High time to institutionalize supplies allowance for public school teachers

Following the Senate’s third and final reading approval of the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act (Senate Bill No. 1964),” Senator Win Gatchalian pressed that it is high time to institutionalize the grant of a teaching allowance to all public school teachers.   The measure, which Gatchalian co-authored, seeks the grant of a teaching allowance for the […]

On Task Force review of SHS program: Address learners’ employability, transition woes

While the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Task Force is set to review the implementation of the senior high school (SHS) program, Senator Win Gatchalian pressed the need to address challenges on learners’ transition to employment or higher education.   Gatchalian lamented that while a decade has passed since the enactment of the Enhanced Basic Education […]

Gov’t should address ‘mental health pandemic’

Amid the celebration of Mental Health Action Day, Senator Win Gatchalian reiterates his call for urgent government action to curb what he calls the mental health pandemic in the country.   Considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which also saw an increase in the number of deaths by suicide, Gatchalian emphasized the need for […]

Government urged: Step up vs. ‘pandemic of mental health’

Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the government to step up its efforts to address what he calls a ‘pandemic of mental health’ among Filipinos.   Gatchalian pointed out how the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated Filipinos’ vulnerability to mental health problems. In 2019, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) received a total of 3,125 calls, 712 […]

On end of COVID-19 global emergency: Focus needed on education recovery

Following the World Health Organization’s declaration that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, Senator Win Gatchalian emphasized the need to focus on the recovery of the education sector, one of the hardest hit during the height of the pandemic.   Gatchalian pressed the need for a full rollout of a learning recovery program […]

To education agencies: Work closely to review senior high school curriculum

Senator Win Gatchalian wants the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to work more closely in reviewing the senior high school program and ensuring the smooth transition of K to 12 graduates.   Gatchalian is eyeing to include a review mechanism involving the […]

To principals: Implement blended learning amid El Niño forecast

Senator Win Gatchalian urged principals and school heads anew to implement blended learning when the hot weather becomes too unbearable for learners.   The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education reiterated this call following the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) El Niño forecast upgrading the warning status from El Niño […]

Provide more job opportunities for senior high school graduates

Senator Win Gatchalian urged the private sector to provide more employment opportunities for Senior High School (SHS) graduates of the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) track.   The Senate Committee on Basic Education chaired by Gatchalian conducted a hearing on Senate Bill No. 2022, or the “Batang Magaling” Act, which seeks to address the mismatch between the skills […]

Government should shoulder certification costs for TVL graduates in senior high school

To boost the employability of senior high school graduates who took the technical-vocational-livelihood (TVL) track, Senator Win Gatchalian is proposing that the government shoulder the cost of their certifications.   The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education flagged what he called a dead end for senior high school graduates who took the TVL […]