Showing posts with label Department of Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Department of Education. Show all posts

May 29, 2023

ChildFund Philippines strengthen Its position as DepEd’s Emergency Response Partner

ChildFund Philippines, a child-focused NGO serving children, youth, and their families in the Philippines since the 1970s and at present, actively backs Department of Education (DepEd) in its Education in Emergency efforts.
MHPSS session in a school in Maguindanao del Norte 

The Department of Education (DepEd) has recognized ChildFund Philippines as one of its development sector partners. In the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Services (DRRMS) Terminal Report released in February 2023, the government agency cited the participation of the non-government organization (NGO) in the Education Cluster’s emergency response efforts particularly for communities devastated by Super Typhoon Karding (international name Noru) in September 2022 and Typhoon Paeng (international name Nalgae) in November 2022.

ChildFund Philippines has partnered with REINA Federation of Parents Association and Ha Uman Association, Inc. to distribute learner and teacher kits; provide Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to learners, teachers, and parents; and conduct MHPSS Training of Trainers (ToT) to frontliners, educators, and community leaders in affected communities in Quezon province and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
MHPSS in the aftermath of Karding

In September 2022, Super Typhoon Karding devastated areas in the eastern part of Luzon, including the towns of Burdeos and Panukulan, the eastern and western coast municipalities of Polillo Island in the province of Quezon. As a partner of DepEd’s DRRMS, ChildFund

Philippines directly participated in the provision of response programs to affected residents of the distressed town.

After a quick assessment of the calamity’s impact to people, especially children, ChildFund Philippines rolled out the MHPSS program in Burdeos. Forty-seven frontline service providers (including guidance counselors, teachers, child development workers and local government unit representatives) engaged for ToT, which trained them to conduct MHPSS sessions that cover not just children but also parents and other community members.

“Through the seminars, we were able to help our students move on and realize the importance of education especially during difficult times,” said Mark Jade Alpajora, Teacher-in-Charge in Anibawan Elementary School in Anibawan, one of the most devastated barangays in Burdeos. “Eventually, they were able to return to school and continue their interest in learning despite the challenges. For our part as educators, we are confident we can now do the same and help our students carry on in case disasters hit our area again in the future.”

Trained PFA-ers in action after Paeng

The MHPSS program and the Psychological First Aid (PFA) training likewise equipped educators in the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Upi in Maguindanao del Norte, which were severely devastated by flash floods and landslides due to continuous and torrential rains brought about by strong typhoon Paeng in October 2022. (The typhoon did not directly hit Mindanao but it intensified monsoon rains, resulting to catastrophic floods and landslides that do not usually hit provinces in the region.)

“Most of us were depressed because it was the first time I could remember that we were severely affected by a typhoon in our area,” said Rhodora Hadjihamid, a teacher from Noru Central School of Upi town. “There were initially 10 of us teachers who were trained under ChildFund Philippines’s MHPSS and then we were able to train other teachers, guidance coordinators, and daycare facilitators in other areas in our municipalities. We are thankful for this support and for some learning materials provided to us.”

The towns of Burdeos in Quezon and Datu Odin Sinsuat and Upi in Maguindanao del Norte are not among the program-supported areas of ChildFund Philippines in the country. But the NGO regularly provides support even to non-program areas as an official development partner of DepEd DRMSS, which holds cluster programs as part of disaster relief efforts nationwide.

“Based on the disaster impact and recommendations from our nearby partner areas, we looked at the situation in Burdeos and Panukulan and found the need to intervene. The same was the case for areas in Maguindanao del Norte a month after,” disclosed Erwin Galido, DRM Program Specialist in ChildFund Philippines.

Galido further explained that ChildFund Philippines focuses on interventions that would maximize limited resources—including replacement of learning materials so that learners could immediately go back to school and provision of MHPSS sessions.

Frontliners, educators and community leaders in affected communities in Quezon being trained in MHPSS as part of ChildFund Philippines’ Typhoon Karding emergency response.



Partnership with DepEd

Marlene Floresca, ChildFund Philippines Education Specialist explained that the organization “complements and supplements the Department of Education’s existing resources.”

She further explained that when a disaster hits an area, ChildFund assesses if additional support is needed particularly in education.

“We take part in the national government’s objective to have a coordinated response and help distribute relief assistance in affected communities and schools after calamities,” said Floresca.

“ChildFund Philippines also provides psychological first aid and training to educators and local government representatives so they can perform MHPSS to children and people in their respective communities,” she added.

Putting focus on mental health

According to Galido, ChildFund Philippines’ focus is to provide support that would equip key members of local government agencies and partner schools on the basic skills of providing MHPSS sessions so they could “help children and other people in their area to immediately overcome the emotional and mental stress they are experiencing and emerge with better disposition despite the disaster.”

