LAWMAKERS have proposed separate measures to improve the quality of education in the country.

Biñan Rep. Marlyn B. Alonte filed a bill that seeks to lessen the non-teaching workload of teachers.

Her House Bill 5562 provides that qualified administrative personnel will take on non-classroom teaching functions so that teachers can focus on teaching and professional advancement.

Meanwhile, Party-list Rep. Jocelyn P. Tulfo called for an “alternative learning solution” to address the reading challenges of students.

“Reading comprehension is a particularly difficult challenge because of the intense poverty most public school elementary and high school students face everyday,” she said. “Most elementary school graduates are non-readers,” she added.

The congresswoman said students who can barely read should be placed under a special alternative learning system (ALS) “intervention curriculum.”

The Department of Education must hire more teachers with special training on students with reading challenges, Ms. Tulfo said.

The Philippines was at the bottom of 79 countries in terms of reading, Science and Mathematics, according to the 2018 results of the Programme for International Student Assessment. — Genshen L. Espedido