MANILA, Philippines?An education program that aims to improve learning among poor performing schoolchildren is the means with which Smart Communications Inc. is supporting the Department of Education?s (DepEd?s) efforts to cut the dropout rate in elementary levels nationwide.

Data gathered by the National Statistical Coordination Board showed that the dropout rate increased from 8.6 percent in 2006 to 9 percent in 2007. In response, United Nations coordinator in the Philippines Jacqueline Badcock had called for the creation of a program that would reverse ?this alarming trend.?

The CommuniTeach Program, initiated by Smart and launched in September 2009, offers a solution to the problem of rising dropout rates and helps in the overall improvement in the learning of public school pupils, particularly those belonging to the bottom percentile of their grade levels.

As its name suggests, CommuniTeach actively involves communities?including the DepEd, local government units, private businesses, local colleges or universities, parents and teachers?in the mentoring of their children.

For an entire schoolyear, learning sessions are held every Saturday for 20 students from Grades 1 to 3 who are identified to be the lowest performers in their class.

Assistance is also provided in other areas through funding, donation of school supplies, cleaning classrooms, and even cooking and serving snacks for the student beneficiaries.

CommuniTeach has been pilot-tested in 12 sites?the National Capital Region, Pampanga, Bataan, Bohol, Sarangani, and the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, General Santos, Digos, Naga and Baguio.