DepEd Region 5 gets learning aid

THE Department of Education (DepEd) Region 5 (Bicol Region) received learning resources donated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) for students from kindergarten to Grade 3 to assist with the resumption of in-person learning.

Materials donated to DepEd Region 5 included numeracy packages and early grade reading materials in Filipino and three mother-tongue languages.

This was part of the launch of the Learning Recovery Plan in Sorsogon, and in line with the USAid’s ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines project.

There were also materials donated to Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio and DepEd Region 5 Director Gilbert Sadsad to support literacy assessment, education-sector stakeholders engagement, and learning continuity.

“We hope that these materials will continue to aid teachers, schools, and DepEd Region 5 to provide quality, contextand age-appropriate learning interventions and instructions for early grade learners, while providing the critical tools and materials needed to implement your Learning Recovery Plan,” USAid Philippines Acting Deputy Mission Director Brandon Miller said.

As of April 2022, USAid has trained more than 6,000 teachers from more than 800 schools in the Bicol Region and has distributed more than 4.35 million early grade reading materials that have benefited more than 313,000 learners in the region.

During the turnover ceremony of the new learning resources, Sadsad also certified that more than 500 new USAid-developed storybooks passed the Education department’s quality assurance process and are ready for printing and distribution.

The USAid said these books are in Filipino, Central Bikol, Rinconada, and Minasbate languages and will help Bicolano learners in Grade 1 and Grade 3 develop foundational reading skills.

“This gathering and the continued support given by USAid and the project team inspires us. As we help our stakeholders, we Bicolanos can give more for the sake of education,” Sadsad added.