(PRESS RELEASE)
The Department of Education advises the public especially its teaching and non-teaching personnel not to fall prey to high-yielding investment proposals that are most likely nothing but scams.
Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said that there are certain lending institutions or organizations that solicit investments from the public purportedly for a substantial return on investment.
“Offers such as faster return on investment and a higher than normal rate of return are attractive to the gullible who are more susceptible to this kind of scam,” Luistro added. For example, an investment of a certain amount will earn as high as fifty percent per week or month. This, financial experts say, is statistically impossible.
Luistro explained that one of the modus is to ask the unsuspecting teacher to deposit a certain amount to the bank and to present the deposit slip as proof of enrolment to the scheme. The teacher will then be left empty-handed.
There was an instance involving teachers at Commonwealth High School in Quezon City where they were made to invest a certain amount of money deductible from their monthly salaries. The alleged investment, they were told, has a provision for loan application. But when the teachers applied for a loan, they were denied for lack of required amount of contribution. When they asked for a refund, they were rebuffed.
“We therefore warn all DepEd personnel to be extra cautious when offered high- yielding instruments which are too good to be true because more often than not, they are untrue,” Luistro said.
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(PRESS RELEASE)
In a massive show of support to public schools, some 4.5 million volunteers participated in this year’s Brigada Eskwela. P1.4 billion worth of repair and construction materials was generated through the annual maintenance program.
In return, the Department of Education (DepEd) gives recognition to 127 school awardees nationwide whose effort in mobilizing the community to get involved in this year’s Brigada Eskwela is exemplary.
The awardees were chosen based on the scope of the repair and maintenance work the schools have completed, the construction materials they have generated, volunteer-man-days registered and overall impact created by the Brigada Eskwela effort on the physical improvement of the school.
“This is the least that we can do to show our “kabrigada” how much the DepEd family appreciates their contribution to make the annual Brigada Eskwela a success,” Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro said.
Brigada Eskwela is a school maintenance program that engages education stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors, to contribute their time, effort and resources in ensuring that public schools are ready for the June school opening.
Schools which have sustained their accomplishments for three consecutive years were elevated to the Hall of Fame status. There are currently 20 Hall of Fame school awardees.
These are: Sto. Cristo ES in Quezon City; Flora CS in Apayao; Sarrat North CS in Ilocos Norte; Cauayan City NHS in Cauayan City; Solano East CS in Nueva Vizcaya; Tiwi- Agro Industrial School in Albay; Daet CS in Camarines Norte; Sandingan NHS in Bohol Province; Don Carlos A. Gothong MNHS in Cebu City; Manalongon- Nicolas N. Lajot CES in Negros Oriental; Tampilisan CES in Zamboanga del Norte; Nabilid ES in Zamboanga del Norte; Sapa Anding Agricultural Vocational Technical HS in Zamboanga del Sur; Zamboanga City NHS West in Zamboanga City; Gutalac NHS in Zamboanga del Norte; Col. Saludares ES in Tagum City; New Consolacion ES in North Cotabato; Isulan NHS in Sultan Kudarat; Tupi NHS in South Cotabato and Agusan del Sur NHS in Agusan del Sur.
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(PRESS RELEASE)
The Department of Education has found an ally in Jesuit Basic Education Commission (JBEC) in its fight against bullying in schools.
JBEC, in cooperation with Solar Entertainment, has brought the acclaimed documentary “Bully” to the Philippines and no less than Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC has graced its premiere last night, November 13, 6:30 PM, at Robinson’s Galleria Cinema 4.
“It is important for us to stand up against bullying in schools. Enough is enough,” said Luistro before the screening of the film.
Luistro, who disclosed that he himself had been bullied when he was in Grade 4, noted that bullying is everywhere and its solution depends on how we act about it. “There is a bully in you and me but the solution will depend on how we address and overcome the bully in us, on how we allow the bullies around us to take advantage of us.”
The film, which was directed by Lee Hirsch, focuses on the alarming rise in bullying faced by teenage students in America. It chronicles various cases of bullying in high schools in Georgia, Iowa, Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma, which two of the cases tragically ended in suicide.
Meanwhile, Fr. Johnny Go, SJ, JBEC chair, hopes this campaign will lead schools to adopt a pro-active stance against bullying, with each stakeholder committing and contributing to a nurturing and bully-free school environment that is the right of every student.
