Senator Gatchalian Calls for Senate Inquiry into DepEd's Textbook Procurement"
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a resolution urging the Senate to investigate the Department of Education's (DepEd) purchase of textbooks and other learning materials. This move comes in light of findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) which raised concerns about the procurement process.
According to EDCOM II's year one report, since the implementation of the K-12 curriculum in 2013, DepEd has only managed to purchase 27 textbook titles out of the required 90 for Grades 1 to 10. The report identified several issues with the procurement process, including time constraints, a lengthy review process, high participation costs, and pricing issues.
The EDCOM report also highlighted a low utilization rate of the budget allocated for buying textbooks and other instructional materials. This implies that a significant portion of the funds meant for textbooks and learning materials remains unused.
In Senate Resolution 972, Gatchalian calls for an investigation into this matter. He emphasized the importance of addressing this issue, stating that having adequate books is a crucial part of improving the quality of education. The senator's resolution underscores the need for transparency and efficiency in the procurement process to ensure that students have access to the necessary learning materials.