DepEd National Learning Camp lists 1.6M enrollees
By Bobby Q. Labalan
Sorsogon City --- Some 1,667,780 pupils and students have so far enrolled in the initial implementation of the National Learning Camp (NLC) being initiated by the Department of Education (DepEd) nationwide.
The data includes only those who enlisted until July 12 covering 13 out of the 16 regions which have submitted their number of enrollees to the program, data from DepEd central office showed. Those not in the list are Regions 4B, 11 and National Capital Region.
Of the total figure, 235,667 are from Bicol Region which posted the third highest number of enrollees so far from Grade 1 to Grade 12 nationwide. The number is expected to further increase significantly as enrollment continues.
The NLC is part of the National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP) of DepEd which hopes to address the learning loss among students caused by the COVID-19pandemic.
As stated in DepEd Order No. 13-2023, the NLRP aims to “strengthen the learning recovery and continuity program, improve numeracy and literacy and accelerate the achievement of education targets”.
Aside from the NLC, the NLRP also includes the National Reading Program (NRP), National Mathematics Program (NMP), National Science and Technology Program (NSciTP) and other learning programs currently implemented by the department.
Of the three major programs, the education department is highlighting the implementation of the NLC which, in effect, is similar to summer class but focuses more on Grade 7 and Grade 8, with concentration on Math, English and Science, for secondary and Reading and Mathematics Programs for Grades 1-3.
According to Joan Lagata, DepEd-Bicol education program supervisor (EPS) and regional focal person for Learning Recovery Program (LRP), the participation to the camp is purely voluntary for the pupils and students as well as for teachers who would handle classes.
Under the NLC, students will be classified either under enhancement, consolidation or intervention which determines the kind of learning intervention that each pupil or student needs, Lagata said in a phone interview with Bicol Mail.
Based on DepEd Order No. 14-2023, learners in Consolidation Camp will “experience support to achieve greater depth and breadth and complexity of grade-level competencies in learning areas while those in Enhancement Camp will experience support to consolidate the use and application of grade-level competencies in learning areas and learners in Intervention Camp will experience support to achieve foundational Mathematics and/or English skills”.
All three camps will start on July 24 until August 25 with class sessions every Tuesday to Thursday for five weeks except for Consolidation Camp which will run for only three weeks, Mondays and Fridays will be devoted to planning , assessment and collaborative sessions among teachers, the Order stated.
The “placement of students in the three camps will depend on their performance in the pre-assessment or academic performance in the school year immediately preceding the end-of-school-year (EOSY) break, the Order further said.
Bicol teachers who will handle classes during the NLC are now undergoing training and capacity-building sessions in all the divisions and shall be ready by next week when the camp is slated to start, Lagata said.
The NLC is a phased program and its initial phase gives emphasis on Grades 7 and 8 being the foundation of secondary education and they are those who did not have face-to-face classes prior to their entry into the secondary level due to the pandemic, she explained.
Though the NLC focuses mainly on Grades 7 and 8, other grade levels will also have similar learning activities depending on the need of the pupils and students like remedial classes, the education supervisor clarified.
“For example, Grades 1 to 3, will also have enrichment or enhancement classes, depending on the results of the end-of-school-year assessment of the learning recovery program implemented by DepEd-Bicol”, Lagata added.
An unnumbered memorandum dated July 5, 2023 signed by Gina Gonong, undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching, and Analyn Sevilla, undersecretary for Finance, both of DepEd central office, showed that the camp has a total budget of P1.7 billion to be used for teacher trainings and capacity building, reproduction and delivery of materials and for advocacy campaign.
The same memorandum showed that P166.3 million was allocated for Bicol Region and will be distributed to the 13 division offices pro-rata.
An additional P371.7 million was allocated to DepEd-Bicol for the meal allowance of 59,482 teachers who will serve in the NLC at P250 per day, the memorandum stated. They will also be granted service credits as additional incentive.