Manila, Aug. 6 -- 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 teachin...