“We hope this movie can reach as wide an audience as possible, especially among our students,” Go said. “At the very least, it should heighten awareness of this issue and begin productive discussions and reflections about a real problem that can no longer be ignored.”
DepEd Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Alberto Muyot presented DepEd’s Child Protection Policy and reiterated that “to stop bullying, we have to act now because for our children, it may be too late.”
JBEC will use this powerful documentary to launch the anti-bullying campaign, “Not in Our School,” endorsed by the popular sportsman, Chris Tiu. The advocacy is aligned with the DepEd Order No. 40, series of 2012 or the “Child Protection Policy.” This seeks to defend the student from any form of abuse, including bullying. In light of recent local and international headlines about bullying, this film can be a timely wake-up call for all involved: parents, teachers, administrators, and especially students.
In addition to its theatrical screening, JBEC is offering several Saturday block screenings in Robinson’s Galleria for schools who want to show the film exclusively for their community. In addition, schools can also sponsor campus screenings for a minimal fee. To enhance its use as a formative tool, JBEC will provide teachers and parents with a discussion guide to facilitate processing of the complex message of the movie. Interested schools may contact jbec@xs.edu.ph or moviesnevents@solar-entertaiment.com for bookings.
The “Bully” hits theaters starting today, November 14. It is rated PG-13 by the MTRCB. For other details, please view the following links:
· Link to the facebook bullyproject.philippines http://www.facebook.com/TheBullyProjectPh
· Link to the official Bully trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUy2ZWoStr0&feature=fvwrel
· Link to the Not In Our School website
http://www.notinourschool.weebly.com
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(PRESS RELEASE)
Filipino high school students will be given a chance to shine internationally in an impromptu speaking contest in English that also aims to develop the public- speaking skills of local students.
The First Voice of Asia Speech Contest will start its selection of contestants from November 15 to 23, 2012 at the school level and will culminate in the international finals on March 20,2013.
The contest is being launched by the Department of Education in cooperation with The Manila Times, The Manila Times College, Emilio Aguinaldo College and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA).
Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the contest will highlight the capability of Filipino high school students to discuss a relevant issue that is exemplary in form and content. “By content, we mean thought organization, logic, appropriateness of examples, and accuracy of data and delivery means, correctness of grammar and syntax, level of language, posture and eye contact with the audience,” said Luistro.
Contestants should speak in English all throughout, thus, words used during the speech other than English will mean point deduction.
Each regional office of DepEd is entitled to send two contestants, one each from the public and private school enrolled in Grade 9 or 10. The selection of contestants from the division level is from November 26 to December 7, 2012 while the selection in the regional level is from January 21 to 25, 2013. The national finals is on February 15, 2013.
The national winner who will receive P50,000 will represent the country in the international finals, wherein the winning prize is US$5,000.
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(PRESS RELEASE)
Parents in New Canaan, one of the most remote and unvisited barangays in Alabel, Sarangani dream that their children graduate from college or at least finish Grade 6. But Analie Eday, a lumad like them, knows that as an education worker, her first order of the day is for the children to learn how to read because that is the parents’ more frequently mentioned and telling aspiration everytime she talks to them.
So what motivates Analie: “I am offended at seeing my fellow lumads exploited simply because they do not know how to read and write. That is motivation enough for me,” she said.
The barangay residents hardly had any idea what life is like beyond the mountains until 2009 when the provincial government led by a young Governor Miguel Dominguez, started bringing education to them with help from private companies and civil society group.
Building on its non-conformist leadership and youthful base, the provincial government launched an umbrella program called Quality Education for SaranganiToday (QUEST). Developed with technical guidance from Synergeia Foundation, QUEST’s reform strategies include increasing awareness of the province’s state of education, supporting public school teachers and improving the performance of elementary school pupils.
At the helm of QUEST is the governor’s younger sister Cecille who was then executive director of the Alcantara Foundation, another key partner of the province in education reform.
Although much is yet to be done, QUEST ticks off some early results: 10,000 Grade 1 and 2 pupils benefitted, 28 primary schools opened, 57 primary schools made into complete elementary schools, 33 integrated schools established, workbooks for pupils and manuals for teachers were developed, 11,000 youth returned to school and 50,000 parents were trained to become mentors.
What about reading? The Sarangani Big Brother, a summer reading camp for children has become so successful DepEd Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera has declared it will soon become a national program.
Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC is thankful to DepEd education partners. “Investing in education can never go wrong because the positive social impact of its dividends is intangible and incapable of monetary estimation,” he explained.
