Addressing The Decline In English Proficiency

"President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the Department of Education (DepEd) to come up with a host of ‘intervention measures’ aimed at upgrading English instruction in public elementary and high schools nationwide."

"To help address these issues, the DepEd is carrying out the "Every Child a Reader Program" or ECARP.

Under this scheme, "a comprehensive reading assessment is done at all the grade levels through the Philippine Informal Reading Inventory in English and Filipino. Results of this assessment are then used as basis for specific reading programs initiated at the regional and division school levels," explained Lapus.

The DepEd will continue holding its national "Read-a-Thon" contest, which offers cash prizes to students who emerge best in story telling, oral interpretation and vocabulary, as well as outstanding reading teachers.

Other initiatives to improve students' reading comprehension include the establishment of library hubs and book donations by the private sector and local government units.

"We have directed schools nationwide to beef up their libraries and implement various reading strategies to instill among students love for reading at an early age," said Lapus."

Full article here.