Sarangani Big Brother makes 27,000 kids better readers

By BEVERLY C. PAOYON MALUNGON, Sarangani (May 31, 2012) – Over 2,000 volunteers in Sarangani celebrated education reforms reaped since Governor Migs Dominguez launched the summer remedial reading program “Sarangani Big Brother: Reading is Fun!” in 2008. Over the past five years, Sarangani Big Brother (SBB) has taught 27,098 pupils involving 1,263 teachers and 3,759 volunteers. SBB and the education reforms initiated by the provincial government through its Quality Education for Sarangani Today (QUEST) are now replicated by the provinces of Compostela Valley, Palawan and Cebu. Statistics show that SBB has turned 27,098 pupils into better readers whom, according to QUEST program manager Annalie Edday, could have probably dropped out from school due to poor reading abilities. Based on QUEST data, drop-out rate was recorded at 23 percent as early as in Grades 1 and 2. In his keynote speech, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza noted that education is the “best way of getting out from poverty” while believing that poverty “is not just a political issue but a result of grave moral concern.” Mendoza’s speech was delivered by TUCP’s senior political action officer Jessie Pagaran during the SBB culmination program Wednesday (May 30). “We all know the sad reality that many high school (students) that did not graduate could not find decent jobs,” Mendoza said. He pointed out the “7.2 unemployment rate” in the Philippines in which its economy “apparently cannot absorb the millions of job seekers that flock the numerous jobs fairs that the government, private sector and civil society organized and sponsored.” Mendoza cited the significant percentage of unemployed Filipinos due to “lack of required competencies or skills and still below standard” skills. He challenged literacy advocates among youth and teacher volunteers to “instill in the minds of (our) citizens the passion for continuing education. That is why we continue to support the call for more and higher budget for education for basic and tertiary level.” Certainly, Mendoza said, poverty could not be eliminated totally but the percentage of poor Filipinos can be reduced by “leaps and bounds” thru provision of quality education and skills training among workers. The TUCP, he said, “is also pushing for a legislative agenda which aims to generate productive employment and sustainable livelihood for (our) people.” In Sarangani, reforms have been introduced to revolutionize the education system wherein SBB is among the programs that has been successfully implemented. SBB is a 15-day remedial reading program the provincial government of Sarangani initiated in partnership with the Department of Education, Sangguniang Kabataan and the Alcantara Foundation to improve the reading skills among incoming Grade 2 and Grade 3 who are identified as “frustration and instructional readers.” “Frustration and instructional readers” are those who can identify words but have inadequate or no comprehension at all. Edday said “many people thought that a volunteerism program is something impossible but SBB has grown far” since it started five years ago. From 99 teachers and 680 youth volunteers, it is now recorded at 408 and 1,573, respectively. DepEd Sarangani schools division superintendent Allan Farnazo said the only contribution of DepEd to SBB program is the provision of trainings and teachers but all financial requirements came from the local government units. “The work of education in Sarangani is not solely rested on DepEd.” Farnazo said the “best people to survive in this world are those who have the capacity to read and understand. That is the first skills that we have to share to our children.” (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)