DepEd earmarks ₱131 M to boost literacy in 131 far-flung schools

DepEd earmarks ₱131 M to boost literacy in 131 far-flung schools.

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ment locally responsive and contextualized reading programs.

“We trust our school leaders to know what their students need,” Angara added. “Whether it is more books, better reading nooks, or specific teaching tools, this grant empowers them to build the right environment for their learners with the support of their community.”

The schools, including 25 in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, were identified through the School Year (SY) 2024-2025 Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA), ensuring that aid reaches communities where foundational literacy support is most crucial.

Reaching schools across diverse landscapes

DepEd said the recipient schools span the Philippines' varied geography. In the north, funds support upland communities such as Capissayan Norte Elementary School in Gattaran, Cagayan.

In the Visayas, the initiative reaches Hiduroma Elementary School in San Jose de Buan, Samar, while in Mindanao, Maguid Elementary School in Sultan Kudarat benefits from the program's coastal interventions.

Empowering schools

Unlike a top-down approach, DepEd said schools will use funds according to their own Literacy Improvement Plans, allowing strategies to be customized to the community context.