One of the earliest Community Learning Hubs, established under the Bayanihan e-Skwela program of former VP Leni Robredo, was for Barangay Tabuco in Naga City. It was spearheaded by the UP Alumni Association, Camarines Sur Chapter. Though continually hampered by the lockdowns due to the pandemic, the tutorial sessions started even before its formal launch in March of 2021.
As early as January, 70 students had already been availing of the services of the hub. They were identified from the survey data of DepEd Naga’s Division Office and confirmed through the house visits of the volunteer tutors.
Indeed, what the OVP back then saw as need to supplement the teaching instructions for kids due to the COViD health crisis was existent.
Aside from the lack of gadgets or wifi connections at home, the parents themselves were not available to assist their children with their modules. They were away at work for sometimes more than 8 hours daily fending for their families.
Measuring Progress
Like all Community Learning Hubs, measuring the progress of the students is an indispensable part of the program. This provides the necessary
feedback for every stakeholder. The initially OVP-trained volunteer tutors from the youth groups, Millennials.ph and Tabuco Sangguniang Kabataan, immediately saw from their sessions that many were struggling readers.
Therefore, their focus then became reading and writing so the children from pre-school to Grade 4 may be able to tackle their modules as expected. Closer coordination with the Tabuco Elementary School Principal facilitated the identification of those children who were most challenged.
Recently, the active tutees from the various grade levels numbered 40. The first fruits of the Tabuco CLH shared their talent in reciting the poems they have read and memorized during the culminating and recognition activity last July 8. These 28 pupils who attended were assessed as ready to move up to Grades 1 and 2.
It is also noteworthy that the Operations Head and the volunteer-tutors, mostly education students and fresh graduates, are the most deserving to be recognized in what the Tabuco CLH has achieved so far. Spending their free time and resources by helping those in need is most humbling.
Community Effort
Despite the difficulties on the first year of implementation, the UPAA Board vows to continue this project and aims for its accreditation as part of the “Angat Pinas” in no time soon.
Gratitude is, however, unending for the major partners, the Universidad de Sta. Isabel (USI) HS ’82 for the 10 units of desktop computers and some health protocol equipment, USI HS ’80, USI HS ’86, and USI Alumna Raquel V. Ragragio on finances.
The Integrated Institute of Electrical Engineers (IIEE), United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Camarines Sur, and the Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (GEPI) have also made the construction and physical transformation of the hub possible.
The Kindness Mentality for the books, Zonta Club of Naga and CamSur and CamSur for the wall fans, and the Pilgrims Hotel, JSMP Enterprises, Bicol Petroleum who have all contributed to the completion of the project as well, together with Filipino Homes CamSur and Naga City Guide