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support is a vital initiative aimed at nurturing emotional well-being and assisting individuals in coping with life's challenges. MHPSS encompasses a range of activities designed to support the mental and emotional health of people affected by disasters.

These activities include providing compassionate counseling services, equipping individuals with effective coping strategies to manage stress and anxiety, promoting self-care practices such as exercise and relaxation techniques, establishing safe and supportive community groups where individuals can share their experiences and extend support to one another, and fostering awareness about mental health issues to eliminate stigma and foster a culture of seeking help.

Education in emergency through community participation

“Disasters disrupt children's normalcy, including their opportunities to learn and equip themselves for the future. Childhood is a critical window of opportunity to support the optimum development of young people,” explained Floresca.

She further emphasized that ChildFund's mission to help create a nurturing environment to support this development equips children to become productive members of their communities.

“Education in Emergencies is a life-saving intervention, as it does not only assure children's learning continuity, it also provides a safe space for children who have experienced adversities amidst disasters.”

ChildFund Philippines, however, underscores the importance of partnerships (including DepEd DRMSS and other local government and non-government partners) and community participation in sustainably equipping victims of disasters and engaging educators, parents, and local leaders with the right skills to make sure there is immediate support, especially in terms of mental health in times of emergency.

“Our partnership with local civil society organizations (CSOs) in disaster-prone communities enable us to respond quickly and effectively to humanitarian crises in the Philippines,” said Anand Vishwakarma, Country Director of ChildFund Philippines.

“Thus, ChildFund is able to achieve its organizational goals of promoting safety, health, and education in the Philippines by providing emergency assistance and education support to children and families in need. This not only helps address the immediate needs of children and families affected by emergencies but also provides a foundation for long-term recovery and resilience-building efforts,” Vishwakarma added.

ChildFund’s national and global strategies are designed to promote well-being of children, especially those living in poverty and facing different forms of disadvantage. In the Philippines and in other countries where it has presence, the organization puts a strong emphasis on emergency response and education in emergencies as part of its mission to keep children healthy, educated, skilled, and safe.



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About ChildFund Philippines 

ChildFund Philippines is a child-focused NGO serving children, youth, and their families in the Philippines since the 1970s. We are a program office of ChildFund International, a global not-for-profit organization with the primary purpose of helping children break the generational cycle of poverty and achieve their full potential. ChildFund Philippines works alongside local partners in over 21 provinces in the country to ensure that children and youth are safe, healthy, educated, and skilled. One of our primary programs is the Children and Youth-led Disaster Risk Management. We specialize in Education in Emergency, particularly on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

April 21, 2023

Solving community problems through innovation: Samsung Philippines partners with DepEd to launch Solve for Tomorrow program for aspiring young STEM leaders

Samsung Philippines is ramping up its efforts to support young Filipino innovators through the launch of its globally recognized educational program, Solve for Tomorrow.

In partnership with the Department of Education, Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow is an innovative competition that fosters critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and teamwork to encourage social innovation ideas that address pressing community issues.

Samsung Philippines presents a Certificate of Appreciation to the Department of Education for the Solve for Tomorrow partnership. In the photo are:   (L-R) Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO) Chief Financial Officer Taekyun Kim, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO) President Minsu Chu, Department of Education Director IV Margarita Ballesteros, Samsung Electro- Mechanics Philippines (SEMPHIL) President Hangkyu Cho, and Samsung R&D Institute Philippines (SRPH) Managing Director Yongduk Hwang.



Since its global launch in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow has provided an opportunity for students worldwide to turn their imaginative ideas into practical solutions. It aims to empower STEM students to share and realize their ideas to solve societal challenges and make an impact in their local communities.

The competition offers a unique learning experience, enabling participants to leverage their STEM expertise and acquire valuable skills throughout the entire journey. As of 2020, the CSR program has benefited over 2 million people and expanded to over 50 markets, including the Philippines in 2023.

STEM in the Philippines

In the 2022 edition of the Global Innovation Index, which measures economic progress and competitiveness, the Philippines slipped eight spots to rank 59th in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) scales in reading, math, and science.

In the first participation of the Philippines in the PISA in 2018, Filipino students ranked the lowest in reading comprehension among 79 countries and second lowest in both mathematical and scientific literacy.

Mr. Minsu Chu, president of Samsung Philippines, stated that the company is committed to giving back to the community through STEM education. “Every young person deserves to unlock his or her full potential, regardless of circumstances. Samsung believes in developing young minds and equipping them with resources and opportunities that nurture their dreams, so they can generate positivity that also inspires fellow young people,” said Mr. Chu.

