Archive for January, 2012

Science teaching enhanced in K to 12 curriculum

(PRESS RELEASE)

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said that while science as a subject is formally introduced in Grade 3, it remains integrated in all learning areas to steadily develop the students’ skills in understanding more complex subjects as science. 

“The focus of early education (Kinder to Grade 2) should be the fundamental skills and literacy of the pupils to develop better comprehension for more complicated subjects such as science,” added Luistro.

Luistro pointed out that based on the intent of the K to 12 basic education reform program, the teaching of science is enhanced to make it even more relevant in the daily experience of the learners.  

The education chief explained that science concepts/skills are integrated beginning in Kindergarten in the teaching of Languages, Mathematics, and Health under MAPEH. “It is important that our learners are able to relate science in their everyday experience whether in school or at home,” explained Luistro.

A study by the South East Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) show that among its member-countries, the Philippines allot the most time in Science in elementary (1,100mins per week), 810 for Brunei, 360 for Malaysia, 540 for Singapore. “This coupled with teaching more competencies imply congestion in our current elementary Science curriculum,” Luistro said.

Science has not been taught as a separate subject in Grades 1 and 2 (in public schools) since the 1980s. “In effect, we are merely maintaining a status quo which is to focus on fundamental skills, numeracy and literacy (reading and writing) during the early years, Luistro stressed.

DepEd enjoins community in addressing education resource shortage

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education has set aside a whole month — February 6 to March 6 – for school officials, teachers, parents and other community stakeholders to plan ways of addressing education resource gaps and implementing different intervention programs to ensure that all children are in school by the opening of classes in June.

Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro FSC said all its efforts should redound to more children attending school and completing basic education. “With the leadership of the school heads, our target is to come up with concrete guidelines to ensure that all early enrollees in January 2012 will report to school in June,” added Luistro.

The Department of Education has declared January 28, 2012 as the day for expanded early registration in all public elementary and secondary schools for School Year 2012-2013.

This year, DepEd has expanded the target of early registration to include out-of school children and youth and learners with disability. Last year, the early registration covered only kindergarten which jumpstarted the K to 12 basic education reform program as well as Grade 1 pupils and First Year high school students. 

“The information that can be generated from the early registration will be an important input in the planning that we will be conducting immediately after so that we can address potential resource needs in time for the opening of classes in June,” Luistro pointed out.

The multi-stakeholder planning will cover schools plans to address additional classrooms, teachers, textbooks and seats. The school heads will also take up thoroughly the differentiated program interventions that are appropriate for kindergarten, Grades 1 to 6, as well as first to fourth year high school students.

Intervention programs will also be mapped out for out-of-school children and youth to enable them to complete schooling. The differentiated program interventions may include alternative delivery modes, alternative learning systems and non-conventional teaching strategies.

Part of the planning is for schools superintendents to identify available resources such as excess teachers, volunteer teachers, textbooks, supplementary learning materials, seats as well as available Special Education Fund.

Moreover, the superintendents are also tasked to initiate consultative dialogues with the LGUs and other stakeholders to discuss possible support that may be provided to priority schools.  

Kindergarten on Wheels to start rolling next school year

(PRESS RELEASE)

As an initiative to help the Department of Education accommodate five-year olds in areas in Metro Manila with classroom shortage, Bagong Henerasyon Party List launches the Kindergarten on Wheels (KOW) Project, through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DepEd and in partnership with the Quezon City government. 

In a ceremony at the President Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, Bagong Henerasyon Party List headed by Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy inked an agreement with DepEd, through Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC, to jointly implement the KOW Project.

Also present in the event were Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Quezon City Schools Division Superintendent Corazon Rubio, and the principal of President Corazon Aquino Elementary School, Paul Medrano.

DepEd welcomes this innovation from Bagong Henerasyon Party List with deep appreciation especially that it continues to intensify its campaign to make education accessible to all and to provide all five-year olds with proper educational interventions in preparation for the implementation of the K to 12 program.

