Cebu City Enlists Retired Teachers to Tackle Youth Literacy Crisis
The Cebu City Council has taken a significant step to address the growing literacy crisis among young learners by approving a resolution on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. This initiative encourages senior citizens' associations to mobilize retired educators for conducting free reading classes every Saturday in their respective barangays, specifically targeting Grades 1 and 3 pupils.
Harnessing Experience for Community Impact
The program aims to leverage the extensive experience and expertise of former teachers while providing senior citizens with meaningful opportunities to remain active and engaged in their communities. Barangay councils are urged to provide suitable learning spaces to support these efforts. Additionally, the City Local School Board (LSB) is requested to consider hiring qualified seniors under job order status, with honoraria sourced from the Special Education Fund, subject to existing Commission on Audit rules.
Targeting a Critical Educational Stage
Councilor Harold Kendrick Go, the sponsor of the measure, emphasized that the program focuses on the critical stage when children transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." He warned that failure to develop reading proficiency at this level could hinder students' ability to grasp more complex lessons in higher grades, potentially impacting their long-term academic success.
Response to Alarming Findings
This resolution was crafted in direct response to findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education, which revealed that nearly 47 percent of Grade 3 students in Cebu City struggle with basic reading skills. This places the city among those with the highest rates of struggling readers in the province, highlighting an urgent need for intervention.
Collaborative Efforts and Legal Framework
Mayor Nestor Archival acknowledged the challenge, noting that the city is collaborating with national and private partners to improve literacy outcomes. Existing programs, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development's "Tara Basa" and assistance from the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., are being strengthened. The measure also cites Republic Act 9994, which encourages senior citizens to contribute to nation-building through volunteerism, including in education sectors.
Implementation and Next Steps
In a separate interview, Councilor Go stated that the LSB will determine key implementation details, including the starting date of the program, the number of senior citizens to be involved, and the specific amount of honoraria. He emphasized that the LSB should develop the implementing rules and regulations to ensure smooth execution. The resolution has been forwarded to the Office of the Mayor, the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs, the LSB, and all 80 barangays for implementation, marking a coordinated effort to enhance literacy support across Cebu City.
