Mid-Term Performance Evaluation Report: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines (ABC+)

The program began in 2020 and is scheduled to run until 2025. ABC+ focuses on early-grade instruction and delivery, with a particular emphasis on literacy development. The program's activities are aligned with the Philippines Department of Education's (DepEd) policies and programs, particularly those related to learning recovery and continuity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ABC+ worked strategically by streamlining activities on teacher training, materials development, and system capacitation. Beneficiaries appreciated the close, consistent monitoring and intensive, flexible teacher support, which made ABC+ a reliable and robust partner of schools. The evaluation found that the teacher training and supplemental reading materials developed by ABC+ are effective in helping learners to read in their mother tongue and the Filipino language. The learning recovery plan, one of the policies enhanced with ABC+ support, was crucial in improving teachers' instruction to help K-3 learners catch up with their reading delays. The DepEd system's capacity to analyze and make decisions based on the data from comprehensive literacy assessment is very helpful in monitoring children's reading outcomes. The evaluation also found that ABC+ contributed to enhancing policies related to curriculum development and assessment at the K-3 levels. Furthermore, the program strengthened local ownership and leadership through diverse strategies and activities, which are promising elements towards sustainability. However, further collaboration with the private sector is imperative to ensure the long-term sustainability of the program. The evaluation used a theory-based, mixed-methods design to understand ABC+'s performance. The evaluation focused on ABC+ activities in Regions V (Bicol), VI (Western Visayas), and a small portion of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) (Maguindanao Division in BARMM). The evaluation conducted four activities in collecting data: electronic surveys for individuals, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and outcome harvesting workshops, and case studies for in-depth analysis of home learning partners and private sector engagements. The evaluation team found that ABC+ activities are relevant and aligned with DepEd policies and programs. The program's ability to adapt to the pandemic situation and pivot to achieve the intended outputs and outcomes is a testament to its agility. The evaluation also found that the program's results are promising, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. The evaluation's findings and recommendations are discussed in the report, which provides insights into the program's performance and areas for improvement.