ILOILO CITY (PIA) -- The roll out of "Tib-ong Bumulutho" (tib-ong means uphold; bumulutho means students), a proficiency program that encompasses reading and numeracy remediation activities, has been seen to improve the performance and learning status of students in Iloilo province.

DepEd-Iloilo superintendent Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr., in a media briefing, noted the improvements in addressing the educational challenges in Iloilo that was intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing out that the suspension of in-person classes affected the reading and numeracy skills of learners.

Out of 74.45 percent or 168,083 of 225,766 Grades 3 to 11 learners tested during the pre-assessment that showed below standard reading level, the number dropped to 105,320 learners (46.65 percent) in the post-assessment, marking a 27.80 percent improvement.

Servillon also pointed out that the program, which was supported by the provincial government, and other organizations like the ABC+ and the Synegia Foundation, involves implementing and enhancing contextualized district and municipal initiatives on reading and numeracy, noting that these efforts are coordinated by district offices in collaboration with local chief executives and municipal mayors.

He also remains optimistic for the continuous progress of the students' proficiency level by the end of the academic year, as the data indicates that nine percent of the 1,172 schools in Iloilo province reported improvements in their learners' numeracy and literacy performance so far. (AAL/JNH/PIA Iloilo)