Leni alarmed by report that 70k kids struggling to read, blames poverty

The report showing that there are 70,000 children who are having a tough time reading in Bicol Region is alarming and should not be discounted, Vice President Leni Robredo said Friday.

Robredo was referring to the report wherein Department of Education Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad said that around 76,000 Grade 1 to senior high schools students are struggling readers.

“The report that 70,000 of grade school children are non-readers is very alarming. Mayroong mga nagdi-discredit doon sa test, pero kahit anong konteksto, alarming pa din. Hindi dapat tayo maging defensive.  May problema, akuin iyong problema, maghanap ng solusyon,” Robredo said in an interview in Camarines Sur where she turned over aid for farmers.

Robredo, however, argued that the Department of Education (DepEd) should not bear the burden of blame over such a setback which she said is brought about by a myriad of reasons, particularly poverty.

“Hindi kasi ito panahon ng pagsisisi, pero panahon ito para maghanap kung papaano haharapin. Unfair rin na isisi lahat sa DepEd, kasi alam natin na maraming factors, maraming factors na nagko-contribute sa ganitong problema,” Robredo pointed out.

“Number one na factor iyong poverty. Alam natin na dito sa Bicol, mas mataas iyong ating poverty incidence compared sa national average, so ano ba iyong ginagawa natin para masugpo iyon? Kailangang tingnan iyong lahat na factors na nagko-contribute doon, kasi kung hindi natin titingnan, kahit anong effort iyong gawin natin, problema pa din iyon,” Robredo added.

In closing, Robredo said her office stands ready to send help to improve the plight of the children.

“Ngayong hapon, mayroon akong meeting with Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad saka kay Usec. Dads San Antonio, kasi si Usec. Dads ng DepEd, siya iyong in-charge sa curriculum. Magmi-meet kami at 5 o’clock this afternoon. Pag-uusapan namin kung ano ba iyong strategy ng DepEd para mag-respond dito, at ano iyong maitutulong ng aming opisina,” Robredo said.

“After our meeting this afternoon, mas klaro na kung ano iyong... ano iyong strategies na gagawin. Pero ako, nag-usap na kami ni RD Gilbert saka ni Usec. Dads na handa iyong opisina naming tumulong kung anong klaseng tulong iyong kailangan,” Robredo added.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier said that that the report about 70,000 children who can't read was exaggerated, and that not knowing how to read is different from being illiterate. — MDM, GMA News