Makati Mayor and senatorial candidate Abby Binay has emphasized the need to strengthen early childhood education as the key to improving the quality of education in the country.

In recent media interviews, Binay highlighted the importance of focusing on basic literacy and numeracy skills in the early years to prepare students for more complex learning as they progress through school.

“We must prioritize Early Childhood Care and Development, including daycare. We believe that foundation is key. If the foundation is weak, even bridging efforts by Grade 5 or Grade 6 might be too late,” Binay said in Filipino.

She stressed that basic proficiency in reading, math, and science should be developed from preschool to Grade 3 to equip students with essential skills, such as reading comprehension, basic mathematical concepts and scientific fundamentals.

Binay pointed to the Department of Education’s K-12 basic education program as an example. While the program aims to produce skilled and employable senior high school graduates, she questioned whether students are adequately prepared by the time they reach senior high.

“The question is, did they have a strong foundation from K to 10 to make them employable after senior high? Even if they are taught skills in senior high, if they lack foundational skills like basic English and basic numeracy, it will be difficult for them to secure jobs,” Binay said.

She also underscored the importance of addressing learning gaps no later than Grade 3.

“Poor literacy and numeracy levels should be addressed in Grade 3 through appropriate interventions. Otherwise, many students will be left behind, unable to keep up with the more advanced lessons. They may even drop out eventually,” Binay said.

Under Binay, Makati City implemented several initiatives to strengthen early childhood education. One such program is the Pre-Kindergarten program, designed for four- to five-year-old learners who are not yet eligible for Kindergarten.

Equipped with pre-K kits, modules and offline learning tools, students are taught basic social skills, hygiene and foundational knowledge to prepare them for Kindergarten.

In 2023, the city launched Project FEED (Food for Excellent Education and Development), which provided nutritious snacks and beverages to over 42,000 public elementary school students on school days.