Local Programs to encourage reading
Less and less Filipinos are reading - a fact reflected in the results of a study conducted in 2003 which revealed that, as compared to the results of a similar study done a decade ago, there has been a 0.5% decrease in the literacy rate in the Philippines. According to the study dubbed the Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), the literacy rate of 57.6 million Filipinos aged 10-64 is now at 93.4%. The rate of functional literacy among the group is even lower: 84.1%.1
This is an alarming trend. The benefits reading brings and the importance it plays in our everyday lives make it imperative that everyone learn how to read and comprehend concepts and ideas. Fortunately, government agencies, businesses, student groups and private organizations in the country have already launched programs to encourage Filipinos to read. Some of these programs are:
- The National Commission for Culture in the Arts’ National Committee on Libraries and Information Services has launched its Technical Assistance Program (TAP) to help public and private libraries nationwide in establishing/improving their services, including the development or upgrading of their Information Technology capabilities. The TAP was launched as part of the Committee’s mission to “promote the use of books and other information materials as well as libraries at all levels” and “encourage reading among the youth.”2
- In 2005, the Department of Education, League of Corporate Foundations and the Ronald McDonald House Charities launched the Bright Minds Read (BMR) program. BMR’s aim is to increase the literacy of Filipinos by encouraging Filipino students to read early on. Their specific targets are the first grade students in the country. Knowing that one reason why kids are not able to properly develop their reading skills is the lack access to resources like books, the BMR distributed 126 BMR kits to schools in Metro Manila and the Southern Tagalog. The BMR kits, each costing P11,200, contains English and Filipino reading materials and manuals and worksheets for teachers. The BMR program also trains teachers how to implement “effective beginning reading.”3
- To encourage reading and instill values among young Filipinos, the Philippine Association of University Women-UP Diliman Chapter and the UP Pahinungod launched the Roving Library, a program that aims to make books more accessible to less fortunate children. Every week, volunteers bring books to the communities and have two-hour story telling sessions with the children. The program benefits around 100 kids in UP communities like the Pook Ricarte and Dagohoy every semester.4
- To encourage reading, the Philippine government continuously celebrates the National Book Week in the Philippines every last week of November. Now on its 73rd year, the National Book Celebration features activities like essay-writing and story-telling contests and book parades.5
- The country’s authors, librarians, wholesalers and local and foreign publishers are also contributing to the efforts to encourage Filipinos to read. Every year, the country’s biggest names in publishing gather for the Manila International Book Fair and to promote books and reading. The fair, aside from selling books at heavily discounted prices, also features presentations on some of today’s most sophisticated technology in book publishing.6
Now, what are you doing to encourage your students to read?
Did You Know?
Sources:
1, 3 Hicap, Jonathan, “How a Happy Meal Can Fight Illiteracy.”
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/nov/12/yehey/life/20051112lif3.html
2 National Committee on Libraries and Information Services,
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about_ncca/committee/lis.php
4 Pahinungod, http://www.up.edu.ph/forum/2001/07/pahinungod.html
5 Philippines, http://www.iasl-slo.org/happenings-archive2003d.html
6 Manila Bulletin, “Manila International Book Fair Set.”
http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/
2006/08/21/SCAU2006082172054.html