How to join

Targeted towards the youth who are taking on the STEM track from Grades 8-12, the Solve for Tomorrow program aims to enhance the students’ technical and 4C skills (cooperation, communication, creativity and critical thinking).

Interested applicants, which should consist of students and a teacher, can submit an application through the official Samsung website. Entries are welcome from individuals or teams with a maximum of eight (8) members. Schools may enter as many individuals or teams.

Applicants are required to submit a written plan (maximum of 1,000 words) about the issue or problem they wish to solve, a poster or diagram of their plan, a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation (maximum of 10 slides), or a 5-minute video presentation.

Solve for Tomorrow will run in three stages from May to December. Qualified entries will go through a preliminary round in June. Shortlisted teams will move to the semi-final round that will last until October where they will be subjected to workshops and mentorship in order for the teams to build a prototype of their solution. Only five (5) teams will advance to the final round. During the final round in December, the students will present their prototypes to a panel of judges and three (3) individuals or teams will be announced as winners.

Prizes worth over P1.5 million await the winners including their respective teachers and schools. Stay tuned for further contest updates to be announced soon.

November 8, 2022

P&G and World Vision ramp up efforts to create more school chairs from plastic waste

Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines, maker of trusted brands like Safeguard, Head & Shoulders, Pampers, Ariel, continues to create a better tomorrow for Filipinos with the “Pag-Asa sa Basura” Project. In partnership with World Vision Philippines and the Department of Education, the project promotes sustainable waste segregation collection, and recycling in schools and communities.

“Alongside plastic waste recovery and recycling, Pag-asa sa Basura makes a meaningful and sustainable impact by also educating students, teachers, and parents on the fundamentals of proper solid waste management and empowering communities affected by poor waste management,” says King Martin Agoncillo, the Corporate Communications Manager of P&G Philippines.

Schools segregate and collect plastic waste, which is collected and upcycled into school chairs, that are donated back to participating schools. Additionally, the initiative distributed collection bins and rehabilitated materials recovery facilities that systematize recovery, segregation, recycling, and upcycling efforts.

(Photo during the turnover of “Pag-asa Sa Basura” upcycled chairs in Malabon)

The program also educates and empowers the students on how they can help prevent environmental ills. Students who collect recyclable materials are rewarded with incentives such as school supplies and gift tokens.

Since the project’s inception in 2019, the “Pag-Asa sa Basura” project has given back over two thousand upcycled chairs and added 1,500 chairs this year. The project has collected 3.2 million sachet waste and 913,000 plastic bottles to date. The chairs have been distributed to 20 partner schools in Malabon and five in Quezon City.
Pag-Asa sa Basura is grounded on the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, or RA 9003, which aims to maximize resource conservation and recovery through proper waste management. It is one of P&G’s initiatives in helping ​​non-governmental organizations and local government agencies in giving aid to communities in need.

“The challenges we face today are much greater as we go back to face-to-face schooling amid the pandemic. Through our partnership with P&G, we hope to help communities while finding solutions for a sustainable future,” says Chifadel Mabolo, the Program Manager of the Malabon cluster of World Vision Philippines.

As a responsible corporate citizen, P&G Philippines was recently honored by Asia CEO Awards with the Sustainability Company of The Year Circle of Excellence Award. The award is given to organizations that achieved important success in environmental progress and demonstrated leadership and commitment to sustainability.

December 12, 2021

Strong ties form a brighter future for kids under the USAID, NEAP and DepEd Evidence Based Literacy Leadership


The journey of the young minds and the growth of their mental ability to learn has been the concern of the Department of Education, National Educators Academy of the Philippines and the USAID. Despite the absence of face-to-face classes due to the worldwide health crisis, this was never the stumbling block of the three agencies to pursue the continuous growth of the kids to learn and enhance their reading skills and ability to learn in the absence of a teacher physically present.

The tri-party has been advocating the need for the young minds to nourish at their young stage of growth where it matters most, to be able to absorb the right learning skills. Literacy at this stage is where the foundation must be laid.

USAID has been providing the ABC+ or its Advancing Basic Education where more than 10,000 beneficiaries from the Education sector primarily the teachers, school heads, supervisors and principals, and provided 9 million early grade learning materials.

Lucky recipients for this program were public schools in Regions V and VI, namely the Bicol region and the Western Visayas where the tri-parties focused on the how to further develop and strengthen the Literacy and Reading in light of the heightened difficulties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The selected public schools in the said regions were able to focus with the adoption of technology using the internet as a medium of learning, with the new innovations and initiatives strengthening literacy instruction at the early grade level in the context of the new normal. 400 projects headed by the School Teachers attended the USAID led "Instructional Leadership Training: Strengthening Learning Conditions for Early Literacy."

