Ninety-six percent of around 3,000 Grade 3 learners in the Ilocos Region who joined the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Literacy Remediation Program (LRP) have passed the reading assessment, the department’s regional official confirmed on Thursday.

At a forum, DepEd Ilocos Region Director Tolentino Aquino, said the learners were identified as “low emerging readers” for encountering difficulties in reading and comprehension.

These learners have undergone a four-week remedial class under the LRP, which was launched by the department nationwide this year.

“After four weeks during their summer break, 96 percent of the learners showed improvement and passed the reading assessment. They are now ready to move to the next grade level,” Aquino said in Filipino. “The remaining 4 percent who didn’t pass will still be promoted but will continue to receive special tutorials from their teachers.”

He said the program focuses on Grade 3 learners as this grade level is considered a critical stage in learning.

Although those with difficulties only represent a small fraction of the region’s 1.2 million enrollees in SY 2024-2025, Aquino emphasized, “DepEd’s policy is no child left behind. Even one struggling learner deserves help.

The LRP is one of several 2025 Summer Programs under DepEd, along with the Bawat Bata Makababasa Program, Summer Academic Remedial Program, Regional Remediation Program, and Learning Camp.

These initiatives are part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve education quality and teacher welfare.

In a statement, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the summer programs “are designed to provide the necessary support and resources to help learners overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.”

He added that these programs will be done through interactive tutorials and targeted activities, focusing on “phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension” for reading; and “number sense, basic operations, and problem-solving” for mathematics.

Angara also reiterated that teachers participating in the 2025 Summer Programs will be granted vacation service credits (VSC) and professional recognition on top of the 30 days maximum service credits for teachers.

“We recognize that our teachers are at the heart of learning recovery. These incentives are a way to value their dedication and expertise, particularly during the summer break,” he said. (PNA)