As it prepares for the nationwide rollout of its Catch-Up Fridays program, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, Jan. 11, assured that the initiative will cover foundational skills other than reading.
“As you know, in our Catch-Up Fridays that we're starting – it’s focused on reading, but it’s not just reading – it will include reading and also values education and peace competencies, as well as health,” said DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Michael Poa said during a Palace briefing.
DepEd will implement the Catch-Up Fridays starting Jan. 12. It will cover elementary and secondary schools across the country.
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Poa explained that the initiative is aligned with DepEd’s National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP) as well as with the National Reading Program. Other initiatives of DepEd for learning recovery include the National Science Program, the National Mathematics Program, and the National Learning Camp.
So, doon papasok iyong puwede nating mga…well, lessons na puwede nating maituro sa ating mga learners pagdating sa mental health at pagdating na rin sa bullying. (So, that's where we can incorporate our... well, lessons that we can teach to our learners when it comes to mental health and also when it comes to bullying),” Poa added.
DepEd issued the Catch-Up Fridays guidelines in a memorandum dated Jan. 10.
Catch-up Fridays, as explained by DepEd, is a learning mechanism intended to “strengthen the foundational, social, and other relevant skills necessary to actualize the intent of the basic education curriculum.”
DepEd has designated all Fridays throughout the school year as Catch-up Fridays, with a focus on operationalizing the National Reading Program (NRP) during the first half of the day's schedule and on fostering Values, Health, and Peace Education for the second half.
“Values, Health, and Peace Education shall revolve around monthly themes/subthemes based on the basic education curricular framework and standards. While teachers shall be given the prerogative to narrow down or devise additional subthemes, alignment with the quarterly themes is essential,” DepEd said in the memo.
Additionally, DepEd noted that the Homeroom Guidance Program (HGP) shall also be included in the Catch-up Fridays.