Chiz urges State policy on distance learning over World Bank report of 90% Filipino students “learning poverty “

Availability of good internet service nationwide will help many learners keep up with distance learning amid the never-ending pandemic.

Senatorial aspirant Chiz Escudero says providing good Internet service must be a State policy.

Escudero had learned about the World Bank report that lack of internet access, or slow connections affected the education of Filipino children, and that nine (9) out of 10 students could not read even at age 10.

“According to the World Bank, only about 26.9 percent of students in the country have access to the internet. What about the more than 70 percent who no longer have gadgets, no internet at all, and occasionally no electricity in their households? Will we just let them be ignorant? ” said Escudero.

As a result, the country’s so -called “learning poverty” became 90% in August 2021 from the previous 69.5% before the pandemic.

So far, only 20% of families with learning members are able to do distance learning and this is the lowest number similar to what is happening today in Ethiopia.

“This is the painful and naked reality of remote learning that has been forced to be implemented nationwide even in areas where there are no or low COVID-19 cases,” said Escudero.

“The state of education is alarming before the pandemic, and then our students fall victim to the chaotic implementation of distance learning,” Escudero said.

He mentioned the good situation in Sorsogon where there is no COVID-19 in more than 50% of the barangays, that he said can now be removed from distance learning implemented by the Department of Education.

Escudero, a veteran lawmaker, called for investment in expanding and having fast internet to reach more students, noting it will take time before schools return to norm