This year’s “Araw ng Pagbasa” (National Reading Day) is scheduled for November 27, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
The schedule is based on DepEd Order No. 09, series of 2024, or the Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for School Year (SY) 2024-2025.
In previous years, the “Araw ng Pagbasa,” observed by public schools nationwide, served as the culminating activity for National Reading Month (NRM).
NRM, a month-long event celebrated each November, is part of DepEd’s efforts to foster a reading culture and enhance literacy skills among Filipino youth.
Dennis Legaspi, Media Relations Chief from the Office of DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, noted that the issuance of the 2024 NRM celebration guidelines is being finalized.
NRM celebration
While the DepEd Central Office has yet to release specific guidelines for this year’s NRM celebration, some DepEd Schools Division Offices have issued memoranda on the event.
The Schools Division of Baybay City in Region 8, for example, issued guidelines on Oct. 28 for the 2024 National Reading Month celebration, Pambansang Buwan at Araw ng Pagbasa, as well as the 90th National Book Week.
A list of activities was recommended for the NRM celebration.
Schools were also reminded to adhere to policies that regulate learner and teacher participation in curricular and extracurricular activities to ensure “classes are not sacrificed and that learning recovery measures are fully implemented.”
The month-long activity includes the division’s initiatives to improve and enhance learners’ reading performance, aligned with the priorities of the National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP).
Among the suggested activities is a school-level National Reading Month kick-off where all school administrators and teachers can serve as “mystery readers” of a Filipino children’s storybook during the flag-raising ceremony.
Other proposed activities include book donation drives, peer-to-peer reading programs, setting up reading pantries where materials are accessible to all, “book talk” sessions where learners share their favorite books, read-a-thons, and poster-making activities during art classes.
DepEd declared November as National Reading Month through DepEd Memorandum No. 244, series of 2011, signed by former DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro.
The memo also established “Araw ng Pagbasa,” during which elementary and secondary students from both public and private schools participate in storytelling sessions, reading list preparations, reader training, and a readership development program.
Schools and learning centers are encouraged to hold various activities for NRM, which may include a “reading camp” highlighting pupils' talents in communication arts through competitions and a “read-a-thon” to foster a reading culture among students and identify the most outstanding individual and team readers in public elementary schools.
During NRM, DepEd encourages schools and learning centers to implement the “Five Words a Week (FWAW) / A Paragraph a Day (APAD) / Library Hour a Week” programs. These programs encourage pupils to learn and master one word daily for five days a week and to read aloud one or two paragraphs each day before classes start, helping develop communication skills.
Additionally, remedial reading programs are offered, with teachers or class advisers providing lessons to students at the frustration reading level.
Schools and learning centers may also implement activities such as “Big Brother / Big Sister / Kaklase Ko, Sagot Ko / Shared Reading,” where older students or independent readers mentor those at a struggling reading level.
Another activity, Drop Everything and Read (DEAR), dedicates 15 to 20 minutes daily for reading books or other materials available in the school.