News

The Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat (LCCS), together with other DepEd offices, participated in the Professional Development Workshop with a theme, “Coping with Work-From-Home Arrangement; Effective Interventions”, via Google Meet held on August 25-27, 2020. The three-day webinar aimed to enable the Secretariat staff to improve work quality, performance level, and customer service satisfaction even under alternative work arrangements amidst public health emergencies.

Ms. Aurea Jean A. Abad, Technical Working Group Member, talked about the “Online Engagement and Courtesies”, providing tips for connecteaming the LCC Secretariat in a Work-From-Home (WFH) condition. Meanwhile, Ms. Nancy M. Sustento-Ramores, Center for Reading and Literacy Head of the Philippine Normal University, discussed the “Habits of Mind: Coping Skills”, identifying 16 problem solving, life related skills needed to be understood and applied by an individual to work through real life situations. Finally, Ms. Ma. Cristina M. Gonzales, Freelance Training Specialist, presented the “Work From Home Coping Strategies to Increase Productivity and Avoid Burnout; Strengthening the Resilience Factor in the WFH Individual”, deliberating stress symptoms, effective ways to avoid burnout, empower resilience to move forward, and develop life changing skills a WFH individual should think about and apply while working.

The online activity was participated in by the LCC Secretariat Staff and Technical Working Group; Philippine Normal University; and DepEd Central Office representatives from Indigenous Peoples Education Office (IPsEO), and Teacher Education Council Secretariat (TECS).

Congratulations, Usec. Diosdado M. San Antonio, for being a recipient of the 2019 Gawad Career Executive Service (CES) Presidential Awardee!

The LCC Secretariat would like to extend its unwavering commitment and support to Usec. San Antonio in mobilizing and championing equitable and quality literacy to all learners.

The Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) conducted its first-ever virtual workshop via Microsoft Teams held on August 18-20, 2020. The Workshop on the Development of the 2019 LCC Research Journal on Literacy is a follow-up activity of the Call for Papers on Literacy, as one of the major activities of the 2019 National Literacy Conference (NLC) entitled “Aligning 21st Century Literacies to Industry 4.0 Through Research”, held on October 8-10, 2019 in Iloilo City.

Based on the Republic Act No. 10122, otherwise known as the Literacy Coordinating Council Act, among the powers and functions of the council are to adopt measures to boost research and development work in literacy, and advance the conduct of relevant research studies in aid of policy formulation on literacy. The webinar was conducted to know the importance of research journal to the universalization of literacy in the country; discuss the data requirements in developing the research journal; and evaluate the ten (10) entries orally presented and eight (8) entries exhibited during the 2019 NLC based on the criteria set for feature in the 2019 LCC Research Journal on Literacy.

The virtual activity was participated in by Dr. Heidi B. Macahilig of the Philippine Normal University (PNU); Ms. Susan M. Carandang of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); Mr. Nemesio O. Malatamban III of the House of Representatives (HRep); Ms. May R. Cinco of the Education Network (E-Net) Philippines; Ms. Aurea Jean A. Abad, TWG Member; and the LCC Secretariat.

Please click this link to download a copy of the DepEd Memorandum:

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Calling all winners of the LCC Hall of Fame Awards, and all first-place winners in the National Literacy Awards (NLA)!

Following the successful production of LCC’s first-ever Coffee Table Book (CTB) entitled “Passion for Literacy” in 2019, the Council is coming up with its second volume this year. The Volume 2 of the LCC CTB shall highlight the best practices and success stories on literacy of the LCC Hall of Fame and NLA awardees.

Please submit your entries to the LCC Secretariat through email address: lcc@deped.gov.ph on or before September 15, 2020 with the subject LCCCTB2_Region No.

Please see DepEd Memo number 129 dated July 8, 2020 for more details.

Make sure to check the LCC website at https://lcc.deped.gov.ph for further updates.

The Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) members approved the release of its official statement amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic and beyond

VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS, July 20, 2020 – The Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) members approved the release of LCC’s official statement in support of DepEd’s efforts on literacy and basic education continuity during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic and beyond.

Due to the spread of COVID-19, the literacy of school children and out-of-school youth and adults in the country is feared to be greatly affected because of the limited face-to-face teaching and learning interactions, along with other relevant issues and challenges. In spite of this, it geared the whole country toward various alternative learning delivery modalities which aim to enable every learner to have a continued and sustained literacy even in the times of crisis.

On July 20, 2020, the Council members convened during its 142nd LCC Meeting via Microsoft Teams. As agreed upon, the Council shall release an Official Statement to support DepEd in its efforts on literacy and basic education continuity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The said official issuance is necessary for strengthening literacy initiatives down to the grassroots levels of the society especially during these trying and difficult times. It also urges the commitment, active support, and cooperation of all education stakeholders.