The training focused on developing literacy leaders who can foster positive school climate and conditions integrating social and emotional learning, gender equity and social inclusion, and developmentally appropriate practices to support quality literacy instruction. USAID officials, DepEd representatives, teachers and officials from DepEd Regions V and VI, and other key partners and stakeholders attended the conference.

The event featured multiple activities, including a virtual poster and video exhibition of project initiatives, a virtual area featuring USAID-supported early grade learning materials, and read-aloud events featuring books in Filipino, English, and mother tongue languages developed through USAID support. The conference also included discussions on literacy leadership, home partners’ literacy programs, school climate, and gender equality and social inclusion.

The awarding of winners were set as the culminating part of the 3-day online event held last December 10, 2021 during a virtual conference. The winners are as follows :


It is with the highest gratitude to the USAID, the National Educators Academy of the Philippines, hand in hand with the Department of Education has continued to roll out such programs that enrich our young generations which will be the heroes of the future.

USAID has been helping the Philippines and the Local Government for the past 60 years in helping us achieve early learning ability for our children. The USAID has invested around P200M plus for this. USAID Advancing Basic Education (ABC+) project, has trained more than 10,000 teachers, school heads, supervisors and principals, and provided 9 million early grade learning materials since 2019.

November 19, 2021

RCBC’s DiskarTech partners with DepEd for grassroots FinEd program

With the aim of improving the state of financial education in the country, Yuchengco-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and DiskarTech inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Education (DepEd) highlighting the legacy bank’s commitment to help Filipinos understand and appreciate the value of financial technology and inclusive digital finance.

In a virtual MOA signing together with other DepEd stakeholders and partners, RCBC’s DiskarTech presented its plans for a massive, grassroots financial education campaign starting with the implementation of a curriculum-based digital finance study program that will be integrated next school year in the lessons of the senior high school students nationwide, especially those who are taking the Accounting, Business and Management (ABM) strand.


Dubbed as the Aralin sa Madiskarteng Pananalapi(Lessons in Resourceful Finance), the program puts a special focus on discussions and classroom activities that explore the concepts of digitalization, inclusive digital finance and financial technology. The program also aims to promote a deeper understanding of what RCBC has identified as the five pillars of financial inclusion: 1) payments, 2) insurance, 3) savings, 4) investments, and 5) loans.

“We have taken it as part of our mission to accompany our countrymen in this journey towards financial inclusion. We dream of a day when our unbanked and underserved sectors will soon become fully banked individuals; that each Filipino household has taken the values of saving up and investing to heart. This starts with a grassroots financial education strategy,” said Lito Villanueva, RCBC’s Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer.

On DepEd’s part, the partnership and program will not only benefit the learners but the whole educational system including the teachers and other stakeholders.

“RCBC has always been very helpful to us. The important thing that RCBC is doing is in financial literacy and these programs have to be continued. The laws on senior high school say that the learners have to be taught financial literacy. But not only should the learners be taught financial literacy but the teachers themselves so that the learners will take the cue and example from the teachers also. All of us have to be taught financial literacy,” said DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones.

The integration of the said program is also a step forward to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) vision of a“digital Philippines.” Through an effective financial education and digital literacy strategy and program, the BSP and RCBC believes that this program will also help Filipinos to maximize the services banks and other financial institutions offer, and that they are also empowered to rise above financial exclusion.

“In the end, we want every Filipino learner to find their own diskarte as early as senior high school, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed for them to soon experience asenso at ginhawa. We believe that almost everything in digital banking innovation, supported by a strong grassroots financial education strategy, is within reach, hence echoing our DiskarTech mantra: Halos lahat pwede,” said RCBC President and CEO Eugene Acevedo.

Boiler Plate:

RCBC is one of the leading universal banks accelerating digital transformation in the Philippines. It was judged as the Philippines’ best retail bank in the 2021 Global Banking and Finance Review Awards. It also bagged a back-to-back best digital bank award from Asiamoney in 2020 and 2021, and the Alpha Southeast Asia in 2020, among other global and regional recognitions. It is also the first local universal bank to have the most extensive reach with registered customers from across all 81 provinces nationwide through its mobile apps RCBC Mobile and DiskarTech. Its digital products include RCBC mobile and online banking, handheld ATM Go mobile point-of-sale terminals, and DiskarTech, among others. DiskarTech was recognized as the 2020 breakout finance app in the country by App Annie, a global data analytics firm covering all mobile applications worldwide.

