USAID/Philippines Basa Pilipinas Program Annual Progress Report: Year 5

The program is implemented by Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) and focuses on three key results: Improved Reading Instruction, Improved Reading Delivery Systems, and Improved Access to Quality Reading Materials. Improved Reading Instruction is a critical component of the program, with a focus on training kindergarten teachers on effective literacy instruction. The program has trained over 2,500 kindergarten teachers through the Strengthening Kindergarten Teaching and Learning Training Course Materials. These teachers have shown significant improvements in their instructional practices, with a 60% increase in the use of phonics-based instruction. The program has also made significant strides in improving reading delivery systems. National Reading Month activities were conducted in November 2017, reaching over 1 million students and teachers. The program has also established a network of reading centers, providing access to quality reading materials for over 500,000 students. Improved Access to Quality Reading Materials is another key component of the program. The program has produced over 1 million kindergarten storybooks, which are distributed to schools and reading centers throughout the Philippines. These storybooks are designed to promote literacy and provide engaging reading materials for young learners. Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) is a critical component of the program, with a focus on assessing the impact of the program on student learning outcomes. The program has conducted several studies, including a study on the role of gender in literacy achievement, which found that girls who received reading instruction showed significant improvements in their literacy skills. The program has also made significant strides in promoting gender awareness and disability inclusion. The program has trained over 1,000 teachers on gender awareness and disability inclusion, and has established a network of teachers who are trained to support students with special needs. Outreach and Communications is another key component of the program, with a focus on promoting the program's activities and achievements through social media and other channels. The program has established a strong social media presence, with over 100,000 followers on Facebook and Twitter. The program has also established strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including the Department of Education (DepEd) and other government agencies. These partnerships have enabled the program to leverage resources and expertise, and to scale up its activities to reach more students and teachers. Financially, the program has made significant progress, with a total expenditure of over $10 million in Year 5. The program has also made significant strides in meeting its financial targets, with a projected expenditure of over $5 million in Year 6. Overall, the Basa Pilipinas Program has made significant progress in improving early grade reading instruction in the Philippines. The program's focus on training kindergarten teachers, improving reading delivery systems, and promoting access to quality reading materials has resulted in significant improvements in student learning outcomes. The program's commitment to research, monitoring and evaluation, gender awareness and disability inclusion, outreach and communications, and strategic partnerships has enabled it to achieve its goals and make a lasting impact on the education sector in the Philippines.