A total of 93,440 students from Iloilo province have enrolled in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) summer learning program, significantly exceeding participation from the previous year.

The voluntary National Learning Camp (NLC) program is designed to bridge learning gaps and enhance student capacities in core subjects like English, Math, Science, and Reading. 

Offered from July 1 to 19, the program caters to students from Grades 1 to 10 and categorizes them into enhancement, consolidation, and intervention camps based on their individual needs.

“This is voluntary, including teachers who will serve is also voluntary [sic]. This is to reinforce, or as an enrichment activity of their learning in the previous school year and bridge the gap for others,” Iloilo Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr. told Philippine News Agency on June 15.

The program witnessed a significant increase in enrollment compared to last year’s 41,483 participants. Dr. Servillon attributed this to the department’s efforts in better preparing for the program this year.

“We have more enrollees this year because we really prepared for this,” Servillon said.

The learning camps will focus on English, Math, and Science for Grades 7 to 10, while Grades 1 to 3 will target Reading and Math. 

Students will be placed into different camps tailored to their specific needs. The Enhancement Camp is intended for advanced learners seeking to enhance their academic abilities further. 

Meanwhile, the Consolidation Camp is designed for students who need additional practice to strengthen their understanding of previously learned competencies. 

The Intervention Camp offers foundational support to learners who require extra assistance in grasping core concepts.

As of June 14, the program data showed a strong demand for intervention support, with 58,773 students enrolled in this category. This is followed by consolidation at 26,659, and enhancement at 8,008.

A total of 740 schools across Iloilo province are participating in the NLC program, which aims to better prepare students for the upcoming academic year.