Archive for August, 2011

Gawad Kalinga offers its classrooms and teachers to DepEd

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation (GKDCF) has offered its 346 classrooms nationwide to be used for extension classes for 5-year old children who are enrolled under the Department of Education’s universal kindergarten program.

“Our gratitude goes to the foundation for offering not only their facilities but their teachers as well,”  a beaming Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.

Under the arrangement, added Luistro, children are officially enrolled in public elementary schools but shall recite or hold classes in GKCDF classroom under a volunteer teacher from the foundation. The teacher will use the National Kindergarten Curriculum Guide developed by DepEd.

DepEd’s started implementing the universal kindergarten program this year to give 5-year olds enough preparation on the rigors of regular schooling. Many studies have shown that a learner who has a pleasant pre-school experience is more likely to complete basic education.

The sudden surge of enrolment in pre-school which is offered by the government for free aggravated the perennial problem of classroom shortage in public schools.

“We welcome this offer of  GKDCF because it concretely addressed classroom and teacher shortages which we all know is a continuing challenge for DepEd considering the increasing number of enrollees which do not go lower than one million new entrants every year,” explained Luistro.

DepEd is duty-bound to accept into its fold all students who want to enrol in public schools as part of its mandate to make education accessible to all Filipinos.

The universal kindergarten program is the first step in the K to 12 basic education reform program under the Aquino administration aimed at producing high school graduates who have the skills to enter the world of work, better prepared for college education and ready for the global market.

Luistro directed all school officials beginning at the regional level to coordinate with GKCDF coordinator in their areas and identify the public elementary schools needing additional classrooms and thus, make use of the foundation’s facility.  He also urged them to monitor and provide technical assistance to the GKCDK volunteer teachers.

“We will also invite the foundation’s volunteer teachers to participate in school-based and division training so that we can also help in further honing their teaching skills,” Luistro said.

Public school teachers dominate 2001 METROBANK search for outstanding teachers

(PRESS RELEASE)

Ten teachers from across the country were given nationwide  recognition for doing what they do best and  for loving the profession to bits.

Teachers from public schools dominated this year’s awardees stressing the point that limited teaching resources need not result to mediocre output.

Eight  public school teachers from the elementary and secondary levels, including one  professor each  from the University of the Philippines-Manila and the University of Santo Tomas emerged as winners in the 2011 Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers.

Panabo City, Davao Del Norte and Tiaong, Quezon produced their first outstanding teacher awardees in this year’s Search.

The winners from the elementary category are: Marcela E. Jingco of Angeles Elementary School (Angeles City); Lora E. Añar of Bukidnon State University (Malaybalay City); Dr. Teodora D. Conde of Andres Bonifacio Elementary School (Sta. Cruz, Manila); and Djhoane C. Aguilar  of Panabo Central Elementary School (Panabo City).

Winners from the secondary category are: Dr. Chelo C. Tangan of Cagayan National High School (Tuguegarao City); Buenaventura D. Luces of Lusacan National High School (Tiaong, Quezon); Vilma C. Ambat of Baguio City National High School (Baguio City); and Maricel S. Franco of Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School (Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya).

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the selection of the winners each year has proved that we have no shortage of mentors who wholeheartedly  share to the next generation of Filipinos their wealth of knowledge and love for learning. He  added:    “ Outstanding Filipino teachers, I assure you,  can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best.”

Dr. Jericho Thaddeus P. Luna of the University of the Philippines-Manila (UPM) and Dr. Allan B. De Guzman of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) are the awardees for the higher education category.

“Humbling is the discovery, year upon year of the Search, of the selfless commitment and courage of these exemplary educators to withstand challenges in order to nurture the minds and the hearts of our young students,” said Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) president Aniceto M. Sobrepeña. “Our utmost admiration goes to all the awardees, for even in the busiest cities or remotest barangays, they selflessly fulfill their vocation in cognitively, affectively, and behaviorally preparing the youth of our country,” he continued.

The winners were selected from 175 nominees coming from various public and private educational institutions in the Philippines, of which 40 qualified as regional finalists.  The regional finalists underwent interviews and teaching demonstrations before the members of the preliminary board of judges identified top performers for each category. Twenty (20) of the regional finalists were then selected to become the national finalists.

The national finalists then faced the Final Board of Judges for this year’s Search co-chaired by Senator Loren B. Legarda and Associate Justice Martin S. Villarama, Jr. of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Also serving as judges were: Congressman Lorenzo R. Tañada III of the 4^th District of Quezon Province; Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla of the Province of Leyte; Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency A Selverajah; Far Eastern University (FEU) president Dr. Lydia B. Echauz; and PTV broadcast journalist Veronica Baluyut-Jimenez.

