Grassroots push expands youth reading

A community-based literacy initiative in San Nicolas continues to expand access to quality reading materials for public elementary school students, supporting broader efforts to address learning gaps highlighted by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

Now in its second year, the “Give Me A Book” program provides participating public schools with leveled and culturally relevant Filipino reading materials. The program aims to improve reading proficiency and foster a love for reading among children both inside and outside the classroom.

The initiative was introduced through the support of Ilocos Norte Second District Representative Angelo Marcos Barba in partnership with the Give Me A Book Foundation, an organization that works with schools and education stakeholders to develop and distribute age-appropriate Filipino books for guided reading, classroom instruction, and independent learning.

The local program complements national efforts to strengthen foundational literacy following EDCOM II findings that many Filipino students continue to struggle with reading and numeracy.