August 31, 2021

Healthy working relationships promote good work-life balance

Increased productivity while achieving common goals, trust and respect among co-workers, furthering one’s career with strong support in the workplace, development of long-lasting relationships, and, more importantly, a healthy work-life balance is positive results of having a good relationship with co-workers.

These were emphasized in the topic of the 10th edition of the Department of Education’s and Globe’s TAYO NAMAN! (Tulong, Alaga, Yakap at Oras para sa mga Tagapagtaguyod ng Edukasyon)14-part webinar series hosted by DepEd School Division of Cagayan.

Raymond A. Magpantay, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA), Inc. and ambassador to the Philippines for the non-profit No Bully based in San Francisco in the U.S., led the discussions about “Connecting and Building Healthy Relationships with Co-Workers.”

He shared with educators and parents who attended the webinar the different types of conflicts in the workplace, barriers in establishing good associations, how to manage conflicts, and techniques to establish and ensure healthy relationships.

“Filipinos value closeness and relationships with their family, friends, and co-workers. This is why we need to establish boundaries, assert ourselves and learn to self-regulate our emotions and reactions in different situations so we can really develop and sustain meaningful relationships at work and at home. Once we achieve this, we will be able to harness the power of learning from one another and the virtues of being humble and open,” Magpantay said.

Managing boundaries is the key to ensure that we do not leverage relationships unfairly or create an environment of favoritism. The seminar also emphasized the need to treat each team member with equal care, consideration, and respect. Whenever possible, it is important to include other people in work projects to further diversify our knowledge and perspectives. Importantly, we must be able to say NO even to our work friends to develop a culture of trust in respect.

“The pandemic has derailed many social activities and physical connection with friends, colleagues at work, and in some cases, even with family members. We are one with the DepEd and our teachers to help relearn, repair, and rebuild these relationships that are very important to our mental and emotional well-being. Through this initiative, we hope to reach more educators, parents, and students who feel burdened by isolation. Hindi po kayo nag-iisa. Sama-sama po tayo,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe SVP for Corporate Communications and Chief Sustainability Officer.

DepEd’s TAYO Naman! is an online Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) program for all education advocates, including teachers, non-teaching personnel, and parents. It is spearheaded by DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service (DRRMS) and Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (BHROD) Employee Welfare Division in partnership with Globe’s Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) Series on Psychosocial Support Services, the Philippine Mental Health Association, Inc., MAGIS Creative Spaces, and Unilab Foundation.

The webinars are held every Friday until August 27, from 8:30 to 10:00 am and streamed live on Facebook thru: DepED Philippines, Deped DRRMS, and Globe Bridgecom.

Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 3 on providing good health and well-being and UN SDG No. 4 for quality education. Globe is committed to upholding the United Nations Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs.

August 13, 2021

USAID and DepEd Partnership Celebrates Joint Successes in Improving Early Grade Learning in the Philippines


Manila, August 13, 2021
Education stakeholders gathered on August 13 for a virtual event to celebrate the collective accomplishments of the Department of Education (DepEd) and USAID Philippines in improving early grade reading and literacy in the country this past year, amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and RTI International held the USAID ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines Project’s Virtual Event and Media Q&A Session on “A Year of K-3 Distance Learning with ABC+: Celebrating Lessons Learned, Achievements, Opportunities & Partnerships”
August 13, 2021.

Through its ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines Project, USAID worked with DepEd to improve reading and literacy, math, and social and emotional skills for early grade children (K-3) in Regions V (Bicol) and Region VI (Western Visayas). USAID also worked in coordination with the Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education for activities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“By working together, we have supported DepEd in implementing innovative strategies to improve early grade literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional learning. Through ABC+ we will work together to reach up to two million students in Regions V, VI and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” said Sean Callahan, Acting Mission Director of USAID Philippines.

USAID’s support includes interventions to improve early grade instruction and delivery systems, access to quality materials, and education system capacity. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, USAID has supported the implementation of DepEd’s Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan at the early grade level.

To date, the USAID-DepEd partnership has produced and distributed nearly four million supplementary reading materials to more than 250,000 students; trained over 10,000 teachers, supervisors and school administrators; developed and adapted nearly 500 leveled readers in several mother tongue languages and in English; and produced 64 television-based and radio-based instructional materials.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, in her remarks, said that “ABC+ is an example of the many initiatives that made schoolyear 2020 and 2021 possible. A collaboration with USAID, this partnership covering Regions V and VI and a division of Maguindanao focuses on improving reading and literacy of math and social and emotional skills for early grade children.... today we will witness a glimpse of the success of this partnership that has helped us achieve what we were able to do during the past year."