KOW is part of the “H.E.L.P.S.” advocacies of the Bagong Henerasyon Party List led by Representative Bernadette Herrera–Dy. “H.E.L.P.S.” which stands for Health, Education, Livelihood, People Empowerment and Sustainable Development, is part of the party list’s vision to “lead in the effort forhealthy, educated, prosperous, and empowered citizens” and to “lead the fight against sickness, ignorance, poverty and indifference.”

 In School Year 2012-2013, KOW will be piloted in parts of Metro Manila where classroom shortage remains a problem due to a big population of students.

 DepEd will provide, among others, teachers and volunteers, enhanced curriculum guide for teachers, and initial sets of teaching and learning materials.

Bagong Henerasyon Party List meanwhile shall provide container vans/customized trucks for use as “Kindergarten on Wheels” in DepEd selected areas including the drivers and maintenance officers who shall, when needed, be present during the learning sessions and whose salaries shall be at the expense of Bagong Henerasyon.

DepEd committed to provide educational intervention for children and youth with disabilities

(PRESS RELEASE)

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC has ordered DepEd division heads nationwide to take the lead in the planning and implementation of the early registration of children and youth with disabilities on January 28, 2012 to bring them to school.

“Every learner should be in school whether they are able or differently-abled,” said Luistro.

DepEd has set aside January 28 as the day for expanded early registration in all public elementary and secondary schools nationwide. Targeted for early registration for School Year 2012-2013 are the incoming Kindergarten, Grade 1, and First Year high school students. This year, DepEd has enjoined out-of-school children and youth and learners with disabilities whose ages range from 5 to 18 to also enroll so that government can provide them proper educational intervention.

“The early registration will give the department enough lead time to bridge resource gaps even before classes open in June,” explained Luistro. He added that the Philippines is firmly committed to meet the goals of universal basic education and Education For All being advocated by the United Nations.

Based on DepEd Order No. 4, series of 2012, Special Education (SPED) centers, trained SPED teachers, and all health personnel are required to assist in locating children and youth with disabilities who have not been to school.

Required to enroll are children/youth with visual impairment, hearing impairment, those with intellectual disability, learning disability, with speech/language impairment, those with serious emotional disturbance, children with autism, with orthopedic impairment, those with special health problems and with multiple disabilities.

Learners who dropped out from elementary or secondary school may enroll in the formal system through Alternative Delivery Modes which include Modified In-School and Off-School Approach (MISOSA), electronic Instructional Management by Parents, Community, and Teachers (e-IMPACT), and Drop-Out Reduction Program (DORP).

Another option for those who dropped out and want to continue schooling is the Alternative Learning System.

In both schemes, prospective enrollees are required to present their report card or a letter of certification from the school they last attended.   

SM Group, Deutsche Bank pool P17 million to build classrooms

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education has entered into an agreement with the SM Group and a foreign financial institution for the construction of school buildings worth over P17 million in order to address classroom backlog. 

Education Secretary Armin Luistro signed the agreement with SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy; Banco de Oro (BDO) Foundation President and Board of Trustees Member Maureen Abelardo; BDO Unibank, Inc. Vice Chairperson and BDO Foundation Board of Trustees Member Cora de la Paz – Bernardo; BDO Unibank, Inc. Adviser to the Board of Directors and BDO Foundation Board of Trustees Member Jesus Tirona; and Deutsche Bank’s Chief Country Officer Enrico S. Cruz and Country Chief Operations Officer Rhoneil S. Fajardo.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the resource gap in the country’s public school system is so huge that any help from other sectors especially private businesses is most welcome.

The agreement between DepEd and SM Prime calls for the construction of a one unit two-storey four-classroom school building with toilets in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Also, six units of a one-storey two-classroom school building with toilet  will be constructed – one each in Davao City and General Santos City; two units in Pampanga; one in Sariaya, Quezon, and; one in Cebu City. The donation will also include armchairs, teacher’s tables and chairs, wall fans, blackboards and signage. The total project cost is P10.8 million.

On the other hand, SM Prime and Deutsche Bank pooled P2.150 million each to build  a one storey two classroom unit in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and a two-storey, four-classroom unit in Brgy. Tanza, Navotas City.

