DepEd’s ‘Catch-up Fridays’ to begin Jan. 12

All Fridays throughout the current school year are now designated as a “catch-up” day with a goal of particularly improving the reading skills of learners, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Thursday. 

Starting January 12, 2024, DepEd will implement “Catch-up Fridays” to learners in all public elementary and secondary schools and community learning centers nationwide in a bid to enhance the academic performance of students  in the K to 12  Basic Education Program, considering their low proficiency levels in reading based on national and international large-scale assessments. 

All Fridays of January 2024 will also be dedicated to the “Drop Everything and Read” (DEAR) activity and orientation for field officials, based on a memorandum signed by DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong on January 10. 

DEAR is among the reading strategies of the agency which will allow learners to independently and silently read a book of their choice for a short period of time.

This after President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. directed the DepEd to work hard on improving the country's performance based on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

During the first half of the day, DepEd said the focus will be on the operationalizing of the National Reading Program, while the second half will center on fostering values, health, and peace education. There will also be a Homeroom Guidance Program every Friday.

The agency also emphasized that the Catch-up Fridays will not be graded.

“Since its main objective is to reinforce learning, individual progress shall be monitored through the learner's Reflection Journal, compiling reading experiences, learnings, and appreciation of Values, Health, and Peace Education. Learners may also articulate their thoughts through various forms of writing, such as stories, journals, personal essays, and other forms of creative expression that reflect their unique learning experiences,” the memo read.

In November 2023, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte announced the implementation of Catch-up Fridays, acknowledging that the quality of education in the country is not good based on studies.

“Kailangan natin ng isang araw kung saan kailangan nating humabol doon sa kung saan natin gustong dalhin ang mga bata. Hindi paulit ulit na lang tayo sa ating ginagawa pero wala naman tayong nakikitang pagbabago, wala tayong nakikita na improvement sa ating mga learners,” she said.

(We need a day where we have to catch up on where we want the children to be [academically]. We should stop repeating measures that do not result in [positive] changes or improvements in our learners.)

Duterte said that the scheme would be conducted until 2028 or the end of the Marcos administration.—RF, GMA Integrated News