MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) will soon order schools to designate Friday for learners to catch up on their learning, particularly reading proficiency and critical thinking.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Tuesday said "catch-up Fridays" would begin on Jan. 12, 2024.

“Ito yung strategy natin sa paghahabol sa part ng ating learning recovery program dahil nakita natin na ginagawa naman natin ang lahat noon pero hindi pa rin nag-i-improve ang performance ng learners particularly sa international assessments,” Duterte told reporters during the culmination of the National Reading Month at Esteban Abada Elementary School in Quezon City.

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“Napag-usapan natin sa Department of Education, sa Curriculum and Teaching strands, sabi ko dapat mag-allot tayo ng isang araw na wala ng ibang gagawin ang ating mag-aaral at mga teachers kung hindi humabol sa kung ano yung dapat matutunan ng mga bata,” she said.

DepEd will release guidelines in December for the implementation of the program, Duterte said.

The education secretary cited a recent study by World Bank as one of the reasons for the said program.

Findings from the report on the East Asia and the Pacific Region noted that “learning poverty” in the Philippines was at 91 percent in 2022, which meant 9 out of 10 children aged 10 struggled to read simple texts.

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“Nakita natin na hindi talaga maganda iyon kalidad ng edukasyon at sisimulan talaga natin dapat na matutuo ang mga bata na magbasa,” Duterte said.

“Marami talaga tayong mga non-readers, at marami tayong mga slow readers kaya kailangan silang lahat bigyan ng isang araw na wala silang gagawin kundi magpractice at matuto magbasa," she said.

"Even iyong mga magagaling na magbasa, dapat i-level up ang kanilang skills… Dapat iyong mga natutuo na magbasa, turuan na sila kung paano magsulat ng essay, paano magsukat ng libro, paano yung critical and analytical thinking sa pagbabasa at pagsulat,” added the official.

Duterte the event, Duterte led the culmination of the National Reading Month Celebration, during which DepEd implemented programs to promote reading among students, including the establishment of “reading pantries” in schools, the “share a book drive”, and “book buddy sessions”.

The children’s book "Isang Kaibigan" written by Duterte for young learners was launched during the program.

“Mayroon isang ibon at marami siyang kaibigan. Mayroong nangyaring unos sa buhay niya at nawala ang lahat ng mga kaibigan niya. Akala niya nawala ang lahat pero mayroong isa na bumalik at tumulong sa kanya at iyon iyong lesson na mayroon sa libro, yung friendship at kindness,” Duterte said.

In her speech during the event, Duterte stressed the importance of reading among young learners.

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“Sa pamamagitan ng pagbabasa, maaari kayong mabuhay sa mundo kung saan makakayanan ninyong abutin ang inyong mga pangarap. Ang pagbabasa ang susi na magbubukas ng mga kahanga-hangang bagay para sa bawat isa sa inyo,” she said.

“Ang pagbabasa ay magpapalago sa inyong imahinasyon, magpapalawak sa inyong kaalaman at magbibigay sa inyo ng kakayahan para makita ang mas malawak na posibilidad sa gitna ng inyong limitasyon,” she added.

She urged parents to encourage and inspire their children to find interest in reading, the same way she was taught by her mother to value it.

“Hindi lang ang mga kabataan ang dapat naming kausapin na mag-practice at paniguraduhin na matuto sila magbasa," Duterte said.

"Kundi kailangan din namin pumunta sa iba't ibang kumunidad para kausapin ang mga magulang doon sa mga kumunidad na i-encourage ang kanilang mga anak, mga apo, mga pamangkin sa mag-aral magbasa,” she said.

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