The Department of Education (DepEd) in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental is optimistic about increased proficiency levels of elementary and high school learners after completion of the National Learning Camp (NLC) this month, an official said.

Some 8,000 basic education, junior high, and senior high school learners in this capital have enrolled for the learning camp that officially began last July 2.

“The NLC is a national program to address the learning gaps of our learners with three separate camps on intervention, enhancement, and collaboration,” said Dr. Juditha Mapue, chief of the curriculum implementation department of the City Schools Division.

It will also enhance teacher capacity, the DepEd official added.

Mapue told the Philippine News Agency that the intervention is designed for children who have not reached their proficiency level in a particular subject, focusing on literacy and numeracy.

Enhancement and collaboration, meanwhile, are designed to boost the skills of learners with higher academic performance, she added.

The three-week NLC is a simultaneous program conducted nationwide and is implemented in all 25 DepEd elementary and high schools in Dumaguete.

Running until July 19, students will be attending classes until noon physically every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The teachers handling the camp will spend Mondays and Fridays for “collaborative expertise” for best practices sharing and material preparation, Mapue said.

The camp promised to incorporate fun-filled activities outside classroom instruction.

Mapue hoped to have 100 percent attendance in the camp, although the first day of classes appeared to have fewer learners. (PNA)