In connection with this, the LCC expresses its full support of DepEd’s undertakings and directions provided in the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan, Sulong EduKalidad and the adoption of other alternative learning delivery modes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, through the issuance of the LCC Statement. The Council aspires to maximize the literacy interventions at the local communities, and amplify the participation of various literacy champions, including the external partners in and out of the country.

As part of our commitment to deliver quality service to our literacy clients, we are pleased to inform you that the LCC has a new website address at: https://www.lcc.deped.gov.ph.

For more information, kindly visit the new LCC website or you may also reach out to the LCC Secretariat via our Facebook Page at Literacy Coordinating Council and/or email address at lcc@deped.gov.ph.

Special thanks to DepEd ICTS for hosting our website via DepEd domain and making it more secure.

The second virtual Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) Meeting via Microsoft Teams was held on July 20, 2020. Discussions for approval or deliberation included are the Minutes and Status of Agreements of the 141^st Council Meeting; updates on the House Bill on the Revised LCC Law; LCC’s Statement of Support to DepEd on Its Efforts on Literacy and Basic Education Continuity Amidst the Pandemic; and the Proposal to Create an Alternative Learning System (ALS) Council.

Comments and recommendations for further amendments on the Bill on the revised LCC Law from Council Member Agencies were consolidated and inputted accordingly, from the existing provisions as approved during the 141st Council Meeting to the revised provisions as of 20 July 2020. Also, the proposal to issue an official statement from the Council in support of DepEd’s efforts on literacy and basic education continuity during this pandemic and beyond was also deliberated on, and will be very soon released to public. The videoconference was concluded by a discussion on a proposal to create an ALS Council.

LCC Chairperson Diosdado M. San Antonio, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, presided over the 142nd LCC Meeting attended by Council Members and Representatives Director Anna Liza F. Bonagua and Mr. Zaldy I. Masangkay of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); Mr. Adnan P. Ahmad of the Philippine Senate; Mr. Nemesio O. Malatamban III of the House of Representatives; Director Mryna Clara B. Asuncion and Ms. Susan M. Carandang of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); Dr. Bert J. Tuga of the Philippine Normal University (PNU); Prof. Flora C. Arellano and Ms. May R. Cinco of the Education Network (E-Net) Philippines; and Ms. Melinda T. Quiñones of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

The teleconference held last July 3, 2020 was formally commenced by Dr. Diosdado M. San Antonio, Undersecretary of Curriculum and Instruction, LCC Chairperson by delivering his welcome remarks and acknowledging the presence of ASec. Alma Ruby C. Torio, all participants from DepEd CI bureau directors/heads of offices, regional directors and schools division superintendents. Usec. San Antonio reiterated that DepEd will focus on blended distance learning delivery modalities since a face-to-face interaction is not feasible in this time of pandemic. He underscored that DepEd will harness all available resources in implementing online delivery modalities to provide learning resources to its learners. He ended his message by saying to ensure the safety standards and protocols set by the IATF are strictly observed by the facilitators and learners.

The Global Book Alliance (GBA) hosted a webinar on the use of interactive radio and audio instructional resources called “Mobilizing Audio for Learning During and After COVID-19” last 25 June 2020 at 08:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada), via RingCentral Meetings.

Ms. Rebecca Rhodes, Team Lead of USAID Reading and Literacy, introduced the panel of experts from Global Digital Library, Education Development Center (EDC), and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Malawi. Mr. Christer Gundersen of Global Digital Library discussed about GDL Radio as a GBA flagship initiative, which is being funded and managed by Norway. It is a collection of Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) and Interactive Audio Instruction (IAI) resources that can be accessed by the following countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya G-Youth, Liberia, Malaki Tikwere!, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zanzibar.

Discussions on Mobilizing Audio for Learning were presented by Dr. Rachel Christina, Director of International Basic Education under EDC; Dr. Simon Richmond, Team Leader of ICT in Education under EDC; and Ms. Dorothy Matiti of USAID Malawi. Ms. Matiti introduced Interactive Audio Instruction delivery options which can be done through radio (IRI), mp3 or CD, and mobile phone. Comparative advantages on these three (3) options were identified based on their accessibility, flexibility, and need for electricity. Among the IAI Challenges include capacity development, production costs and quality, user support, technology, among others. Meanwhile, Dr. Richmond focused on the Practical Advice for Audio Repurposing by preparing parents and their homes, adapting content, materials distribution, and messaging.

The online session featured wide range of USAID-funded audio teaching and learning resources accessible to Global Digital Library’s (GDL) missions and partner governments. Insights and recommendations on audio utilization to support learning amidst COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen education system resilience were also provided. Education representatives and audio learning experts across the globe, who participated in the said webinar, gained knowledge on the power of audio as an education system enhancement, utilizing available resources, and ensuring the quality of repurposed existing resources and new materials development through Panel Discussion with experts.