Inanunsyo ni Vice President at Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary

Sara Duterte na gagawin nilang “catch-up day” ang bawat araw ng Biyernes
sa susunod na taon upang tulungan umano ang mga estudyante na mahasa
ang kanilang reading at literacy skills.
Sa kaniyang talumpati sa culminating activity ng DepEd para sa National
Reading Month nitong Martes, Nobyembre 21, sinabi ni Duterte na
magsisimula ang implementasyon ng “catch-up Fridays” sa Enero 12, 2023.
“Every Friday will be catch-up Fridays. Ibig sabihin, wala tayong gagawin
kundi turuan ang mga batang magbasa, at ‘yung mga marunong nang
magbasa, ituro sa kanila ang critical thinking and analysis. ‘Yung mga
marunong na sa critical thinking and analysis, pasulatin n’yo ng libro,
pasulatin n’yo ng essays,” ani Duterte.
Bukod dito, binanggit din ng bise presidente na kailangan din umanong
magsagawa ng “catch-up” pagdating sa kalusugan, values, at peace
education ng mga estudyante.
“Kailangan natin ng isang araw kung saan kailangan nating humabol doon sa
kung saan nating gustong dalhin ang mga bata, dahil hindi pwedeng paulit-
ulit na lang tayo sa ating ginagawa pero wala naman tayong nakikitang
pagbabago, wala tayong nakikitang improvement sa ating mga learner,” saad
ni Duterte.
Ipatutupad umano ang naturang “catch-up Fridays” hanggang sa pagtatapos
ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. sa 2028.
Balak italaga ni Vice President at Education Secretary Sara Duterte ang bawat Friday ng linggo
bilang araw kung saan pwede mag “catch-up” ang mga estudyante sa public schools.

Para saan ang “catch-up Fridays”?

Inanunsyo ni Duterte na simula January 12, 2024, ay maglulunsad ang Department of
Education (DepEd) ng “catch-up Fridays” kung saan may isang araw na nakalaan para sa
paghabol ng kanilang mga aralin at mahasa ang kanilang pagbasa at pagsulat.

“Kailangan natin ng isang araw kung saan kailangan nating humabol doon sa kung saan natin
gustong dalhin ang mga bata.”

Ayon kay Duterte, kailangan ang catch-up fridays para makahabol ang learners na nahihirapang
i-improve ang kanilang literacy scores at skills.

“Hindi paulit ulit na lang tayo sa ating ginagawa pero wala naman tayong nakikitang
pagbabago, wala tayong nakikita na improvement sa ating mga learners,” dagdag nito.

Wala pa ang exact guidelines ang policy na ito ngayon, pero ayon kay Duterte ay mare-release
nila ang lahat ng information tungkol dito sa susunod na December.

Magsisimula ang bagong policy na ito sa January 12, 2024, hanggang sa katapusan ng
administration ni Pres. Marcos sa 2028.

Maaapektuhan ba ng catch-up Fridays ang ibang subjects?

 Ayon kay Duterte, hindi maaapektuhan ang ibang subjects dahil gagawan ng paraan ng DepEd
para mapagkasya lahat ng regular subjects mula Lunes hanggang Huwebes.

“Hindi na. Gagawan nila ng paraan sa Curriculum and Teaching Strand na ipasok lahat ng mga
regular na mga lessons sa apat na araw tapos gagawing catch-up ‘yung Fridays,” sabi ni
Duterte.
Show More
 Launched on Jan. 12, 'Catch-Up Fridays' is a learning mechanism intended to strengthen
foundational, social, and other relevant skills necessary to realize the objectives of the basic
education curriculum.

 The program, DepEd said, aims to bolster the basic education priorities articulated in
the MATATAG Agenda and accelerate the achievement of education targets of its National
Learning Recovery Program (NLRP).
 'Catch-Up Fridays' was designed to strengthen the foundational, social, and other essential skills
among learners to achieve the goals of basic education.

 Through the initiative, DepEd expects the students' abilities in reading, critical thinking,
analytical, and writing will be enhanced.

This year, the Department of Education (DepEd) has instructed all public elementary and
secondary schools nationwide to focus their efforts on an integral aspect of its learning recovery
program — the "Catch-Up Fridays."

Launched on Jan. 12, DepEd said the program is a "learning mechanism" intended to strengthen
foundational, social, and other relevant skills necessary to realize the objectives of the basic education
curriculum.
This month, DepEd said all Catch-Up Fridays will focus on the “Drop Everything and Read
(DEAR)” activity and orientation for field officials. It shall also be used as a venue to gather
feedback from field implementers on the guidelines of Catch-up Fridays.

During the initial implementation of Catch-Up Fridays, DepEd, led by Curriculum and Teaching
Undersecretary Gina Gonong and Assistant Secretary Alma Ruby Torio, visited several schools
in Metro Manila.

Among the schools visited by the Department were San Joaquin Elementary School,
Pinagbuhatan Elementary School, Bagong Ilog Elementary School, and Neptali A. Gonzales
High School.

The officials checked in with students and teachers regarding the start of the program. Through
DEAR Day, DepEd said students were allowed to read their chosen materials.

