𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 || 𝐆𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐢 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐝 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐨 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥

Marifel B. Oppus and Irene L. Cabrera

Consuelo Elementary School

BUTUAN CITY, February 12, 2025—𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗼 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 (𝗖𝗘𝗦) 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘄𝗲𝗶 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗚𝗕𝗙) 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗱 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮. 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼.

In response to growing concerns from the Department of Education (DepEd) regarding declining literacy rates among youth, the GBF has intensified its efforts to support students through targeted learning interventions. The foundation is actively involved in the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) program, which assists learners in developing essential numeracy and literacy skills.

Gawad Kalinga plays a vital role in the program's implementation, providing essential support by monitoring resources for teachers and students and overseeing the overall educational process. Currently, 53 CES pupils are enrolled in the TaRL program, which aims to enhance their foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Classes are conducted Monday through Thursday at 3:00 PM, offering tailored instruction based on individual learning levels.

The instruction at CES is robust, with Maricel C. Dulawan leading beginner reading sessions. In parallel, Irene L. Cabrera teaches numeracy to students at the beginner and one-digit levels. Rizza M. Aguirre and Jean P. Carrido handle literacy word-level instruction, while Richard P. Vitor oversees numeracy instruction at the two-digit level. Additionally, the program includes socio-emotional learning (SEL) and Socio-Emotional Coaching (SEC) sessions to foster holistic development among students.

As part of the initiative, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation has provided TaRL materials and teacher toolkits, ensuring that both learners and educators have access to the necessary resources. GBF recognizes the challenges faced by students, particularly those affected by poverty, and is committed to providing educational support to facilitate academic recovery. Trained teachers assess students' learning levels and implement customized strategies to strengthen foundational skills.

To enhance the program's implementation, a three-day training seminar and workshop took place from November 11 to 13, 2024, at the GO Hotel in Butuan City. Four CES teachers, along with Southwest District Supervisor Jonas H. Jomonong and School Principal Christopher P. Lubaton, participated alongside educators from the CARAGA region. The training focused on the TaRL approach, equipping participants with practical strategies to meet students' diverse learning needs.

Before the program's launch, a parent orientation session was held to clarify the program's objectives, procedures, and expectations. This session aimed to foster collaboration between educators and families, ensuring that parents were fully informed and engaged in their children's learning journey.

Key officials overseeing the initiative include Dr. Minerva T. Albis, the Schools Division Superintendent of Butuan City, Marilou Recososa, the Division Elementary Reading Coordinator, Gino Cruz, the head of Juan Kapatid Mindanao, and Karla Ngitngit, the lead of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation's Learning Recovery Program. Additionally, Mrs Hazel Giron and Mrs Rosevel Sumipo, a representative of Gawad Kalinga, are involved in the oversight. These officials conduct regular visits to monitor progress and provide ongoing support for the initiative.

A recognition ceremony for Juan Kapatid learners in numeracy and literacy is scheduled for June 2025. This event will honor pupils who have made significant progress, celebrating their dedication and perseverance. Educators, parents, and school officials will gather to commend their achievements and encourage continued learning, marking a milestone for these learners and motivating them toward further academic growth.

The Department of Education remains hopeful that this initiative will substantially reduce the number of students at the beginner reading level. By addressing challenges in literacy and numeracy, the program aspires to enhance overall learning outcomes and contribute to the long-term improvement of the educational system.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151; 0961-737-08-73; 0977-739-44-53. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

𝐄𝐍𝐃

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