BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

The Department of Education (DepEd) has observed significant development and improvements in learners’ numeracy skills through a phone-based tutoring program.

In partnership with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and Youth Impact, DepEd is implementing the mEducation program, an evidence-based targeted education intervention that uses weekly messages and phone calls to deliver targeted math instructions to Grades 3 to 5 learners.

“The mEducation program embraces technology that addresses the challenges in learning recovery and remediation strategies for learners with specific learning needs in mathematics. The phone-based tutoring approach makes learning more accessible, personal, and collaborative,” DepEd MIMAROPA Regional Director Dr. Nicolas Capulong said.

From April to July 2024, 1,015 learners and 265 teachers participated in the program’s first round of implementation across 90 schools in nine School Division Offices (SDOs). Results indicate that the 20-minute tutoring sessions over an eight-week period improved academic performance.

The percentage of learners unable to identify basic operations has been reduced to 15 percent from 56 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage of those able to solve division problems has increased from 2 percent to 17 percent.

In addition, mEducation increased student confidence and class participation, encouraged active parental involvement during phone tutoring sessions, and contributed to higher job satisfaction for teachers.

“The mEducation program has significantly helped improve learners’ numeracy skills and strengthened the home-school partnership, encouraging parents to plan an active role in their children’s learning,” Zamboanga Sibugay Schools Division Superintendent Virgilio Batan, Jr. said.

IPA, alongside DepEd and Youth Impact, is committed to expanding the reach of mEducation in other regions, including the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Likewise, DepEd will continue to implement this scalable after-school learning program to support learners needing remedial education.

*All Photos from DepEd