A recent Social Weather Survey commissioned by UNICEF indicates that around 94 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with the resumption of in-person classes.
"The decisive action of education authorities to start school and ensure full face-to-face learning are milestones in our learning recovery and will allow us to further improve foundational skills such as reading, writing and basic numeracy. Building on these foundational skills will help us inch closer to a resilient education system that leaves no one behind," UNICEF Philippines representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said.
The Department of Education reopened the school year in August by holding a mix of face-to-face and virtual classes.
UNICEF Philippines further urged the government to keep the momentum on learning recovery going with the implementation of the RAPID framework promoted by the United Nations where regions conduct rapid literacy assessments, more non-teaching staff are recruited to ease the burden of administrative work on teachers, and dedicated sessions are conducted to focus on children's reading and comprehension.
Still, more effort should be done to reach the most vulnerable children including those with disabilities and in disaster-prone areas. Some 70 percent of public schools do not have the minimum facilities, provisions and practices for safe water supply, adequate toilets, and hygiene education. Addressing children's mental health and psychosocial needs, strengthening protection measures to prevent sexual abuse, and engaging parents and caregivers are also important, UNICEF added.
UNICEF also teamed up with the Early Childhood Care and Development Council and the Bangsamoro Region's Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education and the Ministry of Social Services and Development for its education program. The partnership includes development of learning materials in science and math, capacity building of teachers, early identification, and referral of children with disabilities, and repair of schools or provision of temporary learning spaces in areas hit by typhoons.
