Some learners of the Cabeza Elementary School in this city who used to be deficient in reading are now able to read with comprehension as a result of a program dubbed “Project Dap-ayan.”

A group of teachers in partnership with officials of Barangay Zamboanga, parents, and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders collaborated in facilitating reading sessions every weekend for a span of three months.

The program which started late last year has continued this year, producing more grade school pupils with good reading skills.

Power in unity

Senior education program specialist Raymond Santos said in a media interview on Monday that “Project Dap-ayan” has shown the power of unity in the community to help equip students after taking notice of their declining reading comprehension skills.

“This project is more than just an intervention. It is a testament to the power of collaboration, dedication, and shared vision for a brighter future,” Santos said as he presented his project to stakeholders who attended an education summit here on Monday.

The conference highlighted innovative education projects that can be adopted by other schools and communities to address young learners’ academic needs.

After identifying pupils in his village who are below word level reading literacy, Santos said at least 20 teachers who are residents of Barangay Zamboanga shared their time to facilitate reading sessions.

The learner-beneficiaries were clustered based on their reading levels and community areas, with sessions held in dap-ayan (public place for gathering).

Activities such as read-aloud, pair-reading, independent reading and silent reading were conducted by the teacher-volunteers.

Reading tablets courtesy of Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos were also given to the learners along with small books and other reading materials, offering a blend of traditional and modern approaches to literacy developmentally.

The proponent also sought the help of some sponsors for snacks during the duration of the project.

Santos said the project uncovered some valuable insights about the influence of parental education on the literacy outcomes and the challenges faced by parents in supporting their children’s learning.

He said most of the learners’ parents did not finish education and have no time to teach their children at home.

Sustained effort

To sustain the project, Zamboanga village chief Elmer Lorenzo and the SK officials have allocated some resources to sustain the project this year and ensure that every child has the opportunity to achieve full potential.

“We are thankful for this initiative and we vow to support it for the good of our children,” Lorenzo said.

Inspired by the success of the Dap-ayan project, several scholars of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in Burgos town have also adopted the project in their communities.

Teacher-volunteer Jake Abragar said “it feels great and inspiring” to know that community-driven efforts are taking place to ensure that every child, no matter their background, has the tools and support needed to thrive.

According to the World Bank 2022 data on learning poverty, at least 90 percent of Filipino children struggle to read or understand simple text.

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic set back students’ learning, the learning poverty in the Philippines was pegged at 70 percent. (PNA)