KIAMBA, Sarangani, Philippines – The Sarangani Big Brother (SBB), a summer reading program intended for “frustration readers” all over the province, was made successful through volunteer youth and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

The program is in partnership with the province’s Quality Education for Sarangani Today (QUEST), Department of Education (DepEd), Synergeia Foundation, Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc., Sagittarius Mines, Inc., and World Vision.

Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez reported that SBB Season 4 has taught a total of 7,631 “frustration readers” provincial-wide, with 771 youth volunteers, 175 volunteer provincial-paid teachers, and 146 DepEd teachers.

Dominguez explained that frustration readers are those who can identify words but have inadequate or no comprehension at all.

“We are the best improved province in the country in terms of education,” Dominguez said. “If all the provinces in the country can do this as well, our nation has a brighter future,” he said.

SBB is a 15-day whole-day remedial reading program designed to assist the DepEd in improving reading skills among incoming Grades 2 and 3 learners identified as frustration and instructional readers.

Teachers were given one-day training on strategies to ensure their pupils are better readers after 15 days while the SK volunteers manage the daily sessions and assist the teachers.

“If you volunteer, you give service willingly,” volunteer Trent Laurence Galvez from Malungon town said.