Meanwhile, SM Prime and BDO Foundation will jointly build a P2.2- million worth one storey four-classroom school building with toilets plus armchairs, teacher’s table and chair, wall fans, blackboards and a signage for students of Banisil National High School in Bgy. Tambler in General Santos City.

All these three agreements will fall under the Adopt-A-School Program, one of DepEd’s most effective and creative ways of enjoining private sector participation in public education.

SM Prime, BDO Foundation, SM Foundation and Deutsche Bank are participants to the private sector-led Bayanihang Pampaaralan of the 57-75 Movement which seeks to generate resources to build 10,000 classrooms within two years. 

DepEd, CNN Hero launch “kariton” education

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education and Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) headed by 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida launches today an out of the box delivery of educational services to marginalized urban learners through the K4 Outreach program.

“We say out of the box because it employs a novel way of making education and other basic social services accessible to underprivileged children initially in Manila, Caloocan, Pasig and Quezon City,” said Education Secretary Br. Armin A.  Luistro FSC.

The K4 program developed by DTC uses kariton (pushcart) as klasrum (classroom), klinik (clinic), and kantin (canteen) to seek out its intended clientele. As such it will carry with it educational materials, a simple medical care kit and food to be shared to the learners after the learning session.

It targets street children aged 5 to 15 particularly those who never attended school or who have dropped out with the aim of reintegrating them into the formal school system.

The focus is on three learning areas. One is values formation that includes good manners and right conduct. There will also be literacy classes that teach them daily living skills, perceptual skills, language and mathematics. Thirdly, there will be a play center which aims to make learning enjoyable.

DepEd adopts the K4 learning modality to reach out to street children, out-of-school youth, out-of-school children and school drop-outs delivered through the alternative learning system or alternative delivery modes.

“One of our goals here is for the targeted learners to understand and appreciate learning which they can apply in their own families and to the community,” Luistro pointed out.

Teacher volunteers will man the kariton to teach children using different learning tools until such time that they are ready to be integrated in public schools at a grade level appropriate to their age and skills.

The health of the learners will also be monitored and basic hygiene such as handwashing and toothbrushing will also be taught. Moving away from the usual practice, food will be provided to the learners after attending the three learning areas.

DepEd creates office for indigenous peoples’ education

(PRESS RELEASE)

The Department of Education has created the Indigenous Peoples Education Office (IPsEO) to implement and mobilize all programs and activities pertaining to the education of indigenous peoples and ensure the delivery of quality education. 

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the IPsEO shall take the lead in planning, implementing, and monitoring activities related to IPs education.

“This office is also tasked to develop and recommend policy standards and actions to DepEd management to enhance DepEd’s implementation of education initiatives for IP learners,” the education chief added.

The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (Republic Act 8371) mandates all government agencies to recognize and promote the rights of indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples within the framework of national unity and development.

Using the RA as the legal basis, DepEd issued DepEd Order No. 62 in 2011 entitled National Indigenous Peoples Education Policy Framework to serve as an instrument for promoting shared accountability, continuous dialogue, engagement and partnership. It will likewise serve as the clearinghouse for all education-related transactions including the production of learning modules and the issuance of indigenized curriculum, among others.

DepEd is partnering with other national government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society groups, indigenous peoples organization, private businesses, corporate foundations, and academic institutions to promote IPs education.

“These efforts are part of our mandate to make quality education accessible to all Filipinos and inclusive of all learners,” Luistro explained.   

DepEd names new assistant secretary

(PRESS RELEASE)

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC has announced the appointment of Ms. Elena R. Ruiz as Assistant Secretary for Programs and Projects of the Department of Education.

Ms. Ruiz brings to DepEd more than 40 years of academic expertise and managerial experience in the public school system. She started as a secondary school teacher in 1970 and rose to the ranks as principal, superintendent, and regional director at the National Capital Region prior to being named assistant secretary. 

The new assistant secretary has completed the academic requirements for a doctorate degree in educational management at the Centro Escolar University and has a Master of Arts degree from the University of the East. Moreover, she is also a diplomate in Applied Linguistics which she obtained from the Regional English Language Center (RELC) in Singapore on scholarship. Also, she is a trainer/resource speaker at the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) and president of the Philippine Association of School Superintendents. 

