THE LITERACY Coordinating Council, which is administratively attached to the Department of Education, has committed to pursue activities that ensure literacy delivery to the marginalized sectors and contribute towards a better education system, as adaptive measures to the Covid19 pandemic and beyond.

The LCC, chaired by DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instructions Diosdado San Antonio, in behalf of Education Secretary Leonor Briones, also expressed its full support to the DepEd ‘s undertakings and directions provided in the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan, Sulong EduKalidad, and the adaptation of other alternative modalities.

The council noted the rigorous efforts of DepEd to continue providing education amid the Covid19 pandemic and beyond.

“The Council Members would also gladly extend support in every way they can to continually deliver and uphold an accessible, relevant, inclusive and liberating literacy to every Filipino, especially to the marginalized sectors,” the LCC said in a statement.

This year’s call for research proposal focuses on the intervention of literacy to various community needs amid the Covid19 pandemic and beyond with relevant policy recommendations.

Under the memorandum circular issued in November 26, 2007, local LCC/Literacy Implementing Units will be created and strengthened in the city and municipality levels to make the literacy policy and programs more contextualized and sector specific.

In addition, local government units’ best literacy practices will be compiled and made into IEC materials that could be references in improving literacy efforts, instead of holding the National Literacy Awards this year. The NLA is postponed to 2021 for health and safety concerns.

The council also urged various stakeholders such as national government agencies, LGUs, civil society organizations, the private sector, and other literacy advocates to intensify their collaboration with DepEd, to champion this noble goal, and to exhaust all efforts for the continued learning of students.

“Striving and winning together shall be our legacy. We will continue to participate in ensuring quality education is equitable and accessible to all learners particularly the marginalized, excluded, and vulnerable sectors. We know that our purpose of delivering continued education to everyone is one of the strongest weapons and we shall not let any pandemic stifle it,” the LCC said.

Despite the pandemic, the LCC has remained focused towards the universalization of literacy in the country.

“Adversaries may be present, but it is the same ground where we can unify and exceed what has already been done in the past,” the LCC said.

“Literacy for everyone, especially for the out-of-school youths and adults, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, and other marginalized and vulnerable sectors, remains as one of the priorities, and serves as our speckle of hope,” it added.