ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--To ensure that no learner is left behind in terms of reading and comprehension especially at this time of the pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the World Vision launched a community-based reading program dubbed "Brigada Pagbasa" in Lanao del Norte province.

The launching highlighted the virtual kick-off ceremony of the Brigada Eskwela program in the province Monday, August 16

Brigada Pagbasa program director Geomel Jetonzo said the reading program is an offshoot of the Brigada Eskwela that aims to support DepEd in addressing literacy gaps in the community in the context of partnership.

"We don't intend to duplicate what DepEd is already doing in the community but rather to identify the gaps and see how we can engage our partners and supporters to strengthen the existing reading interventions activities implemented by the Department," he said.

According to him, the Brigada Pagbasa is a readership program designed not to intervene with the existing curriculum but rather as a platform that will help enhance the existing reading remediation being implemented in the community. 

"Our goal is to help DepEd ensure that all learners will have improved learning outcomes and we can do that by providing opportunities for children to attend literacy programs, be it face-to-face or virtual," he further said.

Jetonzo explained that the first major activity under the Brigada Pagbasa is the training of parents and community partners to equip them with skills that will support their children's learning at home. 

This, he said, is done with the support of DepEd teachers, reading coordinators, and NGO partners at the community level.

"These trained Brigada Pagbasa learning facilitators will be mobilized to facilitate reading interventions at home," he added.

Aside from parents, Jetonzo disclosed that they will also train some Sangguniang Kabataan officials to serve as learning facilitators. (APB/PIA-ICIC)