VICTORIAS CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Thirty members of the Neighborhood Parent Support Group (NPSG) here kicked off the three-day Training of Trainers of Community-Based Learning Sessions on Supporting Early-Grade Learners on Friday, August 4, at the city training center of the northern Negros Occidental city.
The NPSG is a band of community stakeholders came from different sectors who were rigorously trained to be critical actors in their community in advancing basic education, especially the early grade learners.
The training of trainers (TOT) is a platform where identified members of NPSG) were gathered and trained by a pool of experts tackling topics on Basic Education Learning Recovery and Continuity Plan (BE-LRCP), Education Parenting Under the New Normal, How to Raise a Reader, Basic Digital Literacy, and Organization Strengthening for Parents and Community Group and Strengthening Engagement with Stakeholders.
Victorias City Councilor Derek Palanca expressed his gratitude to the community partners and parents for extending an extra mile in aggressively addressing early-grade learning gaps in the city.
“To our community partners and parents here, you deserve a tap on your back for doing the leg work for our children,” he said.”In every centavo, time and effort we spend for our child’s education is one of the most important things we can do in life. Years from now, they will be the ones who will be running our economy,” he added.
Cyril Orozco, PTA President of Salvacion Elementary School, shared his observations on the impact of the two-year hiatus brought on by the global health emergency on the learning experience of early-grade learners. “Imagine seeing children in the 4th grade experiencing educational gaps, and as the PTA president, I asked myself as to what steps should I step into to address that issue at the primary level,” he said.
“I am aware that our children’s educational needs must be met in addition to what their teachers are able to provide, but we parents must also take action. There’s still a gap that needs to be filled, which is why we are participating in this training. This will act as a seed that, over time, will grow and create a comfortable shade for everyone,” he added.
The training is a Parent Community Engagement session, one of the components of the ABC+ project that aims to equip early-grade learners’ parents and home-learning partners with practical skills towards becoming effective parents or critical actors in advancing primary education in the Philippines.
On August 1, the city’s education sector mechanism (ESM) was also launched, aimed at integrating efforts in addressing early-grade learning woes focusing on early-grade learning. In his message, City Mayor Javi Benitez emphasized the importance of having a sustainable and innovative projects like the ESM in helping all children have equal access to education.
The local government unit also plans to institutionalize the education sector mechanism to sustain and maintain strong stakeholder collaboration.
The ABC+ project is a project a of the Department of Education supported by the United States Agency for International Development and implemented by RTI International, The Asia Foundation, SIL Lead, South Florida State University, and Hope Builders Organization Negros Island Inc. The training of trainers will run until Sunday, August 6.
