By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the United States government formally launched on Tuesday the ABC+ Program which aims to help improve the basic life skills of learners from early childhood.
Ms Universe 2010 fourth runner up Venus Raj held reading sessions with select Grades 2 to 3 pupils at DepEd’s Bulwagan ng Karungunan. (DepEd Facebook)
The ABC+ (Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines) Program seeks to help DepEd in “implementing innovative approaches to ensure access to quality early grade education.” In particular, the program seeks to improve the basic life skills of children from early childhood to Grade 3 including the ability to do Math; to read and write in English, Filipino and mother tongues, as appropriate, “especially in the areas of greatest need.” Aside from reading and mathematical skills, the socio-emotional skills of the learners are also expected to be enhanced.
In partnership with DepEd, the ABC+ Program will be implemented from July 2019 to July 2024. Aside from DepEd, the participation of local government units (LGUs) and the private sector covering schools in Region V (Bicol) and VI (Western Visayas) is also encouraged.
At least two million learners in the two regions are expected to benefit from the program. It covers learners in Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Allan, Antique, Cadiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.
As part of the launching program, beauty titlists led by Ms Universe 2010 fourth runner up Venus Raj held reading sessions with select Grades 2 to 3 pupils at DepEd’s Bulwagan ng Karungunan.
Soon after, the formal launch was held led by DepEd Undersecretaries Diosdado San Agustin, Tonisito Umali and Jesus Mateo; DepEd Assistant Secretary Salvador Malana III; USAID Mission Director Lawrence Hardy and US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires John Law.
In her message, Education Secretary Leonor Briones commended the project and extended her gratitude to the partner agency for helping the DepEd to ensure that "no Filipino learner is getting left behind."
"We are thankful for the unwavering commitment of our partners especially now that we are intent to pivot our focus from improving access to enhancing the quality of basic education in the country, " Briones said.
Meanwhile, Law reiterated that as a "friend and a partner," the US "remains committed to the quality basic education for the benefit of all Filipinos." He added that "with better access to education, citizens can make well-informed choices and have better opportunities."
The ABC+ project, with approximately P2 Billion ($38.5 million) funding, is expected to boost DepEd systems in teachers' professional development, materials development, and managing public funds for basic education. The program also aims to build the "capacity of school teachers and administrators at the regional and local levels to ensure that improvements reach all schools in the target regions."
The ABC+ is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). According to USAID, improving education outcomes for all children and youth “remains a core challenge” for the Philippine basic education system. “At the root of the problem are the poor reading and math skills of many Filipino students, particularly in the early grades,” it added.
Through the ABC+ project, USAID intends to help DepEd and education stakeholders to “address the interconnected factors that contribute to low education outcomes in poorest performing areas of the Philippines.” Specifically, this project “identifies innovative and sustainable ideas on how to address the continuing challenges in literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional learning for children in the Philippines, with a particular focus on systems strengthening.”
For Dr Alberto Fenix of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Human Resources Development Foundation, initiatives such as the ABC+ Program "will better prepare our children for the world of work."
The ABC+ Program is implemented in partnership with RTI International, The Asia Foundation, SIL LEAD, and Florida State University.
Through the years, USAID has been working with partners to improve the quality of both basic and higher education across the country. USAID also “invests in the next generation’s ability to sustain growth by improving early-grade reading skills, strengthening education governance at the community, helping universities align research and curricula with industry demands, and strengthening the science, technology and innovation ecosystem.”
In support of its goal of fostering peace and stability, USAID is also active in “providing education, economic and leadership opportunities” to vulnerable out-of-school youth in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. As such, it continues to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders – local governments, civil society, and the private sector— to “deliver education and training so that youth may return to school, join the workforce, or start their own business.” It also focuses on leadership and civic engagement training to build social connections and trust to “make youth more resilient in the face of recruitment of violent extremist groups.”
Aside from the ABC+, other education-related initiatives of USAID include the Education Governance Effectiveness (EdGE) which addresses poor education governance and All Children Reading (ACR) - Asia which is a two-year activity in partnership with DepEd seeking to support reading outcomes for primary learners, with a focus on increasing impact, scale and sustainability.
Other USAID programs include the Gabay (Strengthening Inclusive Education for Blind, Deaf and Deafblind Children), a three-year project to strengthen Inclusive Education Community Resource Centers, and support the improvement of detection, instruction, and assistance for children with hearing and vision impairments; the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE) to strengthen the Philippines’ capacity for innovation-led, inclusive economic growth; and YouthWorks PH which is a five-year partnership between USAID and the Philippine Business for Education that engages and mobilizes the private sector to address the education needs of youth, as well as the skill requirements of employers.