Sara Duterte: Reading issues got worse due to COVID-19 school disruption

School closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the ability of children to read and comprehend, Vice President Sara Duterte said on Wednesday.

Speaking before the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council, Duterte pointed out the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s education system.

“The recent global health crisis has shown some of our weakest areas of our country’s education system and has worsened education inequality. The younger, vulnerable, and disadvantaged children are among most affected,” Duterte said.

“Learning poverty or inability to read and comprehend basic text by the age of 10 has gotten worse because of the disruption in schooling,” she added.

Duterte said that the problems in education were not just the department’s problems but also a mission for the next generation.

“Like the act of bayanihan, let us continue to value education as a shared duty,” Duterte said.

Duterte also highlighted DepEd’s MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa agenda, which was launched during her presentation of the Basic Education Report 2023 on January 30.

This agenda envisions implementing resilient reforms in the curriculum, education services, and provision of facilities, learner well-being, and teacher support programs.

“The DepEd in the Philippines will continue to support the strategic partnership between the ASEAN, education sector, and SEAMEO to address two pressing issues: equitable access to education and post-pandemic recovery,” Duterte said.

She also urged education leaders to act now to solve other problems hounding the education system.

The Philippines, represented by Duterte, will be formally elected as the SEAMEO Council President on Thursday, February 9, during the Plenary Session.

With this, DepEd is expected to lead the Council from 2023 to 2025.

Currently, the SEAMEO Council President is Singapore, while the Philippines is the Vice President.

“As the SEAMEO Council convenes today, I urge everyone to embrace the spirit of bayanihan, keeping in mind who is at the heart of the work that we do —-our ASEAN and learners, and the future leaders of our countries," Duterte said.

"Like the act of bayanihan, let us continue to value education as a shared duty,” she added. —Giselle Ombay and Richa Noriega/NB, GMA Integrated News