SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon (PIA) --The adage says “It takes a village to raise a child.”

In keeping with this principle, the Department of Education's (DepEd) Schools Division Office in Sorsogon has developed a multi-year plan to eradicate illiteracy in the province.

Called “The Village Inc.,” the three-year plan is designed to improve the education system in the province and ensure that no child is left behind by developing quality learners, teachers, schools, and leadership, according to Schools Division Superintendent William Gando.

Gando said The Village Inc. is an acronym for “Total, Holistic Education through Vibrant, Integrated Linkages with Leaderships, Alliances, Groups and Entities to Individually Nurture Children,” which represents a broad alliance.

At an educational stakeholders' meeting, Gando explained that The Village Inc. is a legacy program that aims to improve the education system in the province by developing quality learners, teachers, schools, and leadership, leaving no child behind.

“We need a complete and high-quality education system. Non-readers are just one of the problems we face in education,” he said.

The commitment to excellence extends to the assessment of Grade 3 and 6 students, ensuring that every child receives the necessary support to thrive academically and beyond, he added.

Through a curriculum designed to produce competent and job-ready citizens, The Village Inc. endeavors to create inclusive, positive learning environments conducive to holistic development.

Gando emphasized the alignment of the division's plan with broader agendas, highlighting the commitment to efficient service delivery in education. He reaffirmed the sentiment that it takes a village to raise a child, underscoring the collaborative approach driving their plans forward.

Gando called on the stakeholders and other partners of The Village Inc. to extend their help in producing a competitive learner who can not only read but also understand what they are reading.

He also articulated the vision of mobilizing the village to holistically raise Sorsoganon children for 2024 and beyond.

According to Gando, there are concerns regarding equitable access and participation among learners in the province of Sorsogon.

Almost 20 out of every 100 children aged 5 years old are not enrolled in kindergarten, while almost 10 out of every 100 children aged 5-11 years old are not enrolled in elementary school.

Additionally, almost 20 out of every 100 children aged 12-15 years old and at least 30 out of every 100 children aged 16-17 years old are not enrolled in junior or senior high schools, respectively.

Sorsogon has a total of 578 schools, of which 81 are public secondary schools, 450 are public elementary schools (including integrated schools), and 47 are private schools.

Despite having over 500 schools in the province, there are concerns about the whereabouts and future of these children who are not enrolled in schools.

The Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment for the school year (SY) 2022 to 2023 conducted by DepEd’s Bicol regional office revealed that learners from grades 1 to 3 are not yet ready for their grade level as they do not know how to read.

"The number of children who cannot read in the early part of SY 2022 to 2023 is significantly high," said Gando.

The two assessments conducted by DepEd, which include reading letters and identifying sounds, as well as reading fluency and comprehension, showed that Sorsogon learners can read and identify sounds with a 46.24 percent rating, while 21.73 percent of them cannot comprehend what they are reading.

In terms of the proportion of emergent municipalities in Sorsogon, Bulusan has the highest number of emergent students (those who cannot read) at 24.65 percent, followed by Sta. Magdalena with 26.15 percent and Bulan with 28.01 percent.

"If we do not intervene substantially, these grade three pupils who will be moving to grade four, as well as other learners, will find it difficult to cope with the expected learning competencies," Gando said.

“With 578 schools under our purview, comprising a diverse mix of public and private institutions, and a total enrollment of 173,304 students, we must stand poised to enact tangible change,” he added. (PIA 5/Sorsogon)