DEPED Introduces Fridays as Dedicated Reading Days for Students Starting 2024
All public schools will now be required to conduct “Catch-up Fridays” to help elementary and high
school students with reading difficulties, announced by Deped Secretary and Vice President Sarah
Duterte last November 2023.
The program started on January 12 2024 to align with the nationwide celebration of Drop
Everything and Read (DEAR) Day.
The Department of Education launched this reading program to address the alarming decline of
students reading comprehension abilities, as reflected in almost every national and international
assessments conducted.
In fact, the literacy rate of students in the Philippines is one of the lowest in the world.As per the
World Bank's 2022 report, 90% of Filipino children aged 10 struggled in reading basic texts.This
figure increased from 70% in 2019 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, in
the latest results of the Programme for International Student
Assessment (Pisa), 15-year-old Filipino students were among the lowest
scorers from 81 countries, with an average score of 347 points in reading,
way below the global average of 476.
“We have already been through two PISAs and the scores of the students have not yet
improved. This means we need to innovate and do something else,” Duterte said.
Under the “catch-up Fridays” program, students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 will
spend the day reading age-appropriate materials “based on their interest” and will be
asked to write essays, book reviews and other similar outputs.
Students who already know how to read will take lessons to improve their critical thinking
and analysis, while students capable of critical thinking and analysis “will be asked to
write books and essays,” she said.
The official guidelines for the said program are provided in DepEd Memorandum
No. 001, s. 2024, which states that the “Catch Up Fridays” program will dedicate half of
every Friday to reading and the other half to values, peace and health education.
“We need one day where we will focus on bringing students up to speed on their lessons.
We can’t just keep doing the same things but nothing is changing or improving with our
learners,” Duterte stated.
the introduction of "Catch-up Fridays" marks a significant step by the Department of Education in
addressing the concerning decline in reading comprehension and persistent low litearcy rates
among Filipino students. By introducing dedicated reading days and boosting critical thinking
skills, our education system aims to improve student grades and encourage lifelong learning. Let's
see this initiative as a positive step forward, inspiring students to love reading and grow
academically. Happy reading, students!
All public schools will now be required to conduct “Catch-up Fridays” to help elementary and high
school students with reading difficulties, announced by Deped Secretary and Vice President Sarah
Duterte last November 2023.
The program started on January 12 2024 to align with the nationwide celebration of Drop
Everything and Read (DEAR) Day.
The Department of Education launched this reading program to address the alarming decline in
students' reading comprehension abilities, as reflected in almost every national and international
assessment conducted.
The literacy rate of students in the Philippines is one of the lowest in the world. As per the World
Bank's 2022 report, 90% of Filipino children aged 10 struggled in reading basic texts. This figure
increased from 70% in 2019 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, in the latest results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), 15-
year-old Filipino students were among the lowest scorers from 81 countries, with an average score
of 347 points in reading, way below the global average of 476.
“We have already been through two PISAs and the scores of the students have not yet improved.
This means we need to innovate and do something else,” Duterte said.
Under the “catch-up Fridays” program, students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 will spend the day
reading age-appropriate materials “based on their interest” and will be asked to write essays, book
reviews, and other similar outputs.
Students who already know how to read will take lessons to improve their critical thinking and
analysis, while students capable of critical thinking and analysis “will be asked to write books and
essays,” she said.
The official guidelines for the said program are provided in DepEd Memorandum No. 001, s. 2024,
which states that the “Catch Up Fridays” program will dedicate half of every Friday to reading and
the other half to values, peace, and health education.
“We need one day where we will focus on bringing students up to speed on their lessons. We can’t
just keep doing the same things but nothing is changing or improving with our learners,” Duterte
stated.
the introduction of "Catch-up Fridays" marks a significant step by the Department of Education in
addressing the concerning decline in reading comprehension and persistent low literacy rates
among Filipino students. By introducing dedicated reading days and boosting critical thinking
skills, our education system aims to improve student grades and encourage lifelong learning. Let's
see this initiative as a positive step forward, inspiring students to love reading and grow
academically. Happy reading, students!
