The DepEd ABC+ (Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines) project is a 5-year partnership between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
It aims to improve literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional learning for students in Kindergarten to Grade 3.
The project focuses on enhancing the professional development of teachers, improving the availability and use of learning resources, and bolstering the education system’s capacity to support effective early grade instruction.
Beneficiaries include students, teachers, and educational institutions across Regions V and VI, as well as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Participants can expect comprehensive teacher training, support in instructional strategies, and the development of supplemental reading materials, all geared towards creating a more inclusive and nurturing learning environment.
Introduction to the ABC+ Project
The DepEd ABC+ (Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines) project is a 5-year partnership between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
This approach aims to improve literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning for students in Kindergarten to Grade 3.
The project focuses on strengthening the quality of education in the Philippines by enhancing the professional development of teachers, improving the availability and use of learning resources, and bolstering the education system’s capacity to support effective early grade instruction.
Objectives of the Project
The primary objective of the project is to strengthen the quality of education in the Philippines by improving reading, math, and socio-emotional skills of children in the early grades (Kindergarten to Grade 3).
This involves working closely with DepEd to implement evidence-based solutions for enhanced early literacy and numeracy instruction.
Additionally, the project aims to create a more equitable, inclusive, and nurturing learning environment for young students.
Approaches to Achieving Objectives
Teacher Professional Development
ABC+ provides a comprehensive professional development program for in-service teachers, which includes:
- Two Training Events per School Year: These events introduce concrete and applicable instructional strategies for bridging from mother tongue to Filipino and English across language and literacy skills, and effectively using supplemental reading materials in the classroom .
- Ongoing Support: Throughout the school year, teachers receive support through teacher communities of practice, teacher Facebook groups, and instructional supervision from school heads .
- Virtual Training Sessions: Due to COVID-19, training has adapted to virtual sessions that blend online synchronous (Zoom) sessions with offline self-study and small group work. This design was informed by a survey to understand teachers’ access to technology and familiarity with online learning .
- University Modules: In partnership with Florida State University, Bicol University, and Western Visayas State University, ABC+ has developed modules for university courses on early literacy development to strengthen the pre-service preparation of future teachers .
- Support for NEAP: ABC+ supports the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) in strengthening professional development activities, including the development of a Professional Development Information System (PDIS) to track teachers’ professional development .
- Upcoming Pilot Interventions: Plans for the 2021-2022 school year include pilots for improving early math instruction and testing a mobile app, Tangerine
, to help teachers assess and match students to appropriate reading materials .
Learning Resources and Materials
To support literacy instruction in a multilingual context, ABC+ partners with organizations like SIL LEAD and The Asia Foundation to develop supplemental reading materials in select mother tongues.
These materials are designed so that children can learn to read in the language they know best, which is essential in the early grades.
The project is also developing text leveling criteria to help teachers match reading materials to individual children’s needs.
System Capacity and Commitment
ABC+ collaborates with DepEd, local governments, and the private sector to address factors contributing to low learning outcomes.
By working with central and regional education officials and local organizations, the project maintains that evidence-based solutions can be adopted and sustained by the Philippine education system.
This includes approaches to strengthen DepEd’s capacity to implement the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) policy and other educational reforms.
Impact of the Project
The ABC+ project aims to benefit up to two million students in Regions V and VI, as well as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Multilingual and Multicultural Education
The Philippines, with over 170 languages, is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.
The MTB-MLE policy, launched by DepEd in 2012, supports the development of students’ foundational literacy skills in their mother tongue, Filipino, and English by the end of Grade 3.
ABC+ supports this policy by developing early reading materials in mother tongues and uphold their effective use in classrooms.
Teacher Training and Development
By September 2020, ABC+ had trained over 5,000 teachers through a blended approach combining online synchronous sessions with offline self-study and small group work.
This training helps teachers introduce concrete instructional strategies and use supplemental reading materials effectively.
The project also works with universities like Bicol University and Western Visayas State University to design modules for pre-service teacher training on early literacy development.
The EGL Hub: A Resource Center
The EGL (Early Grade Learning) Hub is a one-stop shop for resources related to the ABC+ project.
It provides access to a variety of tools and resources, including:
- Home learning guides and learner activity sheets for distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Supplemental reading materials in select mother tongue languages.
- Training materials on instruction delivery and assessment for early grade learning.
- Rapid assessment tools to determine learners’ reading levels.
- Digitized versions of created materials uploaded to DepEd Commons for wider access.
- A Professional Development Information System (PDIS) to track teachers’ professional development.
- Classroom observation tools reflecting the main focal areas of ABC+ teacher training.
To access and download resources from the EGL Hub, users need to register and log in at EGL Hub.
How to Participate in the ABC+ Project
Teacher Training
- Contact your local DepEd office or the ABC+ project team to inquire about teacher training opportunities.
- Participate in the comprehensive professional development program, which includes:Â
- Two (2) training events per school year on instructional strategies and using supplemental reading materials
Stakeholder Engagement
- Connect with local governments, the private sector, parents, and communities to advocate for and support ABC+ related investments and projects.
- Participate in stakeholder coalitions, especially at the local level, so that resources support the project.
Feedback and Evaluation
- Provide feedback on ABC+ activities through surveys to help improve the project’s implementation and impact.
Research and Development
- Collaborate with universities designing pre-service teacher training modules on early literacy development.
- Participate in piloting new interventions to improve delivery of instruction in early math and literacy assessment.
Note: To directly participate, contact your local DepEd office or the ABC+ project team. The project aims to improve literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning for K-3 students in the Philippines.
Video: The ABC+ Beginning Reading Program (BRP)
USAID invites participation in the ABC+ Beginning Reading Program (BRP), a technology-driven intervention aiding struggling readers in Grades 1 to 3 in select Philippine regions. Join the movement to reduce non-readers and cultivate a passion for reading in early grade learners.
Conclusion
The DepEd ABC+ project is a transformative approach aimed at improving early grade education in the Philippines.
By focusing on teacher professional development, the availability of learning resources, and system capacity, the partnership aims to enhance literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional learning for young students.
Through continued support and collaboration with various stakeholders, the project strives to create a sustainable and inclusive education system that benefits millions of Filipino children.