By:
Gerard Leomel R. Estoquia
EPS-II SMN

           One of the most important responsibilities of a teacher is to teach students to read. It was formerly expected that a student could read when he reached high school. According to studies, a large majority of pupils who do not succeed in high school are inefficient students who require assistance with reading.

             Due to the threat of COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education devised an innovative solution to alleviate learning gaps, particularly in reading. All learning is built on the basis of reading. To make this happen, World Vision, in collaboration with the Department of Education, partnered with the National Library of the Philippines, the National Book Development Board, E Net Philippines, and Ms. Joyce Pring, a TV and radio personality, to be the Brigada Pagbasa Ambassadress under the DepEd’s flagship program “Brigada Eskwela.”

            By establishing a link between partners and vulnerable communities to support last-mile learners and ensure access to after-school structured literacy development programs, this intervention aims to help Filipino children become functionally literate and contributes to empowering parents, caregivers, community volunteers, and education stakeholders within the context of transparency and local accountability.

             As we want to make sure that our learners get the best education under the new normal to warrant unbroken learning, we are now preparing for the opening of classes through other alternative means for Masbateño learners. Parents will also be capacitated on how to teach their children on basic reading skills thru Parents Education Program for they will be the extension of learning in their respective homes.

             The partnership with family-school-community is a shared responsibility which is a reciprocal process wherein schools and other community agencies and organizations engage families in meaningful and culturally appropriate ways and families take the initiatives to actively support their children’s development and learning. Schools Division Office of Masbate City is open to gather all volunteers such as volunteer reader, volunteer tutor, volunteer book donor and volunteer support who would like to extend a helping hand for the benefit and welfare of Masbateño learners.