Aquino: New law to boost literacy, proficiency in basic education

MANILA – A new law giving the Department of Education (DepEd) greater freedom to determine how lessons are taught could help improve literacy, proficiency, and students’ mastery of foundational concepts, Senator Bam Aquino said Thursday.

Republic Act 12322, which lapsed into law on Aug. 2, removes the mandatory use of the spiral progression approach in implementing the K to 12 curriculum.

“Ito’y isang mahalagang hakbang tungo sa pagresolba ng education crisis at makatutulong para mapataas ang proficiency at literacy sa ating mga paaralan (This is an important step toward addressing the education crisis and improving proficiency and literacy in schools),” Aquino said in a news release.

The law allows DepEd to adopt the teaching methods it considers most effective based on learners’ needs, subject to periodic review.

Aquino principally sponsored and co-authored the measure as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

“Sa batas na ito, aalisin na ang spiral progression para mabigyan ang DepEd ng kalayaang piliin ang pinakamabisang paraan ng pagtuturo para sa ating mga estudyante (Under this law, the spiral progression will no longer be mandatory, giving DepEd the freedom to choose the most effective teaching approach for our students),” he said.

Under spiral progression, learners are introduced to basic concepts in the early grades and revisit them at increasing levels of complexity as they advance.

Aquino said making the approach optional would allow schools to ensure that students sufficiently understand lessons and acquire the necessary skills before moving to more complex topics.

No more one-size-fits-all approach

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, a co-author and co-sponsor of the law, said DepEd should be allowed to move away from a uniform teaching framework as the country confronts a widespread learning crisis.

“Hindi na tayo dapat magpatuloy sa isang one-size-fits-all approach sa pagtuturo, lalo na’t hinaharap natin ang isang malawakang krisis sa edukasyon (We should no longer continue with a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching, especially as we face a widespread education crisis),” Gatchalian said.

He expressed hope that giving DepEd greater flexibility would help learners better understand their lessons and produce improved learning outcomes.

The Second Congressional Commission on Education found that spiral progression did not result in cumulative learning and created difficulties in curriculum delivery.

It also noted that the framework forced teachers, particularly in Science and Mathematics, to become generalists instead of concentrating on their fields of specialization.

Aquino said consultations with teachers likewise showed that the mandatory approach contributed to congested lessons and weakened students’ mastery of foundational knowledge and skills.

RA 12322 amends Section 5 of RA 10533, or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. (PNA)

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