.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian expressed confidence in the progress being made, noting the significant improvement in reading proficiency among learners. He emphasized that the success of the ARAL Program is crucial in accelerating learning recovery and reducing the number of non-readers. The Department of Education reported a substantial decrease in Grade 3 pupils unable to read letters, from 65,000 last year to around 2,000 this year, attributing this decline to targeted remediation programs and the ARAL initiative.

Meanwhile, Aquino expressed support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize the construction of 40,000 classrooms. He highlighted that eliminating delays, inefficiencies, and corruption could enable the government to exceed this target. Citing the Second Congressional Commission on Education’s (EDCOM II) report, Aquino stressed the importance of addressing the shortage of at least 165,000 classrooms as of 2023.

During a Senate hearing of the Committee on Basic Education, Aquino pointed out that many classrooms built in the 1960s have not been renovated, with some overcrowded, used as evacuation centers, or in disrepair. He is advocating for the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act, which aims to empower local government units and private sector partners to assist in classroom construction. Additionally, he supports the E-Textbook Para sa Lahat Act, which seeks to provide Department of Education-approved textbooks in free digital formats.