DAVAO CITY (July 10, 2018) - The Department of
Education (DepEd) central office and its partner non-government organizations
vowed to work together to further improve the quality of education in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Education
Assistant Secretary G.H Ambat said the department’s national office will work
together with the people of ARMM to achieve its goal in terms of education.
"I
am happy that we're here to discuss not any crisis in the region but the
development of education in the ARMM. Pareho tayong mga Pilipino na ang
pangarap ay magkaroon ng maayos na
pamumuhay at makakamit natin ito sa pamamagitan ng maayos na
edukasyon," Ambat said.
Crisanto
Cayon, emergency specialist of UNICEF, said that for years they have seen how
the ARMM has been coping in meeting the national standards for education.
"The
ARMM really improved in the education sector. Its attempt in hiring qualified
teachers, empowering teachers and supporting them in their quest to provide
quality learning opportunities for learners are highly commendable," Cayon
said.
To
date, the ARMM has 25,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel catering the
region’s 861,628 students in 2,670 elementary and secondary schools.
The
UNICEF, he said, is satisfied seeing that the ARMM create a healthy, safe and
protective environment for the learners, as well as in encouraging children to
get into the school through its feeding program.
Lawyer
Rasol Mitmug Jr., DepEd-ARMM secretary, said their partner NGOs have a big role
in improving the quality of education and in strengthening the delivery of
education services in the region.
"Bringing
all the stakeholders makes the improvement in education sustainable," he
said.
"We
are happy that many organizations show willingness to support and help the ARMM
in terms of improving the education for the future of the Bangsamoro
children," Mitmug added.
Ambat
said the DepEd central office “will surely focus on the needs of the people of
ARMM.
“And
I'm confident that the ARMM will definitely prosper and will catch up,” she
said. She added that she was glad that the ARMM and its partner organizations
and agencies were working and contributing a lot for the betterment of
education in the region.
She
also assured that the department will continue its drive to bring out-of-school
youth back to learning.
Meanwhile,
a total of 125,004 children and youth affected by last year's conflict in
Marawi City and Lanao del Sur will benefit the ARMM's Back to School and Stay
in School program launched here on Monday. This is to ensure learners are able
to go back to school or access learning through the provision of basic
education services, skills training, and peacebuilding.
"This
is part of the ARMM government's response for conflict-affected individuals in
Marawi and Lanao del Sur," Mitmug
said.
Another
program launched was the Responsive Innovation Fund (RIF), a key feature of the
DepEd-ARMM’s Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways), a program
funded by the Australian Government. It is aimed at providing opportunities for
all education stakeholders to contribute in the delivery of quality education
in the ARMM.
Mitmug
said the grant ranges from P500,000 to P4 million, adding that the department
welcomes proposals from parents, teachers and local government units in ARMM as
well as from civil society organizations, local, and international development
organizations.
Projects
funded by RIF will run for six months to one year.
Applicants
may visit www.pathways.ph/rif to know more of the program and to download the
application form.
Applications
can be sent through rif@pathways.ph or to the Pathways Program Management
Office located at DepEd-ARMM, ORG Compound in Cotabato City. (jong cadion/Bureau
of Public Information)
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