PBEd Program to improve learning outcomes of kids rolled out in Himamaylan

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Industry-led advocacy group Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) is taking proactive actions to curb learning poverty in the country as the Senate approved on second reading the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act.

In 2021, PBEd partnered with Accenture Philippines to introduce Kiddie Learning Train (KLT) to teach kids basic reading and math skills through an offline gamified app developed by the digital California-based early-learning solutions provider, Enuma.

The program also aims to enlist volunteer tutors with education backgrounds to ensure continued learning even remotely. Its pilot in Cebu resulted to 69% and 18% increase in reading and math scores of students falling behind their class.

To empower local governments and spread the gains of KLT, the program was relaunched in Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, February 28 to strengthen reading and math skills of Kinder 1 and 2 learners.

“We should provide our young learners the right support and tools in the early stages of life to equip them with skills and knowledge vital for their cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical development,” said PBEd Executive Director Justine Raagas.

To kickstart the project, 52 young learners were assessed for their baseline skills. In addition, parents were also oriented on the program’s plans and goals to address their children’s learning difficulties in reading and math.

“PBEd is here, supported by the whole force of the city of Himamaylan who will carry out KLT using the technology through the tablets with gamified apps. This will help in strengthening the techniques and new innovation in education,” Himamaylan Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao said in his message.

With this breakthrough, PBEd seeks to sustain the KLT program for it to be adopted by other local government units so that learners receive quality education with a strong foundation on reading and math. This is crucial to alleviate the high learning poverty rate in the country.

“Let us continue to work together and make a lasting impact in a child’s life by ensuring that they are given quality care and education at home and in school–because investing in a child’s future is an investment in our future,” said KLT Program Manager Ruth Recto.

Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson, Jr., City Social Welfare and Development Officer Evergrace T. Castro, and Barangay 3 Council head Benjamin Jose Sian were also present during the launch.