The COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes in the Philippine education system. The most predominant of which is the implementation of distance learning which in turn resulted to significant academic gap mainly due to the absence of suitable home learning support for learners.

 In this regard, Project SHARP (School and Home Arithmetic and Reading Partnership) is conceived to improve learning outcomes along reading and arithmetic.

The Project SHARP- School and Home Arithmetic and Reading Partnership was officially launched on June 22, 2022, at the Cowboy’s Grill, Masbate City with a Rodeo-themed attire for all the participants. It aims to recover the learning loss brought about by the pandemic through improving the literacy and numeracy skills of the Masbateno learners. The launching was attended by the Regional Focal Person Joan L. Lagata, SDO Officials headed by the Schools Division Superintendent Fatima D. Buen, CESO VI, City Government Officials led by the Honorable Mayor Socrates M. Tuason and Honorable Vice Mayor Rowena R. Tuason, School Principals, PTA Presidents, and Barangay Officials.

In every successful undertaking lies a collaborative work of people who embody a unified goal and shared responsibility, the Core team namely: CID Chief Noel D. Logronio, EPS in Science Jemnah A. Macabe, EPS in English Cyril F. Delavin, PSDS Francy R. Valdemoro and SEPS Vino T. Zaragoza were the backbone of the Project SHARP in response to the call of having Learning Recovery Plans (LRP) in SDO Masbate City.

The program started with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem which was conducted by Abundio Z. Barruga, Jr., PSDS-District 4. It was followed by the Masbate City Hymn and DepEd Masbate City Hymn with the conductors Erma L. Buban EPS- Kindergarten and Helen A. Verano, PSDS-District 2 respectively. Mr. Ian Allan R. Belo, a teacher of Liceo De Masbate led the singing of a religious song as homage to God. After the preliminaries, the masters of the ceremony, Neil C. Franco and Cyrell Joy P. Sampaga called upon the OIC Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Arvin R. Sese to give a warm welcome to the attendees. Each district of Masbate City Division showcased their reading and numeracy projects and interventions in a very creative and fascinating way. Different state-of-the-art designs, effects and devices were displayed in each stall to highlight each project that the schools have conceptualized in response to the learning recovery of the leaners. Everyone was in awe of the creativity and resourcefulness of the school heads and teachers in going an extra mile to help the Masbateno learners in terms of reading and numeracy enhancement. The cameras just clicked ‘here and there’ for photo opportunities with the visitors, SDO Masbate City Officials and stakeholders.

Indeed, it was a grand success of the Project SHARP’s launching event of SDO Masbate City with the end goal of ensuring quality education “Para sa Bata, Para sa Bayan”.

Project SHARP core team sharpens home learning partners' competencies.

SDO Masbate provides home partners with tablets.

To hone and deepen the competencies of the home learning partners in addressing learning gaps brought about by the pandemic, SDO Masbate City's Project SHARP core team composed of CID Chief ES Noel D. Logronio, PSDS Francy R. Valdemoro, EPS Cyril F. Delavin, EPS Jemnah A. Macabe and SEPS Vino T. Zaragoza conducted a Two-day Orientation Training of the Home Learning Partners on the Provision of Academic Support on Literacy cum Distribution of Tablets on Dec. 14-15, 2022 at the Conference Hall, Masbate City.

Serving as facilitators were PSDS Valdemoro, EPS Macabe, SEPS Zaragoza, EPS Marie Grace B. Manlapaz, PSDS Rolicelia T. Endrina, EPS Janeth Z. Dumangas and School Head Ma'am Sophia M. Salvacion.

A total of 39 parents participated in the said orientation training. The school heads of the different elementary schools were provided with tablets by SDO Masbate City. Such tablets will be used by the learners in their respective schools. Present during the distribution of said gadgets aside from OIC-SDS Fatima D. Buen, CESO VI, OIC-ASDS Arvin R. Sese, and CID Chief Logronio was EPS Dinnah Bañares.