Classrooms at her school have cozy reading corners stocked with books. Photo: Chris LeonesAs principal of the San Pascual Elementary School in Ubay, Philippines, Maria Jeana Polinar is committed to creating an environment where every child learns to read. “Basa Pilipinas is showing that mother tongue instruction can also work at scale to help students transition effectively into literacy in languages that are less familiar, especially when you have a partner like DepEd, which has shown itself to be truly committed to the effort.”Another challenge the project addressed was the fact that most classrooms didn’t have any books in the local mother tongue, limiting opportunities for students to practice reading.So Basa pulled together a team of local illustrators and writers to produce reading materials. The project’s approach to teacher Among the programs In partnership with World Vision’s typhoon Haiyan response in the last three years has catered to 23,000 children through classroom repair and construction, provision of temporary learning spaces and distribution of learning kits. © Copyright 2020 World Vision Development Foundation, Inc
All Rights Reserved. The municipality of Siayan is part of the Zamboanga Peninsula which had a functional literacy rate of 87.5% in the FLEMMS result.Contributory to low functional literacy is the high rate of school dropouts. A teacher at the Tubburan Elementary School in Ilocos Norte reads to first graders using books provided by Basa Pilipinas. For decades, teachers taught exclusively in Filipino and English—even though most children spoke one of the Philippines’ 19 major local languages at home. Results showed that the proportion of girls and boys aged 11-13 that are functionally literate was at a critical rate of 44% which means that below 50% of the students were able to read with comprehension by the end of their basic education. Beyond its conventional concept as a set of reading, writing and counting skills, literacy is now understood as a means of identification, understanding, interpretation, creation, and communication in an increasingly digital, text-mediated, information-rich and fast-changing world. Based on the 2013 FWhile the national rating showed an improvement from the 86.4% in 2008 and 84.1% in 2003, there still seemed to be gaps at the community level. In partnership with Jersey Oversees Aid Commission (JOAC), World Vision was able to reach more than 620 families or 2,000 people affected by typhoon Nina. The study also showed substantial gains in reading comprehension, with current students’ performance on a comprehension task 14 percent higher than that of a previous cohort.“We know that mother tongue instruction improves literacy outcomes,” says Christina. “We were able to introduce literature-based materials that provide a more authentic literacy experience for students.”These materials are now available to teachers all across the country. But when it erupted and spewed lava and ashes, we were all afraid." Philippine setting, the Department of Education implemented the K to 12 curriculums which is in line with the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals, which is to promote and advance literacy; implement programs that will help learners develop their reading skills. “The pupils are responsive and participate in the class discussions because they are able to express themselves freely and confidently and can relate well to the lessons.”A recent study found that second-grade students who acquired a mother tongue foundation in Basa Pilipinas classrooms could read more fluently in Filipino than a similar cohort four years earlier who did not. The increase was significant within the 3-year interval but it also shows that there is more to be done as the rate is still 17.36% short of the 80% threshold.To date, World Vision continues to work with the Department of Education, the local government and community volunteers across its 38 area programs in the Philippines. Improving functional literacy in the Philippines Over the years, the Philippines has consistently made a significant stride in its functional literacy rate. Students learn to read and write in Visayan, their mother tongue, as well as Filipino and English, and there are remedial reading and writing classes for students who need extra help.Polinar has even instituted a “zero non-reader” policy in her school to help teachers stay laser-focused on literacy instruction. By Mong Jimenez, Field Communications Specialist Alex was diagnosed with a lung disease three months after he was born. Over the years, the Philippines has consistently made a significant stride in its functional literacy rate. The result is the potential to improve mother tongue-based education for millions more Filipino children.“This partnership has shown that a mother tongue-based education policy can bring about real literacy gains,” says Ochoa.