Archive for September, 2011

P500 million funding support released to strengthen tech-voc education

(PRESS RELEASE)

A comprehensive guideline on the use of P535.19 million intervention funds to further strengthen the redesigned technical-vocational education programs (STVEP) in terms of infrastructure and capabilities has been released by the Department of Education.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the release of intervention fund is meant to produce a new generation of highly-skilled workforce who has the competencies and skills to be absorbed by both local and international job markets.

There are currently 282 DepEd-supervised technical vocational schools across the country.

DepEd, through its Tech-Voc Task Force Office, is implementing various intervention strategies including the allocation of funds for the construction of multi-purpose laboratory workshops, provision of competency assessment subsidy, capability-building program for tech-voc teachers, curriculum enhancement and other tech-voc led activities.

DepEd has allocated P419.3 million to construct new multi-purpose laboratory workshops for each of the 282 tech-voc schools nationwide. Arts and trade which has 156 schools got the biggest share at P234 million, agriculture was alloted P119.16 million for its 81 schools and fishery  will receive P66.2 million for its 45 schools.

The construction of new laboratory cum workshops will address the shortage of functional facilities which is crucial in the application of acquired concepts. “It is crucial to have enough laboratories and proper working areas so that students can experience the practical application of theories that they learn in school,” said Luistro.

A tech-voc facility can be an arts and trade workshop building, food laboratory building, nursery and greenhouse for agriculture and fishpond for fishery.

Currently, the workshop area of the 282 tech-voc schools are classrooms which have been converted into working areas and are therefore below the standard workshop facilities required by training regulations.

“We really need standard workshop area/facilities to make it conducive for the hands-on training of our students,” Luistro stressed.

Meanwhile, the provision of competency assessment subsidy (CAS) is needed for the   assessment of the competencies of the students in various areas of tech-voc specialization. The assessment subsidy for fourth year graduating students covers pre-assessment, supplies and materials, assessors’ fee, transportation allowance and other incidental expenses during assessment which is conducted by TESDA.

The CAS allocation was pegged at some P57.4 million.

Luistro explained that a national certification level I or II or certificate of competency can be given to those who pass the assessment. “This serves as a license attesting to their technical capability and global competitiveness and therefore entitles them to become middle-level workers,” he added.

The capability program for teachers teaching 21 areas of specialization in arts and trades, agriculture and fishery was allocated some P20.8 million.  It has two components. One is skills enhancement training and assessment where teachers expose themselves with the latest trends and technologies which they can impart to their students. The other is training and assessors’ methodology where participants who have completed the training program and have gone through the assessment process can become assessors themselves for other schools.

There are also the Tech-voc Task Force spearheaded capability-building programs which include the SEAMEO in-country training program, orientation for tech-voc administrators, benchmarking of best tech-voc related practices, strategies and models and semestral program performance review and planning. DepEd has set aside some P3.16 million for these activities.

Related to this, about P21.8 million was earmarked for curriculum development where some of the activities include a workshop on the integration and revision of the tech-voc curriculum in relation to the eventual implementation of the K to 12 program. The validated curriculum which would also include instructional materials will be printed and delivered to the 282 tech-voc schools.

Other Tech-voc Task Force-led operations/activities get some P12.5 million to cover various operational expenses.

Luistro pointed out that, these guidelines shall serve as the basis for the allocation, release, utilization and reporting of the use of intervention funds.

DepEd launches video and poster-making contest to honor teachers

Produce a video or a poster honoring your teacher and win prizes for you and the teacher you are paying tribute to.

The Department of Education launched this contest among elementary and high school students nationwide to bring to national consciousness the key role teachers play in society. Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the very first video and poster-making contest is part of the Teachers’ Month celebration this September which will culminate in October 5, the World Teachers’ Day.

“Through this contest, we would like to encourage elementary pupils and high school students to creatively express how much they honor and value their teachers using multi-media,” added Luistro.