All public schools will now be required to conduct “Catch-up Fridays” to help elementary and high
school students with reading difficulties, announced by Deped Secretary and Vice President Sarah
Duterte last November 2023.
The program started on January 12 2024 to align with the nationwide celebration of Drop
Everything and Read (DEAR) Day.
The Department of Education launched this reading program to address the alarming decline in
students' reading comprehension abilities, as reflected in almost every national and international
assessment conducted.
The literacy rate of students in the Philippines is one of the lowest in the world. As per the World
Bank's 2022 report, 90% of Filipino children aged 10 struggled in reading basic texts. This figure
increased from 70% in 2019 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, in the latest results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), 15-
year-old Filipino students were among the lowest scorers from 81 countries, with an average score
of 347 points in reading, way below the global average of 476.
“We have already been through two PISAs and the scores of the students have not yet improved.
This means we need to innovate and do something else,” Duterte said.
Under the “catch-up Fridays” program, students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 will spend the day
reading age-appropriate materials “based on their interest” and will be asked to write essays, book
reviews, and other similar outputs.
Students who already know how to read will take lessons to improve their critical thinking and
analysis, while students capable of critical thinking and analysis “will be asked to write books and
essays,” she said.
The official guidelines for the said program are provided in DepEd Memorandum No. 001, s. 2024,
which states that the “Catch Up Fridays” program will dedicate half of every Friday to reading and
the other half to values, peace, and health education.
“We need one day where we will focus on bringing students up to speed on their lessons. We can’t
just keep doing the same things but nothing is changing or improving with our learners,” Duterte
stated.
the introduction of "Catch-up Fridays" marks a significant step by the Department of Education in
addressing the concerning decline in reading comprehension and persistent low literacy rates
among Filipino students. By introducing dedicated reading days and boosting critical thinking
skills, our education system aims to improve student grades and encourage lifelong learning. Let's
see this initiative as a positive step forward, inspiring students to love reading and grow
academically. Happy reading, students!
All public schools will now be required to conduct “Catch-up Fridays” to help elementary and high
school students with reading difficulties.
The Department of Education,headed by Vice President Sarah Duterte, implemented this reading
program in January 12, 2024 to address the alarming decline in students' reading comprehension
abilities, as reflected in almost every national and international assessment conducted.
The literacy rate of students in the Philippines is one of the lowest in the world. As per the World
Bank's 2022 report, 90% of Filipino children aged 10 struggled in reading basic texts. This figure
increased from 70% in 2019 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, in the latest results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), 15-
year-old Filipino students were among the lowest scorers from 81 countries, with an average score
of 347 points in reading, way below the global average of 476.
“We have already been through two PISAs and the scores of the students have not yet improved.
This means we need to innovate and do something else,” Duterte said.
The official guidelines for the said program are provided in DepEd Memorandum No. 001, s. 2024,
which states that students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 will spend the day reading age-
appropriate materials “based on their interest” and will be asked to write essays, book reviews, and
other similar outputs. Students who already know how to read will take lessons to improve their
critical thinking and analysis, while students capable of critical thinking and analysis will be asked
to write books and essays. This program will dedicate half of every Friday to reading and the other
half to values, peace, and health education.
“We need one day where we will focus on bringing students up to speed on their lessons. We can’t
just keep doing the same things but nothing is changing or improving with our learners,” Duterte
stated.
The introduction of "Catch-up Fridays" marks a significant step by the Department of Education in
addressing the concerning decline in reading comprehension and persistent low literacy rates
among Filipino students. By introducing dedicated reading days and boosting critical thinking
skills, our education system aims to improve student grades and encourage lifelong learning. May
this initiative serve as a catalyst for positive change in the Philippines, empowering elementary and
high school students to embrace the joy and value of reading for years to come. Let's strive for
progress and encourage lifelong learning. Happy reading, students!