This year’s Outstanding Teachers, together with the winners of the Search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) and the Search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldires (TOPS), were conferred with gold medallions and plaques by His Excellency President Benigno Aquino in Malacañang Palace. They were presented with plaques and a total cash prize close to Php 10 million for the three (3) Searches. They will also be presented in the formal awarding ceremonies during Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company’s anniversary celebration on September 5, 2011.

This year’s winners will join the rank of 296 Outstanding Teachers who have been honored by the Foundation since 1985. They automatically become members of the Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators or NOTED, an honor society of outstanding teachers committed to nurturing a culture of excellence and service among educators through professional development, publications, research, and advocacy in active partnership with government and non-government organizations.

DepEd strengthens health care program in public schools

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education is strengthening its Essential Health Care Program (EHCP) by coming up with a monitoring and evaluation system which it developed in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund and Fit for School.

According to Education Secretary Armin Luistro, it is important that a program has a strong monitoring and evaluation component to regularly check on the project’s progress and find ways for further improvement.

“If we want to sustain a program for the long haul, we need to have a systematic monitoring and feedback mechanism from the ground level to serve as our guide for subsequent plan of action,” said Luistro.

EHCP seeks to curb the incidence of diseases among public school children due mainly to poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation practices. Its components include the provision of safe drinking water, toilets, oral health kit, hand-washing facilities in schools and twice-a-year deworming activities.

Some of the main causes of absenteeism and dropping out of school among elementary students are health issues, oral hygiene, hunger and inadequate preparatory schooling.

The monitoring and evaluation system is expected to strengthen the school-based management of EHCP and properly assess the program coverage.

DepEd prescribes the use a standard monitoring form with an action plan plus an on-line monitoring system. Luistro added that the use of the monitoring tool takes effect August 2011 in all EHCP-implementing schools.

For this purpose the education chief ordered all school officials to coordinate with their respective division health and nutrition sections to ensure proper and effective use of the monitoring tool consistent with the provisions of the implementing guidelines.

“EHCP is a very critical education intervention tool which we must be able to carry out properly and effectively, thus the full cooperation of all concerned is enjoined,” added Luistro.

New guidelines and date of exam for NCAE

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education announces the amendments to the administration of the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) including the change of examination date which has been moved from August 31, 2011 to September 28, 2011.

NCAE which used to be given to fourth year high school students is now administered for third year high school students both in public and private secondary schools. Also covered to take the NCAE are fourth year high school students who are applying for scholarship programs offered by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

“We deem it better to administer the NCAE to third year high school students to give them sufficient time for comprehensive career guidance before they enter the tertiary level,” said Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

DepEd Order No. 28 s. 2011 stipulates that the fourth year students who will take the NCAE for CHED and TESDA scholarship should belong to the top ten percent (10%) of each secondary high school regardless of school size. Also, they should have a general weighted average of eighty percent (80%) in third year and should come from a family whose gross annual income is not more than P300,000.

A letter of intent signed by the parents of the examinees must be submitted signifying that they are interested to apply for the CHED/TESDA scholarship. NCAE is also open to other interested fourth year students, out-of-school youth and A & E passers.

The results of the NCAE will show the interest and career inclination of the student, whether it is technical-vocational, entrepreneurial, or a full college education course. “This way parents and students will be guided on what career track is best to take after high school graduation, and we want to remind people that the result of the NCAE is not mandatory but recommendatory,” explained Luistro.

The NCAE is an important tool of the government to address job mismatch, cut unemployment rate, and reverse the local “brain drain” phenomenon. Present conditions indicate that a large number of college graduates fail to find appropriate employment suited for the course they finished. This has resulted in unemployment and oversupply of college graduates in white collar jobs while resulting in shortages in skilled manpower.

The NCAE is an assessment of students’ aptitudes and skills and estimates what field or discipline the student can excel in. It is non-discriminatory for people who have aptitude for technical-vocational and entrepreneurial courses.

Sec. Luistro and Tony Blair’s plan for peace thru education

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Government of the Philippines and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation today announced a partnership that will see teachers and students take a lead on peace-building and engagement between young people of different faiths in areas with a history of religious conflict.

Brother Armin Luistro FSC, Secretary of Education and Tony Blair, Patron of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation met in Manila to sign the Memorandum of Understanding that will bring two of the Foundation’s leading education programmes to Filipino schools and universities.

Also present at the signing ceremony were the Chairman for the Commission on Higher Education, Dr Patricia Licuanan and Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

The new agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation will

o       Promote religious literacy in the Philippines through the implementation of the Foundation’s Face to Faith programme. This will give young people the opportunity to learn key skills needed for dialogue and engagement between students of different faith and cultural traditions

o       Help the Faith Foundation  and the Department of Education work together to plan the sustainable implementation of Face to Faith in Philippine public schools

o       Enrich and strengthen the current school curriculum

o       Provide students and teachers with the opportunity to learn from their peers around the world to understand global perspectives on faith and key 21st century issues

o       Involve a consortium of Philippines Universities to the Foundation’s Faith and Globalisation Initiative, joining leading universities across the world

Commenting on the partnership, Secretary of Education, Brother Armin Luistro, said, “We thank the Tony Blair Faith Foundation for the opportunity for peace to take root in the hearts and minds of Filipino teachers and students by developing their skills at peace-building and engagement across different faiths. Many social, ethnic and cultural conflicts are born out of mistrust which is fuelled by wrong or incomplete information or outright falsehood against a certain race, faith or ethnicity.”