"The efforts and innovative practices brought to us by this partnership will be taken forward in this incoming school year. We need to embrace innovation, we need to engage with partners and USAID is a shining example, and stakeholders to collectively develop innovative solutions that will help us overcome challenges."

USAID and DepEd are also assisting teachers in project sites to develop appropriate remedial measures to address gaps in reading skills. As a result, children gain the ability to progress towards their actual grade level or become “reading ready” during the school year.

To streamline the training and professional development of teachers, the partnership also developed the NEAP Professional Development Information System that enables teachers to participate in training programs, take pre- and post-tests, complete evaluations and receive their certificates online.

The ABC+ project will continue for three more years and aims to benefit two million early grade learners in its focus areas. The project is a partnership of USAID and DepEd, implemented by RTI International, in collaboration with The Asia Foundation, SIL Lead and Florida State University.

November 2, 2020

Watch and Learn: PCTA Partners with DepEd, Knowledge Channel to Make Learning More Accessible in Remote Areas in the Philippines

Education is one of the sectors that has been affected dramatically by the pandemic. Aside from the threat of Covid-19, students, families, and educators face other challenges such as limited to no internet connection and expensive Internet data costs. To reach more students even in remote areas, the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association (PCTA) has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Knowledge Channel to provide easier access to students through televised learning materials that will be aired on TV for students.


Together, the PCTA member-cable operators are serving 75% of the total cable TV subscribers in the Philippines.


“Many Filipino students living in remote areas are constrained by the accessibility and speed of Internet connection, and the high cost of data to stay connected. Learning then begins to feel like a difficult chore, and a hurdle to overcome. Yet, these households have television sets even before mobile phones and laptops. We are hopeful that we ease the challenges our students face as they will now have easier access to free educational content aired in cable television channels,” said Joel Dabao, PCTA President.

The partnership was sealed through a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DepEd and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to make full use of their cable TV systems activating their member operators participation in this national effort of airing DepEd TV programs for school year 2020-21.

PCTA members have agreed to air informational materials from DepEd TV that are standardized for academic institutions nationwide. “Many remote areas will be covered by this service, and we are privileged to serve as conduits of enriched learning during this trying time. Our mission is to ensure that no Filipino student is left behind,” furthered Dabao.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones lauded the agreement during the MOU signing, as it paves the way for the department’s access to television and cable for their distance learning program, with cable provider access of up to three channels to air content produced by the DepEd Central Office. These will be a valuable resource for students who do not have access to the internet and those who cannot afford to purchase gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets.

Aside from airing DepEd TV materials, PCTA also announced a partnership with Knowledge Channel which encourages PCTA members’ cable systems to include Knowledge Channel in their line-up and air its TV-based educational content.

The Knowledge Channel has long had a strong supporter in the PCTA since 2003. Elvira Lopez-Bautista, President and Executive Director of the Knowledge Channel Foundation, highlights that television can be a powerful tool for learning and will help Filipino children absorb not only their academic lessons but, also enhance values learning through engaging content.

“My fervent wish is that through this bayanihan effort with cable providers, distance learning will become more accessible, feasible, affordable, and most of all, enjoyable for every Filipino child,” said Lopez-Bautista. “With Knowledge Channel Foundation and PCTA working together, mas masaya matuto ng bago.”

“Now, more than ever, education should be at the forefront of our concerted efforts to build a society that is resilient even in the face of a pandemic. As we forge these partnerships, we let the bayanihan spirit prevail for the common good where we all work together for the future of Filipino children,” added Dabao.

For more information about the PCTA, visit www.pcta.org.ph

 



 

ABOUT PCTA

The PHILIPPINE CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (PCTA), INC. is the umbrella organization of nationwide Cable Television Operators and Internet Service Providers in the Philippines. Its membership roster includes the biggest cable operators in the country as well as the medium and small cable operators who, through their pain-staking efforts, have succeeded in bringing up-to-date programs, information, and technology to the farthest island in the country. To date, the PCTA has over 300 regular members. Together, the PCTA member-cable operators are serving 75% of the total cable TV subscribers in the Philippines. 

Public school teachers get specialized training from Globe

Globe further enhances its support to the Department of Education (DepEd) by helping public school educators keep up with the demands of the new normal through free professional development training designed to provide teachers with essential knowledge and skills on digital literacy, blended learning and 21st century learning methods.

 


The program is part of Globe’s Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) initiative and is being implemented through a combination of webinars and downloadable self-paced materials for teachers to apply their learnings. GFT was launched in 2009 to deliver information and technology-based training to public school teachers across the country.

