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Thursday, March 28, 2024

House bills aim to lift PH basic education levels

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Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has recently filed two bills in Congress that seek to raise Philippine basic education to world-class level—House Bill 311, which promotes a state-of-the-art school system, and HB 304, which ensures every student, even those in remote and isolated communities, can pursue their studies.

Public Schools of the Future (HB 311) seeks to introduce public school students into the digital world, by providing each of the laptop computers (at Grades 4, 7 and 11), and access to the Internet, to prepare them for the “disruptive technologies” of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Salceda said.

It will give students access to knowledge under a Read, Read, Read in elementary, Write-Write-Write in high school, and Math-Math-Math all throughout, the lawmaker added.

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution that has already started, and designated as Industrial Revolution 4.0, refers to the digital revolution that involves the fusion of technologies which blur the lines separating the physical, digital, and biological spheres,” he said.

Under HB 311, Salceda said public school students will “receive instructions in digital classrooms complete with digital boards and other digital tools and devices that will allow them to be at par with their world peers.”

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It is projected that by 2025, half of today’s activities could be digitally enabled, and that shortly, 65% of current work skills will become obsolete, due to further intensified technological innovations in the coming years.

The bill aims to prevent unemployment in the coming decades by introducing today’s students into the digital arena, and “the skills required to leverage and upgrade their earning ability” in the near future.

This is envisioned by equipping young people at the basic education level, including those in remote communities, with information and communication technology skills that will give them equal opportunities.

HB 304 or “Last Mile Schools,” on the other hand, seeks to provide students in geographically isolated, disadvantaged and conflict-affected areas (GIDCA) access to education by providing them access roads and ensure that “never again should a child put his life at risk by crossing streams or taking long walks on poorly maintained roads and mountain paths, in good or bad weather, to get to school.”

The proposal is incorporated in the ARAL (Access Road to All Learners) bill that aims to ensure roads to all schools in all parts of the country where there are students.

“Last Mile Schools” are in far-flung areas, hours away from town centers and have less than four classrooms, aside from any of the following: no electricity, with less than 100 learners, 50% or more of whom are from indigenous tribes, with makeshift rooms, and with no repairs or new projects in the last four years. There are some 8,000 Last Mile Schools in the country.

HB 304 mandates the Department of Education, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Department of Budget and Management to draw up the comprehensive roadmap to provide access to these areas and close the gap in three years.

DepEd and DPWH will plan together and build infrastructures within three years to benefit public school students in GIDCA areas, Last Mile Schools, and ARAL schools.

The roadmap, Salceda said, “should navigate the way towards the full development in education of families in GIDCA communities, break the barriers, and clear the roadblocks that hinder students from learning, and thus pave the way for the full participation of all citizens in nation-building and socio-economic opportunities.”

It is the duty of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all towards achieving zero illiteracy.

The State should also ensure that the needs of the students are addressed, adequate facilities and educational supplies and materials are provided, most importantly accessible roads to schools are built and teaching personnel made available,” he stressed.

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