ESO, DepEd Cotabato Conclude Literacy, Numeracy Training for Key Stage 1 Teachers in Kabacan

After intensively facilitating a week-long training on literacy and numeracy, the Extension Services Office (ESO), together with the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Cotabato, officially sealed the “CPD Training for Professional Teachers: Numeracy and Literacy for Key Stage 1” on September 11, 2026, at the Kundo E. Pahm Learning Resource Center (KEPLRC), University of Southern Mindanao (USM).

Brought together by the training, a total of 45 Key Stage 1 Professional Teachers from Kilagasan, Lower Paatan, and Cuyapon actively participated in comprehensive discussions and workshops. These sessions were led by USM experts from various colleges across the university:

• Ms. Faith P. Buned – Introduction to Early Literacy Framework & Teaching at the Right Level
• Prof. Bailyn M. Mantawil – Aligning Beginning Reading with the MATATAG Curriculum and Formative Assessment Strategies for Beginning Readers
• Prof. Ezra Ivan Rey A. Abalos – The Fuller Method: Principles & Strategies and Bridging Fuller & Marungko in the Bilingual Classroom
• Mr. Jay G. Regulacion – Inclusive Pedagogy: Strategies for Learners with Reading Difficulties
• Prof. Anamarie B. Uyangurin – Workshop: Designing & Contextualizing Reading Materials and Presentation of Outputs & Mentoring Setup
• Dr. Debbie Marie B. Verzosa – Number Sense, Ten Frames & Thinking Strategies in the Range 1–20, Mathematical Games for Basic Facts, Apps for Basic Facts, Conceptual Place Value, Thinking Strategies in the Range 21–10,000, Mathematical Games for Multidigit Addition & Subtraction, Apps for Multidigit Addition & Subtraction

The closing ceremony was marked by participants sharing impressions and experiences during the week-long training: “Nagpapasalamat ako sa napaka-comprehensive na training. Sobrang dami naming natutunang strategies lalong-lalo na sa pagtuturo ng Math sa mga bata and we are very excited to bring these learnings to our classrooms,” said one of the participants.

Meanwhile, DepEd Cotabato Schools District Supervisor Mr. Ricky Dalida emphasized the need to accomplish an output that will soon be used as a material to facilitate learning: “I am very thankful for your participation. Let us work together to produce our target output that will better facilitate learning sa ating mga students. And of course to USM, thank you for introducing these new strategies para sa isang napakahalagang layunin,” he expressed. In response, USM College of Education (CED) Dean Dr. Eimer M. Estilloso reassured the partner stakeholders of the continuation of the initiative, saying “Makakaasa po kayo na sa pamamagitan ng established partnership natin ay maisasakatuparan natin ang layunin ng project na ito na tugunan ang pangangailangan ng ating mga teachers at mga bata.”

As the project proceeds to the next phase, Project Leader Dr. Debbie Marie B. Verzosa highlighted the implementation of strategic interventions to strengthen ongoing teacher mentorship and extend direct learning support to students in target communities.

“We extend ‘yung possible pathways na mentorship for school-based action research and deployment of books for individual learners, particularly those who are most in need,” she expressed.

The closing program was also attended by Ms. Rebella Dulay (Former DepEd Cotabato Schools District Supervisor) and Ms. Marife B. Estilloso (Kabacan Pilot Central Elementary School Principal).

The successful completion of the training reaffirmed the university’s dedication to fostering partnerships with educational agencies to strategically facilitate effective learning by introducing modern teaching strategies to early grade teachers.