 

With the nation’s shift to remote learning, Globe found it essential to partner with Habi Education Labs and Teach for the Philippines, as both are well known for their exceptional work in forwarding 21st century learning in public schools nationwide. 



 

Habi Education Lab is a non-profit organization known for developing progressive approaches to teaching that helps foster creativity in the classroom. Their scope of programs include teacher development, learning experience design, and school innovation. Teach for the Philippines focuses its efforts on improving teacher quality and addressing education challenges at the system-level. Since 2012, TFP has grown into a nationwide movement that has engaged hundreds of new and existing public school teachers committed to work towards meaningful and positive change. 

 

The upcoming GFT sessions to be led by both organizations have been recognized by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines which ensures all attendees obtain the knowledge and skills that are vital in these unusual and challenging times.

 

“We want to create new learning opportunities from the crisis and help our teachers see themselves as agents of change as they transition into remote and blended learning modalities.  Through this professional development program, we hope to equip and empower them with the knowledge they need to become more effective in their role as educators,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

 

The webinars cover topics such as parental engagement where teachers and parents can work together for home-school partnership (October 27); teaching reading in the context of distance learning as part of early language literacy (October 28), and new approaches in instruction using digital learning (October 29).  The first webinar on Cybersecurity and Wellness was held last August.

 

The Global Filipino Teacher Series is open to all teaching and non-teaching staff of DepEd in the National Office, Regional Offices, and Division Offices, and to all public schools nationwide. The webinars will be streamed via the Globe Bridging Communities Facebook Page, and will be shared by DepEd on the main DepEd Philippines Facebook Page.

 

As a long-time advocate of quality education and sustainable development, Globe is committed to supporting the United Nations Development Goal No. 4 which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. 


For more information about Globe’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html

October 29, 2020

A look into education’s new normal : DepEd shares insights on the first weeks of classes


Various industries in the Philippines are already on their slow but steady path to recovery and that includes the education sector. Despite the compromises and major changes made in the educational system to navigate through the now normal, the Department of Education (DepEd) has successfully opened classes for SY 2020-2021. 

“DepEd recognizes the challenges of the school year ahead, but if we opted for an academic freeze, we would have lost many months of the childrens’ learning,” said DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones. “The opening of the school year has generally been very successful, and we will continue to face any challenge that lies ahead with great resolve to continue education in the country.” 

For the first few weeks of classes, the Department has been focusing on the proper implementation of the alternative learning delivery modalities and providing the necessary psychosocial support for the academic community. 


Learning in the new normal 

Following the DepEd’s successful implementation of the different learning modalities across the country, Regional Offices (ROs) are working hard to continuously provide students with learning materials. 




With the vision of making education accessible to every student in the country, DepEd reports that 690,578,576 Self Learning Modules (SLM) have already been printed. Distribution of the said learning materials has also been successful, with 465,225,636 SLMs being distributed to students nationwide for the first quarter of the school year. 

Learning materials for Online Distance Learning students have already been prepared in time for the first quarter of the academic year, with 3,841,474 digitized SLMs, e-books, online video lessons, and the like ready for rollout. 



The DepEd also shared that 7,740 Radio-based instruction (RBI) learning materials are ready for roll out across all regions in the country. These materials include teaching scripts and learning episodes, which will help educate and engage with students in far-flung areas. Currently, DepEd has partnerships with 309 radio stations all over the Philippines. 

Meantime, preparations for Television-based learning have also been successful. The Department reports that 9,207 Television-based instruction (TBI) learning materials like video lessons and learning episodes have been prepared for students in all 17 regions in the country. A total of 259 television channels are partaking in TBI, making education more accessible and easier to consume this school year. 

Recently, DepEd also announced the DepEd Error Watch initiative. The goal of this initiative is to receive and collate reports of errors found in different learning materials so that the DepEd can forward these to the appropriate offices for validation and correction. The initiative allows the Department to be more open to public feedback in order to further improve the learning experience of every student in the country. 

Parents and students can use various platforms such as email (errorwatch@deped.gov.ph), Facebook messenger (@depederrorwatch), and text message (0961-680-5334) to report any discrepancies, and are also encouraged to use the hashtag #depederrorwatch when submitting reports. 

Training has also been conducted nationwide to help equip teachers and parents for the changes that are bound to happen this school year. The Department has trained 804,272 teachers, and they have also reached out to 14,944,593 parents in all 13 regions. In total, 45,321 schools have helped the Department in conducting seminars to educate both teachers and parents. 


Putting emphasis on mental health 



The mental health of the academic community also continues to be one of DepEd’s top priorities for this school year. Prior to the opening of classes, DepEd trained teachers to provide support to students who may be struggling to cope with education’ new normal. 

