EDUCATION PARTNERS. Department of Education in Bicol (DepEd-5) Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad (left) together with representatives of higher education institutions (HEIs) sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Bawat Batang Bicolano Bihasang Bumasa at Bumilang 6Bs Project at the University of Santo Tomas in Rawis, Legazpi City on Thursday (Nov. 23, 2023). The MOA is a multistakeholder to enhance literacy and numeracy skills among basic education learners in the region. (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)
LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Education in Bicol (DepEd-5) has partnered with different higher education institutions (HEIs) and teachers' education institutions in the region to implement learning recovery programs and remediation activities for basic learners.
This, after more than 60 HEIs and partner non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended the stakeholder's convergence and ceremonial signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Thursday at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Rawis here.
In his message, DepEd-5 Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad said the initiative adopts a multistakeholder approach to enhance literacy and numeracy skills among learners from kinder to secondary level.
“Dubbed as 6Bs: Bawat Batang Bicolano Bihasang Bumasa at Bumilang (each Bicolano child proficient in reading and writing), the initiative is designed to strengthen the coordination and collaboration between schools and communities. It will facilitate the sharing of resources and capacities to uplift the standards in literacy and numeracy among students," he said.
Sadsad said the involvement of HEIs and TEIs is a big help in recovering the learning losses incurred by learners during the pandemic.
"We knock on your hearts to help us in solving this problem, to make every Bicolano child a reader and numerate. We can only achieve this if we will help each other," he said.
in a separate interview, DepEd-5 project development officer Ma. Cristina Barosa said Education students from the different tertiary institutions will serve as volunteer tutors and teaching assistants to all struggling readers.
"We are in the process of identifying our hotspots, the municipalities or provinces where we can find schools with a high number of struggling readers, doon po tayo tutok sa mga bata na nangangailangn ng tulong (we will focus on students who needs help) through our student volunteer teachers," she said.
At least 60 TEIs and six non-government organizations will work together with the DepEd to make the approach successful.
Barosa said the initiative, which is expected to significantly improve the reading proficiency of every learner, will start by January next year. (PNA)
