(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 13 December 2024) Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the western section of Mindanao and Palawan. Shear Line affecting the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon and the rest of Central Luzon. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Friday, 8 November 2024

‘Lahutay Tungha’ addresses dropout rates of learners in Surigao Sur

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) Surigao del Sur, together with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Provincial Convergence Advisory Council (PCAC), announced the promising results of the program on “Lahutay Tungha: Reach A Child,” addressing the dropout rates of learners in the province and their continuous engagement  for this school year.

 

The program on Lahutay Tungha: Reach A Child was piloted at Libas Sud Integrated School, a far-flung campus in the municipality of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur aimed to help students at risk of dropping out, often referred to as Students/Pupils At-Risk of Dropping Out (SARDO/PARDO). Lahutay Tungha literally means “persevere in your studies.”

 

Designed as a comprehensive support system, it addressed both academic and socio-economic challenges faced by 80 identified learners as beneficiaries of the program, comprising 25 pupils and 55 students identified as at-risk.

 

Meiflor Cabigon, provincial link officer from DSWD said, “The 80 SARDO/PARDO beneficiaries were shortlisted based on the interviews conducted to them and their parents who highlighted several barriers to school attendance, including poverty, the long on foot journey to school, and the physical obstacles of crossing muddy roads and streams during the rainy season.”

“To address these challenges, the Lahutay Tungha was launched and the beneficiaries received various support measures such as nutri-pack snack supplements, hot lunch meals, and free transportation from home to school and vice versa,” Cabigon added.

 

The program also provided additional interventions such as peer facilitators, psychological first aid through a buddy system, and one-on-one coaching sessions led by the school’s guidance advocate.

The said pilot school ensured the daily recitation of the anti-bullying oath in every classroom that reinforced a safe and supportive school environment for everyone.

 

One of the beneficiaries, Grade 9 student Aicel, shared the program’s positive impact to her education saying, “The program helped me feel supported, and I do not feel like I am alone. With my friends, teachers, and peer facilitators, I feel stronger every day and more hopeful about my future.”

  

M. Cleben V. Lozada, senior education program specialist of DepEd Surigao del Sur’s Social Mobilization and Networking Section (SocMob), emphasized the program's holistic approach.

 

“This is a major step forward. We’re not just giving students the tools to learn, we are also making sure they have the resources to stay in school despite personal or financial challenges. Our partnership with DSWD ensures that we address these issues comprehensively,” he said.

 

Libas Sud Integrated School has already observed a significant improvement in its retention rates, and the program’s success has encouraged DepEd Surigao del Sur to extend the initiative to ten additional schools for the 2024-2025 school year, specifically targeting institutions with high dropout rates.

 

With this endeavor, education officials are optimistic that other schools will see similar positive outcomes. The program’s growth is a testament to the government’s commitment to tackling dropout rates and ensuring every child has the chance to have a bright future through education. (NGPB, PIA-Surigao del Sur)