“Thus, we see the Face to Faith programme as a chance to enlighten our minds and set it free from ignorance and prejudice. I believe education can be a good starting point to bring about a culture of peace in a world that is continuously being buffeted by religious and social intolerance.”

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tony Blair, Founder and Patron of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, said,  “Religion can claim responsibility for some of the most profoundly positive and important events and movements the world has ever known. Yet it has also been associated with some of the most heinous and horrible crimes against humanity. And nowhere is this complex relationship between religion and the world more apparent than in the Mindanao conflict in the Philippines.

“That’s why I am delighted to stand next to Brother Luistro and Dr. Licuanan, and say that we will be working with both the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to bring our schools and universities programmes into the Filipino education system. Our Face to Faith programme will provide the next generation of Filipino leaders with the opportunity to learn essential communication skills while also gaining greater understanding of interfaith dialogue and the role of religion in the modern world.

DepEd, Ateneo School of Government launch technology-based transparency initiative

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education and the Ateneo School of Government have launched the initial implementation of checkmyschool.org,   a technology-based mechanism that tells about the condition, services and facilities being provided in the country’s public schools.

By logging in to checkmyschool.org, the public can have access to information on a particular school’s budget, enrolment, teaching personnel, furniture, textbooks, classrooms, toilets, test performance and proficiency ratings, among others. The site facilitates interaction and allows users to send comments, photos, videos and additional information. The public may use the information like an independent third party monitor of government performance in providing education services.

According to Education Secretary Armin Luistro this initiative takes advantage of information and communication technology to promote transparency and social accountability in public sector governance. “Because it allows the public to send feedback on a particular school condition, it brings education-related concerns into the bigger arena of public scrutiny and appreciation,” said Luistro.

The pilot implementation of checkmyschool.org, which runs from August 22 to September 2, 2011, involves volunteer orientation, validation of information on available school services, reporting and closing.  The pilot sites are National Capital Region, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Rizal, baguio, Benguet, Tacloban City, Leyte, Zamboanga City, Pagadian City, Cebu City, Iloilo, Davao City and North Cotabato.

Checkmyschool.org is a joint undertaking of DepEd and the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific where the Ateneo School of Government serves as secretariat.

“Through this information-sharing project, we hope to enjoin the public and the private sector to contribute in closing education resource gaps that continue to hound our public schools.  At the same time, it will give us feedback on how we can give better service to our stakeholders,” Luistro explained.

Preliminary information in the website came from the different units of DepEd such as the Basic Education Information System, Physical Facilities and Schools Engineering Division, Instructional Materials Council Secretariat, Procurement Service, National Education Testing and Research Center and the budget office.

Updates on school information will come from school administrators, volunteers and organizations in each local school.

The public may give feedback in many ways. They can validate or invalidate the accuracy of reported services, express satisfaction or dissatisfaction or suggest ways to improve performance or offer to assist the school.

“Direct feedback from citizens is always welcome because they reflect the immediate, on- the- ground needs of schools,” Luistro added.

To date, some 8,000 of more than 44,000 public elementary and high schools nationwide are included in the initial run of checkmyschool.org.

MyPhone Launches Search for My School House, My Teacher, My Hero

(PRESS RELEASE)

In support of the Teachers’ Month Campaign and World Teachers’ Day celebration, MyPhone launches the First My School House, My Teacher, My Hero Search nationwide.

Secretary Armin A. Luistro FSC confirms that the Search is one of the many activities which aim to instill awareness and drum up support for the Teachers’ Month Campaign and World Teachers’ Day celebration. The Search also seeks to highlight the significant role of teachers as genuine heroes of education, provide free and decent school houses to deserving schools through the efforts of the teachers, and inspire others to contribute in sincere nation-building efforts in line with the encouragement of President Benigno S. Aquino III during his State of the Nation Address.

To join, teachers must nominate his or her school, tell his or her story and justify why the nominated school deserves an award of free school house in an essay. Together with some important documentation, the essay must be submitted on or before September 15, 2011 to the Department of Education through the Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs c/o Executive Director Joey G. Pelaez.

