UNICEF Philippines hopeful for a renewed focus on learning recovery for children in the new school year, pledges support

UNICEF Philippines/2024/Gerard Cayco

As children start the new school year, UNICEF is hopeful for a renewed focus on learning recovery and inclusive education. This focus coupled with the new Department of Education leadership will drive a robust education system transformation that promotes quality learning for every child, despite health, protection, and climate-related challenges ahead.

Last week’s Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon have affected over 19,500 schools and hundreds of schools have reported delaying the start of the school year, according to the Department of Education. As more typhoons are expected to hit the country in the coming months, students continue to be at risk of missing in-person class days.

Climate change will exacerbate the learning crisis in the Philippines. Many young children are already missing out on early learning. Primary school children do not meet the required proficiency in reading and math. Employability skills such as problem solving, information literacy, and critical and creative thinking are also lagging. Many vulnerable learners such as those with disabilities and living in rural areas are being left further behind.

In facing these huge challenges, UNICEF welcomes the appointment of Senator Sonny Angara as the new education chief for his longstanding support to education legislation and finance. The UN children’s body cites the gains already achieved such as learning recovery programme with catch-up classes, retooling of the curriculum to focus on key competencies and foundational skills, and employment of teacher aides, among others. UNICEF has significantly contributed to children’s education by generating data and evidence, developing lesson exemplars, helping teachers get their hardship allowance, supporting out-of-school youths and adolescents, improving the capacity of education actors to prepare for and respond in times of emergencies, and equipping learners with the skills to adapt to a climate changed world that is experiencing heatwaves and extreme storms.

“We call on the new Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara to make sure that no child is left behind, to take care of the well-being and socio-emotional needs of learners, and to help our teachers. We are ready to support collaborative work across sectors to address prerequisites to learning, such as the triple burden of malnutrition, violence against children, and the effects of climate change,” UNICEF Philippines Country Representative a.i. Edgar Donoso Paz said.

Increased collaboration with the national-level Early Childhood Care and Development Council, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Ministries on Basic, Higher and Technical Education and Social Services and Development can go a long way in improving learning outcomes and helping all children in the Philippines to thrive, he added.

UNICEF Philippines/2024/Gerard Cayco

“It's encouraging to see and hear the commitment of the local government to support and make sure that children are not only given the infrastructure to study in, but also a quality education. Coming to school is not enough. It's what they get in school that is even far more important,” UNICEF Philippines National Ambassador Gary Valenciano said. He and UNICEF officials joined the Brigada Eskwela school preparation in Lydia D. Villangca Trade School in San Rafael, Bulacan.

UNICEF also commends President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s message in last week’s State of the Nation Address. He directed the Department of Education Secretary and partners to increase resources for education and training, bridge the digital divide, fast-track production of instructional materials, and ensure that teachers can focus on teaching.