Reading literacy among young learners in this town is being strengthened through initiatives to improve learners’ reading comprehension, language skills, and overall academic performance.

The program unites educators, local officials, parents, and community partners to boost literacy via reading interventions, book distribution, storytelling, and learner-centered activities. It also provides teachers with extra resources and strategies to support struggling readers in developing basic literacy skills.

“Thank you, Give Me A Book Foundation, for supporting our reading program and empowering learners with quality resources,” Rolen Oracion, principal of the Eladio V. Barangan Memorial Elementary, said after Chona Calayco-Lagoutte’s visit to monitor Filipino Leveled Books implementation at the school on Wednesday.

Education officials said the initiative aims to address learning gaps by fostering reading in schools and at home. They emphasized that strong literacy skills are essential for students’ success and lifelong learning.

In September last year, the Give Me A Book Foundation launched a program at the San Nicolas Elementary School in Ilocos Norte, initiated by Rep. Eugenio Angelo Marcos Barba, to improve foundational literacy among young learners.

The program provides participating public elementary schools with leveled, culturally relevant Filipino reading materials designed to improve reading proficiency and cultivate a lifelong love for reading.

The initiative complements national efforts to improve learning outcomes, based on findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) that many Filipino learners continue to struggle with foundational literacy and numeracy.

The commission has called for sustained interventions in early-grade education, including expanded access to quality learning resources, stronger teacher support, and community-based literacy programs.

The Give Me A Book Foundation partners with schools and education partners to develop and distribute age-appropriate Filipino reading materials that support guided reading, classroom instruction, and independent learning.

“We are committed to continuing this initiative because investing in our children’s ability to read is an investment in the future of San Nicolas. We will continue working with our partners to ensure that more learners benefit from quality reading materials and meaningful literacy programs,” San Nicolas Mayor Ed Mar Vincent Bonoan said in a statement.

Parents and volunteers are also encouraged to participate by supporting reading activities and creating opportunities for children to practice reading outside the classroom. (PNA)