Reading Comprehension Levels and Skills of Filipino Grade 8 Students: A Basis for Catch-up Friday Activities

Despite the global emphasis on literacy, the Philippines continues to lag in reading proficiency, as evidenced by international assessments. A new program, "Catch-Up Fridays," has been introduced by the Department of Education, providing dedicated time for students to focus on improving their reading skills and addressing gaps in comprehension. This research aims to identify specific areas needing intervention to improve students' reading skills and to enhance their critical 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication. Specifically, this study investigated the reading comprehension levels and skills of Grade 8 students at Baguio City National Science High School, focusing on the impacts of gender and the use of English as a primary language at home. Employing a quantitative descriptive research design, the study assessed 150 students using a questionnaire adapted from the Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI). Results indicate that most of the students are at the instructional (48.67%) and independent (48.00%) reading levels, with a mean comprehension score of 79%. Gender analysis reveals males generally outperform females, while language analysis shows students using English at home have higher comprehension levels than their peers. The least mastered skill is using context clues, with inferential skills such as predicting outcomes and making inferences also needing improvement. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to address least mastered skills, particularly for students at the frustration level, and highlight the importance of addressing gender disparities and supporting non-English-speaking students.