The contest theme is “My Teacher, My Hero.” The poster-making contest is open to all elementary pupils whilehe video-making is for high school students, both public and private schools. Only one entry will be accepted per school. The entry must be original, unpublished, student-produced and recent.

The champion will receive one android phone and one Smart Bro Pre-Paid Plug It while the teacher who is the subject of the tribute will get P3,000 and one Smart Bro Pre-Paid Plug It. The first and second runners-up will get one Talk n Text Panalo Phone and one Smart Bro Pre-Paid Plug It each while the teacher will receive the same set of prizes as their students.

The total running time of the video must not exceed one minute and must be emailed to myteacher_myhero@yahoo.com  with the subject My Teacher, My Hero – Video Tribute on or before September 23, 2011, the deadline of submission.

Files must be in a file format that can be uploaded to any one of the popular websites that support video content such as Facebook, You Tube, Vimeo, Megaupload, etc.  The contest entries and finalists will be uploaded to www.facebook.com/depedtmc for public viewing and online voting which will run from September 26 until October 2, 2011.

For the poster-making contest, pupils may use oil, water color, acrylic, pastel, pen or ink (except 3- dimensional art materials) on ¼ illustration board. The entry must be sent to the DepEd Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs (CSCA) at 119 Ground Floor, Mabini Building DepEd Central Office, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City. The awarding for both contests is on October 5, during the World Teachers’ Day celebration.

Further inquiries about the contest may be directed to Joey Pelaez, Executive Director of CSCA at telefax nos. (02)636-3603 or 631-8495. Interested participants may also send a message via www.facebook.com/depedtmc or www.facebook.com/csca.deped

DepEd gathers literacy and peace workers

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education, in support of the United Nations Literacy Decade, will hold the 2011 National Literacy Conference aimed at creating public awareness on the role of literacy in attaining a peaceful and sustainable future.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the conference will be participated in by peace and education workers from the government and private sector. It will also become a venue for sharing good practices on peace literacy and good governance being implemented by various groups across the country.

The conference will be from September 27 to 29, 2011 at the Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City.

The Philippines scored a win in the 2011 UNESCO International Literacy Prizes when Tagum City was awarded for its exemplary accomplishment in achieving a thriving business community   as a result of its peace education campaign.  One of the highlights of the conference is the presentation of the National Literacy Hall of Fame Award to Tagum City for being a three-time first place winner in the Outstanding Local Government Unit in the National Literacy Awards.

Expected to attend the two-day seminar are bureau, center and regional directors or their representatives, schools/city divisions, superintendents and assistant superintendents  of the Alternative Learning System and formal education.

Also attending are ALS coordinators and mobile teachers especially those belonging to 5th and 6th class municipalities, as well as officers of government agencies with extension programs involving literacy or continuing education.  The invitation is also extended to heads and members of non-government organizations and civil society groups involved in universalizing literacy in the regions; heads of local government units, barangay chairpersons and kagawad members, barangay health workers who also work for literacy.

One of the outputs expected from the participants is a peace and literacy action agenda that includes programs, projects and activities for community development.

Interested parties may call the Literacy Coordinating Council at telephone numbers (02) 631-0579, 631-0567 and 635-9996.

Ilocos Norte signs up for classroom construction project with DepEd

(PRESS RELEASE)

With over P1 billion committed  so far for classroom construction, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte becomes the latest province to be counted in under the Department of Education- Local Government Unit classroom construction counter-parting program aimed at easing classroom shortage in public schools.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro signed the counter-parting agreement with Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos to build 44 classrooms in Paoay Lake National High School and in Paoay Central Elementary School, allocating P50 million for the project.

To date, nine provincial and another nine city governments have signed an agreement with DepEd  to build a total of 1,347  new classrooms for a total  LGU share of  some P616 million. Including the share of DepEd, the total counter-parting fund now runs to some P1.129 billion.

