Sarangani Big Brother (SBB) “Reading is Fun” began its 4th season Monday (April 25) among elementary schools in the province.
SBB, a summer reading program, is implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd), Quality Education for Sarangani Today (QUEST), Alcantara Foundation, Sangguniang Kabataan and youth volunteers.
QUEST pre-test and post-test results show a 55 percent increase in the pupils’ reading level from “frustration readers” (36%) to the right reading level (91%) and were ready to enter Grade III last year.
“We are very happy to inform you that every year, we are improving the reading skills of our pupils because of our intervention,” Kawas Elementary School teacher Grace Labustro said. Labustro teaches Grade III in her school.
In Malungon, Alkikan Elementary School teacher Patrick Neil Eresma said of his 30 Grade III pupils who were “frustration readers” three received honors at the end of the school year after finishing the SBB last year.
Teacher Mary Jane Amar of P. H. Millona Elementary School in Malapatan said even without looking at the post-test results, she can testify on the improvement of the pupils during the school year.
SBB this year has 537 youth volunteers who are the big brothers and big sisters, and 224 province-paid teachers and 107 DepEd teachers.
“We required our provincial school board (PSB) teachers to participate in the program to maximize the learning process of the pupils,” QUEST program manager Annalie Eday said.
The 15-day remedial reading program from April 25 to May 13 was designed to assist the DepEd in improving the reading skills of the incoming Grade II and Grade III learners identified as frustration readers. [Sarangani Information Office]
