THE Quezon City government, in partnership with the city Schools Division Office, has reported strong results from the "Zero Illiteracy sa QC Tutoring Program," Mayor Joy Belmonte revealed on Tuesday.
She said that in just 25 days, some 1,837 QC learners who struggled with reading made significant progress, with hundreds reaching full grade-level proficiency and more than 1,300 students advancing to at least the transitioning level (at or near grade level).
Among those who achieved full grade-level reading, nearly 100 began as non-readers and about 240 started in the second-lowest group, the mayor said.
In the pilot Mathematics tutoring program involving over 260 children, most learners advanced to near-proficient levels in basic math and problem-solving, and more than 100 students mastered the basics in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, according to the local government.
“When we say recovery is possible, these learners are living proof,” said Belmonte.
“Some of them began as non-readers. A month later, they are now able to read with confidence at the level expected of their age. They remind us that no child should ever be written off,” she added.
Launched in 2023, Quezon City's Zero Illiteracy Tutoring Program serves learners from Grades 3 to 6 through small-group sessions in 50 public elementary schools using focused teaching approaches and close monitoring.
The program also supported communities by providing around 300 tutoring jobs and serving over 56,000 meals during the tutorial period, according to the local government.
Schools Division Superintendent Carleen Sedilla said they focused on the most left-behind learners.
“Seeing them move up so quickly shows what targeted teaching and consistent support can do,” she said in a statement.
Building on these results, the local government rolled out a new batch with 1,300 students and additional model reading schools as part of the city’s broader learning recovery agenda.
Belmonte said the tutoring program is sustained by the Learning Recovery Trust Fund, with support from partners and donors.