Unesco cites Tagum’s literacy program

TAGUM CITY—The United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) said the city government’s “innovative literacy program for out-of-school youths and market vendors” was admirable and bestowed on it a bronze medal under the King Sejong Prize.

The King Sejong Prize is one of Unesco’s literacy awards programs.

With this year’s theme on peace and literacy with emphasis on gender equality, Tagum was cited for the city’s “peace management literacy and continuing education through its night market program,” Unesco said in its website.

Mayor Rey Uy said the night market program was Tagum’s initial effort at helping small and medium entrepreneurs maximize income opportunities by designating the city’s downtown as a business district, transforming it into a bustling trading area at night, where locals and visitors eat cheap, shop cheap.

Functional literacy was later infused, with the city government giving free seminars to vendors on such topics as values education, health awareness campaigns, financial literacy and management, solid waste management and peace education.

It has since been dubbed “Palengkeskwela,” said Anwar Maadel, head of the city’s literacy coordinating program.

Data from the city government said since its inception in 2005, about 92 vendors have already received and finished basic education through the Palengkeskwela, while 4,434 more have graduated under the city’s alternative learning system (ALS).

Maadel said Tagum’s literacy programs designed for the poor had contributed to the city’s high literacy rate of 95.24 percent. In 2008 and 2010, the city clinched the National Literacy Awards and will be elevated as hall of fame awardee this year.

Mmantsetsa Marope, Unesco’s director for basic to higher education learning, said in a letter to Mayor Uy the award’s jury “highly appreciated the city’s initiative to introduce and institutionalize literacy programs.”

Burundi won one of the two top prizes of the King Sejong Literacy Award for its innovative approach in linking functional literacy not only to daily life but also to topics related to peace and tolerance. Mexico’s Bilingual Literacy for Life received the other prize for its impact on reducing illiteracy among indigenous peoples.

“(Tagum’s program) uses peace education activities, literacy and entrepreneurship to generate employment opportunities to marginalized populations and sustain a peaceful urban environment,” the Unesco said.

“This is indeed a great honor not only for Tagum but for the entire country as well,” Uy said.

He said the recognition was the fruit of the local government’s effort to reduce and eventually eliminate illiteracy. “The award is not the end of our quest to help our constituents become literate. It’s only the beginning,” he added.

Uy will fly to New Delhi for the Sept. 8 Unesco awarding. Frinston Lim and Aquiles Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao