USAID donates books, educational materials to DepEd

CEBU, Philippines — The United States Agency International Development (USAID) yesterday handed over reading and learning materials to the officials of the Department of Education in Central Visayas.

The turnover was held in Cordova Central School by USAID Philippines Office of Education chief Brian Levy. DepEd schools superintendents and school heads from Mandaue, Cebu, and Tagbilaran were also present.

The donation was part of the Basa Philippines project, which is a five-year flagship basic education project of the USAID Philippines.

"Today is a day of celebration and thanks. To our partners at the Department of Education, thank you for your commitment to deepen and to sustain this collaboration," Levy said in a speech.

The project works with DepEd in target language regions in order to develop and implement effective literacy instruction practices. This also transforms reading and learning outcomes in classrooms by training teachers on effective literacy instruction.

Levy said the Basa Philippines with the aid of the Philippine government has reached over 1.8 million students.

"In over 3,000 USAID-supported schools, students now have access to a variety of storybooks, leveled readers and other supplementary reading materials to boost their interest in reading," Levy said.

Levy added that the Kindergarten students are also able to use manipulatives to help develop their cognitive and motor skills along with their literacy.About 19,000 teachers and schools heads were trained through this five-year project.

"Across our partner schools divisions, school heads use a tablet-based classroom observation tool to provide ongoing support to teachers," Levy added.

School division heads across Central Visayas gave their reflection and impact statements and vow to sustain the project as they believe it helped not only the students but teachers as well. Grade 1 teacher Roselyn Narciso of Cordova Central School said she was grateful for the program.

"We are grateful for the Basa Philippines program because our lives have changed and were able to produce independent readers. Its legacy will remain in our hearts," Narciso said.

Deped-7 regional director Juliet Jeruta thanked USAID for their advocacy for education and that she hopes that the outcome of the project will be fruitful in the long run.

"When I heard the different testimonies, I hope it will not just be a lip service," Jeruta said, adding that teachers and school division heads should work together in providing education and reading literacy to their students. — FPL (FREEMAN)