She has undergone a management development training program at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and has attended various local and international seminars and conferences on education planning, learning and teaching strategies, human resource management, and information and communication technology (ICT) in education, among others.   

DepEd introduces enjoyable, less burdensome curriculum under K to 12

(PRESS RELEASE)

Enjoyable, easily understood lessons using the language spoken at home, less contact time, and interactive.

These are just  some of the features of the new curriculum for Grade 1 and first year high school students that the Department of Education will implement starting June 2012 under the K to 12 basic education reform program.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the new curriculum is centered more on the students rather on the traditional way of teaching which is focused on the teacher. “We are making it a real learning experience for the students, meaning, it will be less on memorization but more encouraging of critical thinking,” he added.

It helps that the new K to 12 curriculum will implement the mother tongue-based multi-lingual education (MTB-MLE) in studying lessons from Kinder up to Grade 3. Studies have shown that students learn better when the language used at home is the same language used in discussing class lessons. DepEd is already piloting MTB-MLE in various schools nationwide using eight major regional dialects.

DepEd’s move is part of the education reform program under the Aquino administration which seeks to produce high school graduates who are equipped with skills for the world of work, have better needed competencies for college education and ready for global opportunities.

Under the K to 12 program, the public school system will have kinder (which started in School Year 2011), six years in elementary, four years in junior high school, and two more years for senior high school where students will have more time to sharpen their employable skills. 

The new curriculum for Grade 1 will only require pupils to go to school for half a day.

“From 6 hours contact time everyday, we will reduce it to four hours to make education less stressful and more enjoyable for our young learners,” Luistro explained.

Luistro stressed that schooling should be enjoyable. “It is important that our learners develop that natural love for learning and not feel that it is something imposed on them.”

On the other hand, the first year high school curriculum will be more interactive and relevant in everyday life. Science teaching, for example, will be based on its practical use.

“As students go up the ladder, we want them to learn skills that are being demanded by employers while at the same time giving them the chance to appreciate and enjoy the lessons,” Luistro expounded.

Expanded early school registration set on January 28

(PRESS RELEASE)

No one left behind. Everybody goes to school.

This is the goal set by the Department of Education as it declares January 28, 2012 as early registration day for School Year (S.Y.) 2012-2013 in all public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.

Last year, the early registration covered only kindergarten which jumpstarted the K to 12 basic education reform program, as well as Grade 1 pupils and First Year high school students. This year, DepEd has expanded the target of early registration to include out-of school children (OSC) and out-of school youth (OSY), and learners with disability.

“We have set aside this day for the early registration of out-of-school children, out-of-school –youth, children and youth with learning difficulties along with kinder, Grade 1 and incoming first year high school students,” said Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC.

Luistro said, the Philippines is firmly committed to meet the goals of universal basic education and Education For All being advocated by the United Nations.

The early registration seeks to reach out to all five year-old children to enrol in kindergarten and for six year-olds to enlist for Grade 1.

It also aims to guarantee enrolment of OSC and OSY from the disadvantaged groups, indigenous peoples and street children ages 5 to 18 in their preferred delivery system. They can choose between formal schooling through alternative delivery mode (ADM) or informal mode via the alternative learning system (ALS).

The early registration also aims to keep track of OSC and OSY with disabilities whose ages range from 5 to 18 across grade levels and provide them with appropriate education intervention. “The state mandates that all Filipinos with or without learning disabilities must have access to education and the early registration aims to count them in,” the education chief explained.     

In line with this, Luistro has asked the central, regional and division offices of DepEd to prepare the Three-Year Catch Up Plan in Basic Education from S.Y. 2012-2013 to S.Y. 2014-2015 in order to accommodate the increasing number of learners.

The early registration will also enlist the cooperation of the local government units, barangay officials, parents-teachers associations, civil society and the business sector. “With the help of our partners in education in this undertaking, we can make the necessary preparations and address potential resource needs in time for the opening of classes in June,” Luistro pointed out.

DepEd has always tapped the cooperation of the whole community to ensure that all learners are in school and that they stay in school through various intervention programs that will prevent them from dropping out.