Early start for learners crucial to better education
SENATORIABLE and Makati Mayor Abby Binay has zeroed in on strengthening early childhood education as a crucial step in improving the quality of education in the country.
In recent media interviews, the mayor said the education sector should focus more on developing students’ basic literacy and numeracy skills in the early years to enable them to cope with more complex knowledge and skills as they move up the education ladder.
“Kailangan po talaga nating tutukan yung ECCD or Early Childhood Care and Development, kasama dito yung daycare. Kasi ang paniniwala po natin ay ‘foundation is key’. Kung hindi po maganda ang foundation, kahit ano pang bridging na gagawin ninyo bandang dulo na – Grade 5, Grade 6, medyo too late na,” Binay said.
She said 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 and knowledge of basic mathematical concepts and the fundamentals of Science.
Binay cited as an example the K-12 basic education program of the Department of Education, which aimed to produce skilled, highly employable senior high school graduates who can opt to join the workforce after graduation.
“Ang tanong, noong K to 10, maganda ba yung foundation nila para maging employable sila pagkatapos ng senior high? Hindi puwedeng papasukan mo ng skills sa senior high, tapos yung foundation nila like basic English, basic numeracy – kung hindi maganda, mahihirapan silang makapasok sa trabaho,” the mayor said.
She also stressed the importance of implementing interventions for learning gaps not later than Grade 3.
“Poor literacy and numeracy levels should already be addressed in Grade 3 through appropriate interventions. Otherwise, many students will be left behind, unable to keep up with more advanced lessons. They may even drop out eventually,” Binay said.
During her administration, Makati strengthened ECCD through innovative measures, such as launching the Pre-Kindergarten program for four to five-year old learners not yet eligible for Kindergarten. Equipped with a pre-K kit, complete set of modules and OTG, learners are taught basic social skills, basic hygiene and basic skills to prepare them to cope well and excel in Kindergarten.
