By Stephanie Sevillano | Philippine News Agency
Vice President and outgoing Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday said the three-week National Learning Camp (NLC) would help 2,183,327 learners in Grades 1 to 3 and Grades 7 to 10, particularly in their performance in Reading, English, Mathematics, and Science.
“I am optimistic that this program will continue to yield positive outcomes, improving the foundational literacy, numeracy, and 21st-century skills crucial to our learners’ future success,” she said in a speech during the NLC’s Appreciation Program in San Fernando, Cebu.
Duterte said the camp is part of the Department of Education (DepEd)’s strategy to address the “learning crisis” and learning loss that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is part of our response to the low performance of our learners in the National Achievement Test (NAT) and International Large-Scale Assessments (ILSAs), such as the Programme for International Student Assessments (PISA), and the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM),” she added.
Besides subject-related interventions, the NLC also provided “fun and engaging activities” to participants such as eye and dental check-ups in select schools.
The second NLC, which started on July 1, will run until July 19, with around 185,759 learning camp teacher-volunteers.
“Last year, the NLC spanned five weeks, but this year we have reduced it to three weeks due to the adjusted school calendar of SY 2024 to 2025, as classes resume on July 29, marking our return to the pre-pandemic schedule,” she said.
In 2023, around 938,341 learners in Grades 7 and 8 benefited from the first NLC’s through intervention, consolidation, and enhancement camps in 34,383 schools nationwide.
Palarong Pambansa
Duterte, meanwhile, visited athletes, trainers, and coaches who were confined at the Cebu City Medical Center and unable to join the Palarong Pambansa opening ceremony on Tuesday.
“Sila ay nagmula sa iba’t ibang rehiyon at na-admit sa hospital dahil sa iba’t ibang karamdaman. Marami sa kanila ang nanghihinayang,” she said.
Duterte said immediate medical response and assistance would be given to the affected participants, in coordination with the local government of Cebu.
Besides the Palarong Pambansa and the NLC, the DepEd also graced the 2024 National Festival of Talents, the National Schools Press Conference or NSPC, the National Learners’ Convergence, and the Solidarity Meeting of the Learners’ Rights and Protection Office in various areas in Cebu.
