DepEd superintendent implements ‘reading sessions’ to enhance student comprehension
By Nina Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY — DepEd Butuan City Schools Division Superintendent Minerva T. Albis, announced during the Brigada Eskwela kick-off program on June 9 her marching order to all teachers in Butuan City to simultaneously conduct reading sessions within their classes starting on June 16, 2025, which is the opening of classes in all public schools.
“I would like to stress my instruction to all the public schools district supervisors [in Butuan City] during our meeting, that in the beginning of the school year, lahat ng mga bata sa Butuan ay magbabasa,” said Albis in her message to the stakeholders.
“This directive is in support of this year’s Brigada Eskwela theme for School Year 2025-2026, “Sama-sama Para sa Bayang Bumabasa,” which incorporates academics in the program’s activities defying its usual conduct of just simply cleaning and maintaining the physical structure of the school before the start of classes.
“Itong paglilinis ay initial lang talaga na ginagawa natin para maging conducive ang ating learning environment (The cleaning of the school is an initial activity to ensure conducive environment for the learners). But the cleaning is not the real essence of Brigada Eskwela. We really want to build a nation through learners who can read,” added Albis. “Yung batang marunong magbasa, lahat ng asignatura ay kaya nya. (A child who knows how to read can excel in any subject). That is why we really give emphasis on reading with comprehension.”
To further promote this initiative, Albis shared to the audience that she likewise ordered all district supervisors to lead by example through visiting random schools, bringing their own reading materials, and sit down with the students to conduct reading sessions themselves. She also committed to do the same.
The Schools Division of Butuan City has recorded a total of 86,000 enrollees in the elementary and secondary levels for the upcoming school year, exclusive of private school enrollees. Butuan is considered as a medium-sized division based on its population with 138 public schools within their jurisdiction.
Part of the kick-off program was the story reading activities conducted to the school children present during the activity led by government personalities: Col. Maria Ghirly A. Solis from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Caraga and Rosalito B. Libres, head of the City Education Development Department (CEDD) on behalf of Councilor Joseph Omar B. Andaya, chairperson of the city’s Committee on Education.
It can be recalled that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conducted a Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) back in 2024, in which the results of the said survey were presented during the senate hearing on April 30. The statistics alarmed the country as data showed that more than 18 million high school graduates in the country were considered functionally illiterate. This means that these students may be able to read, but could not fully comprehend what they are reading.
This year’s theme of the Brigada Eskwela is DepEd’s response to the call for recalibration of the Philippine education system, shifting their attention from mere physical and structural issues of schools to a more pressing concern—which is the literacy rate of Filipino children.
Dominggo C. Nollora III, senior education specialist and Brigada Eskwela coordinator of DepEd Butuan City, shared the specifics of how they were able to inject the academic factor in the activities of the Brigada Eskwela.
“Our primary goal is to help our children learn how to read. So, in the implementation of the Brigada Eskwela program, we encouraged donors and benefactors to also share their time either by volunteering to read stories to the children or to assist in moderating reading sessions of the students,” shared Nollora.
“Through initiatives such as these, we are able to prepare the children and refresh their learning before they go back to school, especially coming from a long break,” he said.
Another effort of DepEd Butuan City in promoting their advocacy is the composition of their Brigada Eskwela jingle entitled, “Donate Books and Show We Care,” encouraging stakeholders to take part in molding the learners become children who can read and comprehend through the provision of reading materials to all schools. (NJGD/PIA Caraga)