The city government has distributed 6,005 reading workbooks for Grade 3 learners here as part of its reading intervention program in partnership with the Department of Education and the Synergia Foundation.
Mayor Raisa Treñas led the ceremonial turnover of the “I Can Read Very Well” colored workbook at the Iloilo Central Elementary School to principals of 56 elementary and integrated schools on Tuesday.
In an interview on Wednesday, Matty Treñas, special assistant to the city mayor for education programs, said the initiative aligns with the Proof of Concept Education Reform program of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which selected Iloilo City as one of the 11 pilot areas in Iloilo province.
“The project aims to provide every Grade 3 learner with the necessary tools to improve their reading abilities, thereby laying a strong foundation for their future academic success,” she said.
The workbooks are designed to engage students and help them develop their reading skills through a variety of fun and interactive activities.
“By providing these resources, the city government hopes to empower teachers and students alike, fostering a love for reading and learning that will benefit the learners for years to come,” she added.
During its first year of implementation in 2024 using the materials provided by the Synergia Foundation, the result of the reading assessment administered to nine participating schools showed an average increase on the literacy rate of learners to 72.08 percent, from the 54.02 percent average pretest score.
In addition to providing workbooks, around 150 Grade 3 teachers were trained on effective teaching. Parent-leaders were trained for education support, and cascaded to schools through the Parent Teachers Associations.
Treñas said the mayor wanted to sustain and expand the initiative because of the huge improvement in the reading performance of targeted learners.
This year, she said they plan to train Grade 2 teachers on effective teaching and involve the school heads of 56 elementary and integrated schools.
The mayor also wanted to include all teachers from day care in the program, she added.