SAN FERNANDO, CEBU — Vice President and outgoing Education Secretary Sara Duterte announced on Wednesday that a three-week National Learning Camp (NLC) is set to assist over 2 million learners in improving their academic performance. The initiative targets students in Grades 1 to 3 and Grades 7 to 10, focusing on critical subjects such as Reading, English, Mathematics, and Science.
According to Philippines News Agency, the NLC is a strategic response by the Department of Education (DepEd) to combat the 'learning crisis' exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program aims to address the significant learning losses observed during the pandemic, reflected in the low scores of Filipino students in the National Achievement Test (NAT) and various International Large-Scale Assessments (ILSAs), including the Programme for International Student Assessments (PISA) and the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM).
The camp, which began on July 1 and will run until July 19, features 185,759 volunteer teachers who facilitate both academic and "fun and engaging activities." These activities are designed not only to enhance learning but also to provide essential health services such as eye and dental check-ups at selected schools. The structure of this year's camp has been adjusted to three weeks to align with the school calendar for SY 2024 to 2025, which resumes on July 29.
Reflecting on the inaugural NLC held in 2023, Duterte highlighted that approximately 938,341 learners in Grades 7 and 8 participated in intervention, consolidation, and enhancement camps across 34,383 schools nationwide. This large-scale engagement underscores the program's reach and the department's commitment to reversing educational setbacks.
In addition to her duties with the NLC, Vice President Duterte also took time to visit athletes, trainers, and coaches hospitalized at the Cebu City Medical Center, who were unable to attend the Palarong Pambansa opening ceremony. She assured that immediate medical assistance would be provided in coordination with local government units, reflecting a holistic approach to supporting student participants in various national events.
The DepEd's active involvement in events like the Palarong Pambansa, National Festival of Talents, National Schools Press Conference, National Learner's Convergence, and meetings of the Learners' Rights and Protection Office in Cebu demonstrates a continued commitment to enhancing educational and extracurricular opportunities for Filipino students.