Raising Readers Thru 'Project Dap-Ayan' In Laoag City

Project Dap-ayan, a collaborative effort involving teachers, local officials, parents, and youth leaders in Barangay Zamboanga, Laoag City, has successfully boosted reading comprehension among students at Cabeza Elementary School. The program, which started late last year and continued into this year, conducts weekend reading sessions to address declining literacy skills.

Senior education program specialist Raymond Santos emphasized that "Project Dap-ayan" demonstrates the strength of community unity in equipping students. He presented the project as a testament to collaboration, dedication, and a shared vision for a brighter future at an education summit, highlighting its potential for adoption by other schools.

Twenty teacher-volunteers, residents of Barangay Zamboanga, facilitate reading sessions for identified pupils, clustering them by reading level and community area. Activities include read-alouds, pair-reading, independent, and silent reading. Students also received reading tablets from Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, along with books and other reading materials. The project also secured sponsorships for snacks.

Santos noted that the project revealed insights into the impact of parental education on literacy, particularly that many parents, lacking completed education and time, struggle to support their children's learning at home. To sustain the initiative, Zamboanga village chief Elmer Lorenzo and SK officials have allocated resources, ensuring continued support for the children's educational development.

Inspired by Project Dap-ayan's success, scholars from the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in Burgos town have adopted similar projects in their communities. Volunteer Jake Abragar expressed pride in community-driven efforts to provide educational tools and support. The article highlights the urgency of such initiatives, citing World Bank 2022 data indicating that 90% of Filipino children struggle with basic text comprehension, a figure that stood at 70% even before the pandemic.