EFFICIENT SERVICE DELIVERY. Vice President and concurrent Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Z. Duterte (left), and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Wick Veloso hold the Memorandum of Agreement they signed on Sept. 25, 2023. The agreement aims to provide effective service delivery through streamlined procedures to DepEd personnel in all GSIS offices. (PNA photo by Wilnard Bacelonia)
MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) is determined to provide every Filipino learner, even in far-flung areas, the quality of basic education they deserve.
Despite the challenges, the agency was able to implement reforms within the agency and to the entire basic education sector this year.
Last January, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte led the launching of the MATATAG Agenda to make the curriculum relevant to produce competent, job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; take steps to accelerate delivery of basic education facilities and services; take good care of learners by promoting their well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and give support to teachers to perform better.
"We know that the road will be bumpy, but our direction is clear. We know that the challenges are vast, but we Filipinos are resilient. We will overcome,” Duterte said delivering the DepEd 2023 Basic Education Report.
The reforms also include the creation of a Procurement Strand in the DepEd for faster delivery of services and learning resources.
Meanwhile, the School and Infrastructure Facilities Strand was also created to focus on addressing classroom backlogs and other facilities.
For this year, the DepEd was able to build 2,201 new classrooms and 880 health facilities. A total of 1,274 classrooms were also repaired.
The agency was also able to complete 45 Last Mile School classrooms with others still being built.
The DepEd developed the Last Mile Schools Program to address the gaps in resources and facilities of schools that are in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
In its quest to provide internet connectivity to public schools, 25 schools were chosen to have their own Starlink connection while 2,000 schools already have satellite connectivity. Starlink’s services arrived in the Philippines in February 2023.
The DepEd also started procuring Digital Education Learning Carts or "computer labs on wheels" which have laptops, hard drives, charging carts, and smart TV.
Under the MATATAG Agenda, the MATATAG Curriculum was launched last August to decongest the current K to 12 Curriculum by 70 percent.
This curriculum focuses on foundational, literacy, and numeracy skills of learners in their early years in basic education.
"Pursuing these reforms has been marked by foresight and demonstrated DepEd's desire to change the learning landscape of the Philippines for the sake of the future of our learners," Duterte said during the launching.
After the launch, DepEd immediately conducted the curriculum's pilot implementation in 35 schools in Regions I, II, VII, XII, Cordillera Administrative Region, Caraga, and the National Capital Region.
To ensure the efficient learning recovery from the pandemic, a National Learning Camp was established which will now be done annually.
The Learner Rights and Protection Office and Learners TeleSafe Contact Center Helpline were also created by DepEd to ensure the safety of learners and address their concerns related to any kind of abuse.
This year, the first in-person Palarong Pambansa after the pandemic was also successfully held in Marikina City, as well as the Learners' Convergence and the National Schools Press Conference, and National Festival of Talents.
During its 2024 budget deliberation, Duterte pushed for additional funds for the Department's school-based feeding program to extend the number of feeding days for the learners.
In partnership with Go Negosyo, schools will have their own gardens allowing learners to harvest and bring them home to their families.
With the start of the hiring of administrative personnel, the DepEd is targeting to issue guidelines on freeing teachers from administrative tasks before the year ends to enable them to focus on teaching.
The DepEd's partnership with the Government Service Insurance System was also strengthened through an agreement that provided express lanes exclusive for DepEd personnel, additional account officers, personal accident insurance, and the start of a yearly dialogue between the two government entities.
In a recent statement, Duterte assured that the state of education in the Philippines, as reflected by the recent results of the Programme for International Student Assessment 2022, is being addressed by the Department.
The result of the international assessment, she said, has actually provided them with valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the country's education system.
"We have introduced the MATATAG Curriculum, implemented the national reading, math, and science programs, initiated the Catch-up Fridays for learners and teachers, expanded the teacher career progression, pushed for transparent educational programs and practices, and started digitalization among our schools," Duterte said. (PNA)