DepEd officials observed "happy and engaged" students and teachers during the program's
launch. Teachers, they mentioned, employed a variety of reading materials and strategies to
engage students in reading.

Learning recovery effort

In a nutshell, the “Catch-Up Fridays” program was designed to strengthen foundational, social,
and other essential skills to achieve the goals of basic education.

Through the initiative, DepEd expected the students' abilities in reading, critical thinking,
analytical, and writing will be enhanced.

In the guidelines issued by DepEd on the implementation of the program, DepEd said it remains
“steadfast in its commitment to delivering quality, relevant, inclusive, and responsive basic
education.”

Its current initiatives, DepEd said, provide opportunities to enhance learners’ academic
performance, particularly the “low proficiency levels in reading based on national and
international large-scale assessments.”

“These assessment results necessitate prompt attention to address learning gaps and strengthen
the reading proficiency of every learner,” DepEd said.

The Catch-Up Fridays program, DepEd said, aims to bolster the basic education priorities
articulated in the MATATAG Agenda and accelerate the achievement of education targets of its
National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP).
Moreover, DepEd noted that this initiative is also integral in the National Reading and
Mathematics Programs (NRP) and (NRM) which are critical subprograms of the NLRP.

Focus on reading and other areas

DepEd noted that the time allotment for the NRP is expected to give learners opportunities for
reading intervention and reading enhancement through developmentally appropriate reading
materials.

Aside from reading, DepEd noted that there is a “need to intensify” Values, Health, and Peace
Education.

DepEd said Values Education remains a priority in compliance with Republic Act (RA) No.
11476, Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC), and the Values Education Act, which
recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building."

The urgency for Peace Education, DepEd said, is a “prompt response” to the 2022 Program for
International Student Assessment (PISA) results.

It was revealed that bullying remains a “pervasive problem in public schools and the need for
Filipino learners as global citizens to acquire and strengthen peace competencies allowing them
to become peace builders and advocates in their respective communities.”

Health Education, on the other hand, “demands stronger advocacy to ensure the overall health
and well-being of learners,” DepEd said.

Aside from DEAR, DepEd said various strategies may be employed by schools to implement
Catch-up Fridays such as Read-A-Thon, fora, and invitation of resource persons, among others.
How it works
As stated in DepEd Memorandum No. 001 series of 2024, DepEd said all Fridays throughout the
school year are designated as Catch-up Fridays.

During the first half of the day's schedule, the focus on operationalizing the National Reading
Program (NRP) is highlighted while fostering Values, Health, and Peace Education for the
second half.

Homeroom Guidance Program (HGP), DepEd said, will also be included in the program.

During Catch-Up Fridays, DepEd said the time allotment for each learning area will be used to
“enhance learners' knowledge and skills in and appreciation of reading, values, health, and peace
education.”

DepEd explained that Values, Health, and Peace Education will revolve around monthly
themes/subthemes based on the basic education curricular framework and standards.

“While teachers shall be given the prerogative to narrow down or devise additional subthemes,
alignment with the quarterly themes is essential,” DepEd explained.

During Catch-Up Fridays, DepEd said an “integrative approach to teaching” is very crucial.

“For example, the content of any learning area can be used as a springboard for developing the
reading skills of learners,” DepEd said.

Health themes, on the other hand, can be integrated into Science to foster a deeper understanding
of health-related concepts.

DepEd said that Peace Education themes can also be integrated into Technology and Livelihood
Education (TLE) to allow learners to “explore how technology can be used for conflict
resolution, communication, and community building.”

No grades required
Since its main objective is to reinforce learning and individual progress, DepEd stressed that
“Catch-up Fridays shall not be graded.”

Instead, the progress of the learners will be monitored through their Reflection Journal,
compiling reading experiences, learnings, and appreciation of Values, Health, and Peace
Education.

“Learners may also articulate their thoughts through various forms of writing, such as stories,
journals, personal essays, and other forms of creative expression that reflect their unique learning
experiences,” DepEd said.

Role of teachers, schools

Aside from employing an “integrative approach” to teaching, DepEd said teachers need to
engage in collaborative expertise sessions through Learning Action Cells (LAC).
They also need other “professional development activities” to share effective practices and
prepare materials together for the effective implementation of Catch-up Fridays.

Schools, on the other hand, were highly encouraged to “forge and strengthen” stakeholder
engagement to gather support and ensure the sustainability of Catch-up Fridays.

DepEd said school heads will also be primarily responsible for supervising the implementation
of Catch-up Fridays.

Its Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD) and Curriculum Implementation
Division (CID), on the other hand, will also collaborate to ensure compliance.

DepEd said elementary and secondary schools as well as community learning centers (CLCs)
nationwide are expected to implement “Catch-Up Fridays.”

Private schools, on the other hand, can also adopt the initiative.

This month, DepEd said all Catch-Up Fridays will focus on the “Drop Everything and Read
(DEAR)” activity and orientation for field officials. It shall also be used as a venue to gather
feedback from field implementers on the guidelines of Catch-up Fridays.

During the initial implementation of Catch-Up Fridays, DepEd, led by Curriculum and Teaching
Undersecretary Gina Gonong and Assistant Secretary Alma Ruby Torio, visited several schools
in Metro Manila.