Unlock literacy: supporting parents towards their children’s education

As the communities continue to face challenges brought by the pandemic in terms of education, increasing the number of children who have difficulties in reading, writing and comprehension. Parents and learners are in struggle as they see a future that is full of uncertainties.

World Vision continuously strives to achieve its goal in improving children’s learning outcome together with the Department of Education, municipal and barangay local government unit, religious sectors, parents, community monitors and children.

“Given the challenges brought by the pandemic, we will not sacrifice our children’s learning. We want to make distance learning fun no matter what the children’s learning style, needs and the family approach either modular or online learning,” says Roseville Cabasag, World Vision project officer.

World Vision together with the different stakeholder conducted training of trainers on unlock literacy program supporting parents and caregivers in developing culture of reading to increase learning outcome of children in the community aligned with the Brigada pagbasa project. This collaborative effort address education related challenges on ensuring that all basic education students become functionally literate. It will also create opportunities for all stakeholders to contribute possible solutions to the current gaps in education in the country.

20 parents and caregivers trained on unlock literacy and produced locally contextualize materials for children in the area program. These trained individuals also conducted roll out in the community level to fellow parents to actively support the Brigada Pagbasa and other activities that enhance learning outcomes.

“Simulation of the training of trainers for the roll out of unlock literacy workshop was very challenging. I thought I cannot do it. But with the help of other child monitors, we were able to simplify and complete the workshop. Now I am confident to facilitate and share my learnings to other parents in the community,” says parent Elisa, 44.

The program is in response to the community’s need to train partners on developmentally appropriate reading and remediation approaches in the context of the pandemic, who will then be mobilized to assist struggling learners in catching up with their home schooling.

Currently the roll out of unlock literacy program in equipping parents and caregivers are continuously conducted, mobilizing trained facilitators and child care leaders in the area program in support to the different stakeholders in the community.

“Creating locally relevant materials using marungko approach is not easy for me since it’s not my regular work but with the given opportunity to learn, I was able to make one big book for the children, Thanks World Vision for allowing me to experience and to make myself proud,” says Catherine, 28, mother of two.