Trials and Tribulations of Elementary Learners in Reading According to the Department of Education: A Purview of Inquiry

The ability to read is an important skill in todays modern world where so much information is transmitted in written form. People must have reading skills whether they are in school or not. This is a challenge to teachers at the elementary level on how they nurture indigenous learners to learn proper reading in their respective grade levels. The purpose of this research topic emanated from an observation from past research that, levels of reading difficulties among primary school pupils are very high in the Philippines and are not an exception (Kelly, 1999). The Philippines could be having thousands of children who have severe reading problems which have not been detected. Therefore, there is a need to identify and understand these reading difficulties early in life and the challenges they bring about so that the situation could be changed for the better. This study involved teachers in grade 3 in selected private schools in Davao City. This group was chosen because, the following year, they are supposed to be in grade seven to write their examinations which are to be read and answered in English without anybodys help. These examinations are very critical as they determine whether the pupil will proceed to secondary education or not. Therefore, it is expected that by the time a pupil reaches grade six, they must be competent in reading as preparation for their Junior High School life. KEYWORDS: trials and tribulations, elementary learners, reading, department of education, purview of inquiry.