The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) program gives learners the necessary support they needed during the first week of remote learning. Likewise, DepEd’s stakeholders also enjoy wellness checks to also help them cope with working at such a peculiar time. 

DepEd also issued the Parents’ Handbook for the New Normal in Basic Education to serve as a guide for SY 2020-2021. The handbook helps parents further understand the alternative learning modalities and provides information on where parents can seek help should they encounter difficulties in understanding the learning modules. Practical tips for parents of learners with disabilities and positive parenting and discipline tips when facilitating home learning are also included in the handbook. Parents can secure a copy of the handbook by downloading it online. 

“The millions of learners who are doing their best to learn despite the pandemic are truly inspiring and encouraging,” said Secretary Briones. “The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to provide all learners with the quality education they deserve, and we will continue to work hand in hand with our stakeholders to continue education for Filipinos across the country amid these trying times.” 




About the Department of Education 
The Department of Education (DepEd) formulates, implements, and coordinates policies, plans, programs and projects in the areas of formal and non-formal basic education. It supervises all elementary and secondary education institutions, including alternative learning systems, both public and private; and provides for the establishment and maintenance of a complete, adequate, and integrated system of basic education relevant to the goals of national development. 



September 13, 2020

Las Piñas school heads initiate voluntary drive to support World Vision’s Abutin Na10

A week after the launch of World Vision’s Abutin Na10 (to be read as ‘na-ten’) campaign, DepEd Las Piñas initiated a city-wide advocacy drive among its stakeholders to support the country’s Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan. 

“We are a family under one country so we ought to be compassionate for others who are in need, especially the most vulnerable children,” said Dr. Joel Torrecampo, Superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office of Las Piñas City.

Dr. Torrecampo, known by his colleagues to be hands-on and tech-savvy, immediately posted an appeal to his social media groups followed mostly by his fellow DepEd officials and school heads. He led a simple voluntary ‘pass the hat’ initiative to help last-mile learners cope with the impact of COVID-19.


Turnover of Abutin Na10 donation: Las Piñas City Schools Division Office Superintendent Dr. Joel T. Torrecampo, DepEd Undersecretary for Legislative Liaison Office, External Partnerships Service and Project Management Service, Atty. Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq., World Vision Education Manager Geomel P. Jetonzo, and Pulang Lupa Elementary School Principal III Dr. Aileen O. Ballaran


In less than two weeks, they were able to raise Php 70,000, which they turned over to World Vision Education Manager Geomel P. Jetonzo and DepEd Undersecretary for Legislative Liaison Office, External Partnerships Service and Project Management Service, Atty. Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq.

In a recent return of blessing to the school division’s initiative, the local government of Las Piñas recently confirmed the provision of educational equipment, gadgets and hygiene kits to be used by its teachers and students while in the new normal.

“I believe it is our collective resolve here in Las Piñas City, our students and their parents, teachers and principals, together with our local government, to be of humble service to those in dire need, so our children will be able to reach their dreams, and not stop schooling because of this pandemic,” shared Dr. Torrecampo, who in his younger years endured walking several kilometres just to attend and eventually finish school. Believing that this pandemic has opened a horizon of generosity, he decided to support schools of other provinces through the Abutin Na10 fund drive. 

World Vision Philippines National Director Rommel V. Fuerte shared that “our rapid impact assessment reveals that one of the top most critical problems faced by children and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic is education opportunities, aside from food security and access to health care.”

Of the children respondents, 21% said they are either unwilling or unsure to attend school (face-to-face or blended learning) when classes start this August. The other 89% of those surveyed anticipate challenges on the use of online learning platforms while 38% do not have access to internet. Their parents share the same sentiments including the absence of gadgets.

It is because of these challenges and many others that World Vision Philippines and the Department of Education partnered for Abutin Na10: Para sa Sampung Milyong Mag-aaral, Sampung Piso, Sampung Araw, Sampung Milyong Pilipino. 

““With millions of Filipinos taking part in this endeavor, last-mile learners can continue their education while ensuring that their lives are not at risk due to COVID-19,” Fuerte shared. He explained that the funds will be used by DepEd for the printing of self-learning materials and/or procurement of gadgets to support the children’s blended or distance learning from home.

During the campaign launch Abutin Na10, no less than the DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones commended this worthy effort and asserted that “education must continue with or without the threat of the COVID-19 because it is perhaps the greatest legacy we can leave our learners and our children.” The education chief also said that we should ensure that "the health, safety and well-being of learners, teachers and personnel are protected.”


To support Abutin Na10, visit worldvision.org.ph/abutin-na10/ and facebook.com/AbutinNa10.







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