Each entry shall be judged based on the special needs/circumstances of the nominated school (40%), story of the nominating teacher (30%), over-all impact on the community (20%), and online votes garnered on Facebook (10%). The nominated schools of the winning entries will each receive a school house consisting of two classrooms. Awarding of winners will be during the World Teachers’ Day on October 5, 2011 at the PhilSports Arena, Pasig City as one of the highlights of the celebration.

To get the complete details of the Search, interested teachers must secure a copy of DepEd Memorandum No. 184, s. 2011. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/csca.deped or www.facebook.com/depedtmc.

The Search is also part of MyPhone’s advocacy to recognize the heroism in each individual especially the teachers whose welfare remains at the heart of its founder Elena S. Lim, herself a teacher back in the days. Recently, My Solid Technologies and Devices Corporation, owner of MyPhone, committed to donate classrooms to DepEd apart from the school houses it provided as prizes for this Search.

According to Mr. David S. Lim, President and CEO of My Solid Technologies and Devices Corporation, the Search serves as a tribute to all teachers who make things happen despite the difficulties of their profession. More than anything, the Search will showcase once again and even more that our teachers are truly heroes of our country.

DepEd Teachers’ Month 2011 Celebration

National Volunteer Month

DepEd ADVISORY No. 412, s. 2011 in compliance with DepED Order No. 39, s. 2009 this advisory is issued for the information of DepEd officials and personnel (Visit DepEd website at www.deped.gov.ph) August 22, 2011

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH (NVM)

Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 55 issued on December 5, 1998 mandating the celebration of National Volunteer Month (NVM) in December of each year, the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) as attached agency of the National Economic and Development (NEDA) spearheads the celebration of the NVM.

The celebration aims to:

1.                  build a nationwide awareness and appreciation of volunteerism and the role it plays in the social, economic and political development of the country;

2.                  create the environment for bolstering voluntary action in development; and

3.                  recognize the noble acts of volunteerism by individuals, families, institutions and communities as vital partners in economic and community development.

As part of the celebration, the PNVSCA will hold the Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV) to highlight and recognize the exemplary performance and dedication to service of Filipino volunteers in building strong communities across the country through volunteerism. The search is open to all individuals of Filipino citizenship and Filipino volunteer organizations or local chapter organizations of foreign volunteer organizations that currently provide volunteer assistance in the Philippines.

For more information, contact Mr. Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr., Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning and Chair, NVM Steering Committee, PNVSCA, NEDA at telephone no.: (02) 381-0559, telefax nos.: (02) 434-7139; (02) 927-6847 or visit this Office at the 2F NEDA Complex, EDSA Diliman, Quezon City or send a message through e-mail addresses: ppis@pn vsca.gov.ph; ppis.pnvsca@yahoo.com or visit website addresses at http:www.neda.gov.ph; www.pnvsca.gov.ph.

Madel: DA National Volunteer Month

August 19, 2011

14th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad (PMO)

DepEd ADVISORY No. 411, s. 2011 In compliance with DepED Order No. 39, s. 2009 this advisory is issued for the information of DepEd officials and personnel (visit DepEd website at www.deped.gov.phl August 22, 2011

14th PHILIPPINE MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD (PMO)

The Mathematical Society of the Philippines (MSP) will hold the  14^th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad (PMO) this School Year (SY) 2011-2012.

The PMO is the oldest and most prestigious competition among public and private secondary school students in the country. It aims to:

1.      stimulate the improvement of Mathematics Education in the country by awakening greater interest in, and appreciation of Mathematics;

2.      identify and motivate the mathematically gifted;

3.      identify potential participants to the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO);

4.      provide a vehicle for the professional growth of teachers; and

5.      encourage involvement of public and private sectors in the concerted promotion and development of Mathematics Education.

The 14^th PMO shall be carried out in three (3) stages:

1.      Qualifying Stage: October 22, 2011 (Saturday). The elimination stage is a two-hour multiple choice examination consisting of thirty (30) questions, fifteen (15) of these questions are worth two (2) points each, ten (10) are worth three (3) points each and five (5) are worth six (6) points each. The competition will be among high school students in each the following areas: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and National Capital Region (NCR). There will be at least one (1) testing site in each of the regions.

2.      Area Stage: November 26, 2011 (Saturday). The area stage is a three-hour written competition consisting of twenty (20) questions worth two (2) points each, and three (3) open-ended questions worth eight (8) points each. There will be testing centers in each of the regions with qualifying participants; and

3.      National Stage: January 28, 2012 (Saturday). The national stage is a written and oral competition among the top twenty (20) participants (national ranking) of the area stage. This competition will be held in Metro Manila. Test development (preparation, analysis and evaluation of questions and problems to be used in the competition) begins in August 2011 and continues throughout the year.

For     more     information,      visit     the     following     websites     at: http: / /www.math.admu.edu.ph/pmo or e-mail at pmo(Sjmath.upd.edu.ph.

ADA/ DA-14^th Philippine mathematical olympiad August 19, 2011/