The efforts of QUEST and its education workers translate to the province topping the 2012 National Achievement Test results across Region 12, from only number 9 in 2007. And official figures state that 8 of 10 Sarangani children now have access to education compared to only 4 before 2007.
QUEST is now replicated in Tampakan, South Cotabato, Koronadal City, Semirara, Antique, Compostela Valley and Palawan.
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(DEPED PRESS RELEASE)
Seven public schools in Iloilo are expected to undergo much needed repairs of their school facilities, thanks to the checkmyschool.org (CMS), a website that provides information about the condition, services and facilities in public schools as well as on how the government and the private sector can address them.
A partnership between the Department of Education and the Ateneo School of Government, checkmyschool.org allows the public to use gathered information to fill up resource gaps or provide inputs on how to better improve the delivery of education services.
Prompted by a CMS report, DepEd conducted verification and confirmed budget allocation for the repair of Burias Elementary School in Mambusao, Capiz, Nanga ES in Guimbal and Malitbog National High School in Calinog, Iloilo under the Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF) for this year. For 2013, BEFF funds have been allocated for repairs in Caidquid ES in Mambusao West, Capiz, Camangahan ES in Guimbal, Calinog Central School, Badlan NHS and Alcarde-Gustilo NHS in Calinog.
Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said: “When civil society, concerned citizens and DepEd share an open communication line, resource gaps in our public schools can be promptly addressed.”
According to CMS project coordinator Redempto Parafina, verified school issues posted in the CMS website are sent to concerned DepEd offices and other education stakeholders for proper resolution.
Checkmyschool.org has already reached 14 areas across the country involving the training of area coordinators who check the information provided by schools and counter-check them based on actual community validation. Information resulting from the validation activity is brought to the attention of concerned authorities/agencies.
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(DEPED PRESS RELEASE)
The Department of Education announced today that the provincial government of Negros Oriental (Dumaguete) won the bid for the hosting of Palarong Pambansa 2013.
In a letter addressed to Negros Oriental Governor Roel R. Degamo, Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said that the decision was reached after a tedious selection and deliberation process taking into consideration the presentations made last October 19 and the report provided by the technical committee composed of officials of DepEd and the Philippine Sports Commission.
“The final choice is based on the result of the votes made by the Palarong Pambansa Board with 19 members present during the actual voting. With a vote of 11 for Dumaguete, seven for Negros Occidental, and one tied vote – the Department of Education is awarding to Negros Oriental the privilege of hosting the 2013 Palarong Pambansa,” Luistro said.
He noted however that several conditions have to be met by Negros Oriental for the agreement to be finalized. This includes the submission of a formal letter of commitment to host the 2013 Palarong Pambansa indicating the provincial government’s offer of counterpart funding and the Signing of a Memorandum of Agreement to firm up the roles and obligations of DepEd and the Provincial Government.
Luistro also thanked the provincial government of Negros Occidental (Bacolod) headed by Governor Alfredo Maranon for presenting their bid.
“As an overall assessment of both bids, we are very, very happy that both provinces presented themselves as very ready for Palaro 2013. If it is possible we would have 2 hosts for Palaro but since that is not possible, the committee had to choose one.” said Luistro.
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(DEPED PRESS RELEASE)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Diaspora for Good Governance (D4G2) and the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Government (CCAGG) recognized public servants and citizens who go the extra mile in fostering transparency in the delivery of education services.
The Community of Champions awards, given last 3 October 2012 at the Davao Eagle Ridge Resort, acknowledge the commitment and initiative of DepEd personnel and school community stakeholders in furthering transparency, accountability, and better governance in their communities through the promotion of school-based monitoring of public school buildings and armchairs.
The award is given in partnership with the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP), and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
“We commend the people behind the Community of Champions Award as it fosters an enabling environment for good governance practices to flourish,” said Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC.
The awardees are: Secretary Armin A. Luistro, Director Aida N. Carpentero, DepEd Central Office, Regional Director Susana B. Estigoy, DepEd Region XI Office, Ms. Zosima S. Retardo, DepEd Division of Compostela Valley, Ms. Ann A. Velez, DepEd Division of Davao City, The Supreme Student Government of Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, DepEd Division of Davao City, Engr. Lolita P. Andamon, DepEd Division of Davao del Norte, Dana Foundation, Inc., Davao del Norte, Ms. Raquel L. Cedeño, DepEd Division of Davao del Sur, Ms. Norma T. Alfano, DepEd Division of Davao Oriental, Mr. Allan Balisbis, DepEd Division of Samal City, OIC-Supt. Reynaldo B. Mellorida, DepEd Divison of Samal and Ms. Merle M. Paclibar, DepEd Division of Samal City.
