Senator Bam Aquino has raised concerns over how distance continues to limit access to education, as policymakers review the condition of last-mile schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
In many remote communities, students still spend hours traveling to and from school each day, often navigating difficult terrain and limited transport options. These conditions remain a barrier to regular attendance and add strain to learners and teachers alike.
Current policy work includes proposals to institutionalize last-mile schools by locating learning facilities closer to where students live, either through new campuses or school annexes. One reference benchmark under discussion is reducing travel time so students can reach a school within about 30 to 45 minutes.
Related efforts are also being carried out by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who has highlighted infrastructure gaps in remote schools, including the absence of electricity and internet access. Some schools, particularly in far-flung areas, have been so isolated that teachers were forced to stay on campus due to the difficulty of travel.
Angara has pointed to recent electrification and connectivity initiatives, implemented with partner agencies, as steps toward improving learning conditions and extending shared access to power and internet services in underserved communities.
