The annual Reading Camp is finally back after two years of a break as the City Government of Valenzuela, DepEd Valenzuela relaunches Reading Camp 2022 in over 42 public elementary schools, August 8.

Reading Camp 2022 is a ten-day half-day session for non-readers and frustrated level readers that aims to address illiteracy among grade school students. Based on the latest assessment conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd) – Valenzuela through the Philippine Individual Reading Test (Phil-IRI), 808 non-readers and 7873 frustrated level readers from grade three to grade six students were recorded.

Valenzuela Schools Division Office Superintendent, Dr. Meliton Zurbano expressed the importance of reading camp, he said, “Dalawang taon tayong sumuong sa pandemya. Nagkaroon tayo ng learning losses, at isa sa nawala ay yung kakayanan sa pagbasa ng mga mag-aaral, na dapat natin irecover at balikan.” (We have been facing the pandemic for two years. We have had learning losses, and one of the lost is the students' reading ability, which we must recover and return to.)

On the other hand, Valenzuela City Mayor WES Gatchalian pointed out what is needed to attain in the program, “I hope for the best. Maikli lang naman iyan. Less than two weeks lang ang programa natin pero ang importante ay ma-reach natin ang target natin sa reading proficiency.” (I hope for the best. It is short. Our program is less than two weeks, but the important thing is that we reach our target in reading proficiency.)

Students identified as frustrated and non-readers will be reassessed after the camp to gauge their improvement. 

To make the students active in attending the reading camp, Mayor WES announced that a Jollibee gift certificate awaits those learners who will complete the ten-day session.

The City Mayor also acknowledged the parents who took their time to bring their child to the program; the teachers who participated in the Teaching Camp held prior to the Reading Camp session; and the student-volunteers from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV) that will serve as teacher aides. 

To be equipped with knowledge and skills in preparation for the Reading Camp, 433 public elementary school teachers underwent a two-day Teaching Camp that was facilitated by the Synergeia Foundation led by their Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Milwida ‘Nene’ Guevarra to be equipped with knowledge and skills. While, 866 PLV student volunteers went through an orientation to be familiarized with their duties to be performed in the Reading Camp. 

The Reading Camp kick-off program happened in Canumay East Elementary School (CEES). Joining Mayor WES Gatchalian, is Vice Mayor Lorena Natividad-Borja together with DepEd Valenzuela and CEES officials, and Canumay East Punong Barangay Reynaldo Miranda.

To commence the relaunch of the Reading Camp, Mayoress Tiffany Gatchalian led a storytelling before the students followed by Q and A game related to the story to test the students’ comprehension. The book title is “The Crunching Munching Caterpillar”, about a caterpillar who dreamt of flying but made to believe he can’t until he developed wings and soared through the wind. Each student who successfully answered the Mayoress’ question got a reward, such as a lollipop candy, school supplies, like eraser, pencil and a notebook. The rewards were handed to students by Mayor WES and Mayoress’ children, Tara and Liam.

Teaching Camp and Reading Camp is part of the Education 360 Degrees Investment Program, the holistic, comprehensive, and student-centric approach to uplift the quality of education in the City. It was first launch in summer of 2014 and the beneficiaries of the said camp since it started is now close to 100 thousand students.

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