The awardees were chosen through a project called the Collaboration for Reforms in Education (CORE), a school-based procurement monitoring initiative implemented by D4G2 and CCAGG, in partnership with the Department of Education, from April to October 2012. CORE provided training to school-based community stakeholders on monitoring the procurement and contract implementation of school armchairs and buildings in 150 schools in Region XI that are under AusAID’s Support for Philippine Basic Education Reform (SPHERE) and Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF).
Parent Teachers Associations (PTA), School Governing Councils (SGCs), and school personnel were encouraged to hold suppliers and contractors accountable through constructive engagement with local DepEd officials. Ms. Elaine Ward, Counsellor for AusAID commended the initiative and the people behind it, including school-based volunteers and monitors, by saying that they are the “backbone of the greater reform in the education sector.”
“The award is given to recognize the efforts of these unsung heroes and the diamonds in the rough who value good governance, transparency, and accountability even when no one is looking and even when it is not required,” Ms. Caroline R. Belisario, Executive Director of D4G2 said, commending the awardees.
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(DEPED PRESS RELEASE)
The K to 12 Basic Education Program of the Department of Education has increased public approval rating based on latest survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS).
In a survey conducted from August 24-27, results showed growing acceptability of the key features of the reform program compared to survey results in March 2012 and earlier.
72% of Filipino adults believe that K to 12 will give students more sufficient knowledge and preparation for work and college compared to those who finished 10 years of basic education, garnering a net rating of +48, up from +35 last March.
The percentage of Filipinos who believe that more students will be encouraged to finish Senior High School (SHS) in the K to 12 Basic Education Program because it is equivalent to two years of college showed a ten-point increase with 69%, a significant increase from 59% in March, with a net rating of +41.
Moreover, results showed that 68% of Filipinos with a net rating of +39 believe that more students will finish SHS even with the additional cost and number of years because K to 12 graduates will be better prepared for work, higher education, and business.
K to 12 prescribes an enhanced basic education program that covers one year of Kindergarten education, 6 years of elementary education, and 6 years of secondary education consisting of 4 years of Junior High School and two years Senior High School. K to 12 graduates will be equipped with middle-level skills, readiness for higher education, and readiness for livelihood, may it be employment or entrepreneurship.
Looking at the complementary aspects of providing access to quality and equitable education for all Filipinos, the same survey revealed that 72% of the respondents agree that DepEd will be able to improve the quality of teachers while 7 out of 10 say DepEd will be able to address classroom shortages.
Overall, public satisfaction with DepEd increased by 12 points while awareness of Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC was at a record high of 90%.
The Third Quarter 2012 Social Weather Report was conducted nationwide with 1,200 respondents representing all economic classes, and a balance across genders, age groups, and locale (urban and rural).
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(DEPED PRESS RELEASE)
Private sector investment in the public school system has reached P5.8 billion in October 2012, up from P3.4 billion in 2011.
Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the bulk of donation is in the form of school buildings amounting to P1.7 billion which translates to 3,184 classrooms. “We are indebted to our private sector partners who continue to invest in education knowing fully well its power to transform the lives of many Filipinos,” he added.
DepEd fetes its education partners through simple recognition rites for the private sector, non-government organizations and individuals at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd Central Office today, October 25.
Under DepEd’s Adopt-A-School program, private corporations and individual donors are invited to donate to public schools to bridge education resource gaps. In exchange, donors can avail of tax rebate from the government.
“Based on our experience, not all who donate avail of tax incentives. This proves that their bigger motivation is to give back to society,” Luistro observes.
The Adopt-A-School secretariat of DepEd continues to receive increasing proposition to donate from the private sector.
Some of the support provided by the private sector to public schools are classrooms, furniture, infrastructure including toilets, handwashing facilities, school stage, fence and drainage system, feeding program, computers and technology support, school supplies, training and development, health and nutrition, direct assistance to students and teachers, reading program, and DepEd-GASTPE scholarship grants.
“We believe that donors continue to give to DepEd because they are confident that their donation will be put to good use,” said Luistro.
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