DepEd to implement Kindergarten Summer Program

DepEd to implement Kindergarten Summer Program
To universalize quality assured kindergarten education and to ensure that all
Grade 1 entrants have developed the necessary learning experiences to
prepare them for academic work, the Department of Education (DepEd) will
implement an eight-week Kindergarten Summer Program (KSP) in all schools
nationwide from April 11 to June 3, 2011.
“When young children are better prepared on the ways of school life, they
develop a positive attitude in schooling. Thus, they value learning more, strive to
excel and are more likely to finish basic education. This is what we want our
young children to develop – value for education – through KSP,” said Education
Secretary Armin Luistro.
Through DepEd Order No. 23, series 2011, Kindergarten Summer Program
(KSP): A Strategy to Reach More Children, the department is set to strengthen
its campaign towards achieving the Education For All (EFA) goal by catering to
children who will be Grade I by June 2011.
The program will cater to those prospective Grade 1 entrants without preschool
experience by June 2011. These children could be aged or above five years and
six months in April 2011.

Studies reveal how early schooling positively affects students’ completion of
elementary and secondary education.
The Philippine Education For All (EFA) 2015 Plan of Action cites that attaining
success in the first grade encourages children to complete elementary
education. This condition supports the findings of worldwide studies, that,
children exposed to the quality of preschool experiences determine their
performance in the higher grades.
To yield more EFA benefits, DepEd- Bureau of Elementary Education (BEE)
continuously expands and intensifies the Early Childhood Care and
Development (ECCD) / kindergarten education coverage to all children aged
three to five years.
BEE has implemented the Preschool Program since 1970. However, as of 2010,
only 79% of the 2.4 million kindergarten children from both public and private
schools had been reached. This shows the low readiness level of Grade 1
children and the high incidence of non-readers and drop outs prevailing until
Grade 3.
“DepEd recognizes all these. That is why as far as our EFA goal is concerned,
we are serious in the implementation of the universal public kindergarten
program for 5-year olds and this KSP for new Grade I entrants,” Luistro
stressed.
In line with the implementation of KSP, permanent Kindergarten teachers and
those who were hired under the DepEd Subsidized Kindergarten Program OSEC COMMUNICATIONS | DEPED COMPLEX, MERALCO AVENUE, PASIG CITY 1600
T (02) 6316033 | F (02) 6364876 | WEBSITE http://www.deped.gov.ph | EMAIL comm-osec@deped.gov.ph
during the school year shall handle the Kindergarten Summer Classes (KSCs).
A class shall have a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 25 enrollees.
In cases where the prospective enrollees are located in remote barangays,
which are four kilometers away from each other, an itinerant teacher (IT) shall
be assigned to handle classes in two adjacent barangays, with each class
having at least eight enrollees.
Luistro directed all schools to conduct an advocacy forum or meetings with the
local government units (LGUs) and parents to orient them on the importance of
the program and thus draw-in community support. They shall also prepare the
Kindergarten classroom to ensure a child-friendly, safe, and motivating learning
environment by seeking support from the local government and other
stakeholders in making the learning environment as attractive, conducive, and
effective as possible for children to gain an optimum summer kindergarten
experience.
All implementing schools shall use the enriched Eight-week Kindergarten
Summer Program curriculum. The kindergarten instructional materials –
manipulative toys, songs in CD format, big books and storybooks distributed by
the BEE shall be used. Schools, however, are provided authority to seek
support from the local government unit (LGU) in augmenting the existing
instructional materials and/or equipment.
“As the 2015 deadline draws nearer, a lot of challenging tasks still need to be
addressed. What is important is that we are anchored on the right direction in
meeting our commitment,” said Luistro.
Source: DepED

Tags: Kindergarten Summer Program 2011