THE United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) turned over teaching and learning materials to Tayud Elementary School in Consolacion, Cebu yesterday.
The move is part of Usaid’s goal to improve the reading skills of at least one million primary pupils in Filipino and English.
“The United States Government shares your determination and enthusiasm to continuously improve the quality of education,” said Usaid Director of Education Brian Levey while speaking before the Tayud teachers and students.
The materials that were turned over include short story books for Grades I, II and III students, said Kaye Sucgang, Basa Pilipinas communication officer.
Basa Pilipinas is a USAID/Philippines flagship basic education project that supports the National Government’s early grade reading program.
Its objectives include improving reading instructions, reading delivery system and access to quality reading materials.
The short story books given to the Grade I students yesterday are written in Bisaya while those for Grades II and III are written in Bisaya and English.
The stories, which are done by local writers and artists, are accompanied with big illustrations.
The books contain stories like that of Kabang, the dog in Zamboanga City that became internationally famous after rescuing nine-year-old Dina and three-year-old Princess Diansing from a motorcycle accident last December 2011.
The dog crushed its snout during the incident. The dog’s face was eventually reconstructed in the US through donors that pitched in $27,000 or about P1.2 million.
During the turn over ceremony, Grade III pupils Princess Clara Cañete and Shem Gomez went up the stage and personally thanked Levey and Trey Hicks, another Usaid official, for the school materials.
School principal Helen Colminas also welcomed the Usaid’s donation.
“Sa kahiladman sa akong kasing-kasing, dako kaayo ang among pasalamat. (From the bottom of our hearts, thank you),” she said.
Over the last four years, Levey said Usaid reached more than a million students, 15,200 teachers and school heads, and provided more than eight million teaching and learning materials.
In a press statement, Basa Pilipinas and USAID invested P1.186 million for their project.
“The US government is very pleased to continue to partner with you to achieve our mutual development goals of ensuring inclusive and quality education for all, and promoting lifelong learning,” said Levey.