Classroom shortage is a perennial problem in the Philippine public school system owing to the unabated population growth such that the department has to accommodate at least a million new entrants to public schools each year. The introduction of universal kindergarten in all public schools as part of the proposed K to 12 education reform program also resulted to the sharp demand for classrooms across the country.

“We welcome this latest addition to the growing number of LGUs that want to participate in the counter-parting program. Sa pagtutulungan kaya nating punuan yung mga kulang na classrooms at ang iba pang pangagailangan ng ating public schools,” said Luistro.

DepEd early this year signed a memorandum of agreement with the League of Cities, League of Municipalities and League of Provinces of the Philippines and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the implementation of the classroom construction counter-parting scheme. The DBM will assist the DepEd in identifying the appropriate funding sources under its budget and facilitate the release of allotment upon submission of required documents.

DepEd vigorously pushes environmental education in public and private schools

(PRESS RELEASE)

Strengthen environmental education and match this with concrete school-based activities that will preserve and protect the environment.

This is the marching order of Education Secretary Armin Luistro to both public and private schools nationwide as contained in DepEd Order No. 52 s. 2011. The move of the education chief is pursuant to Republic Act 9512 entitled “An Act to Promote Environmental Education and for other Purposes.”

“I urge all public and private schools to take the lead in promoting environmental awareness by enhancing environmental education and by pursuing activities in schools that nurture the environment,” said Luistro.

Toward this end, DepEd directs all public and private schools to intensify lessons regarding environment on all science subjects, in classroom discussions, drills and activities.

To integrate environmental protection in related learning areas, Luistro instructed the DepEd’s Bureau of Elementary Education, Bureau of Secondary Education and the Alternative Learning Systems to review the existing curricula and adjust them accordingly.

Relative to this, Luistro also ordered the creation of Youth for Environment in School Organizations (YES-O) in all public and private elementary (Grades 4 to 6) and secondary schools and have them registered in the Division Office. The YES-O shall take the lead in implementing environmental activities and advocacies of their respective schools.

Student membership should be voluntary and no membership fee shall be collected from the students. “We want environmental concern to grow naturally from the hearts of our young that is why we give them enough elbow room to grow but with clear guidelines,” explained Luistro.

Subject to the rules and regulations of the schools, the YES-O may be allowed to conduct fund-raising activities within the school premises to support environmental programs and activities. YES-O shall be under the supervision of DepEd’s Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs.

Meanwhile, Luistro also instructed school officials and teachers to use instructional materials such as books, visual aids, teaching guides and materials to reinforce the teaching of environmental issues.

DepEd launches campaign to say “thank you” to teachers

(PRESS RELEASE)

Have you ever said thank you to at least one of your teachers who created a big difference in your life?

If not, this is your chance as the Department of Education launches a campaign that encourages every Filipino to say a word of thanks to their teachers – a fitting highlight to the annual celebration of Teachers Month  this September and World Teachers’ Day celebration on October 5.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said it is but proper that the country dedicate a whole month to recognize teachers for their unique role in preparing students for the future, in strengthening communities and in building a nation.

“I think we should regularly take time to revitalize the image of teachers and draw public attention to their value in society,” said Luistro.

All public and private elementary and secondary schools, division and regional offices are enjoined to conduct programs and activities that support the Teachers Month and the World Teachers Day.

One of these is the say “thank you” campaign where students are encouraged to write a letter, send a card, offer a gift or post a greeting in various social networking sites.

“We have many creative ways and various media platforms to be used to express our gratitude to our teachers,” added Luistro.

DepEd likewise enlists the support of television and radio station anchors, hosts and artists to say “thank you” to their mentors in their respective programs.

Schools are encouraged to feature stories or write-ups on their teachers through their school papers, websites and Facebook accounts. They can also submit these write-ups to local newspapers and national broadsheets.

Moreoever, DepEd division and regional offices can mobilize support from the community and commercial establishments in paying tribute to teachers by encouraging them to give discounts, freebies and special treats and promos for the whole month of September until October 5.