THE DEPARTMENT of Education rolled out a community-based reading program in Lanao del Norte province to improve the reading proficiency of learners.

‘Brigada Pagbasa’ program director Geomel Jetonzo said that the reading program is an offshoot of the Brigada Eskwela that aims to assist the DepEd in tackling literacy gaps.

“We don’t intend to duplicate what DepEd is already doing in the community but rather to identify the gaps and see how we can engage our partners and supporters to strengthen the existing reading interventions activities implemented by the Department,” he said.

Brigada Pagbasa, he explained, is a platform that will help enhance the existing reading remediation being implemented in the community.

It seeks to help DepEd ensure that all learners will have improved learning outcomes.

“We can do that by providing opportunities for children to attend literacy programs, be it face-to-face or virtual,” Jetonzo said.

Under the program, parents and community partners are trained to enable them to support their children’s learning at home.