SK leaders thank PGMA
Manila (24 June) — Four very articulate leaders of the Sangguniang Kabataan, or the youth councils, all over the country took turns in praising and thanking President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for her full support to their needs and concerns and for championing the cause of education and environment for future generations of Filipinos.
The SKNF leaders paid a courtesy call on the outgoing Chief Executive Wednesday (June 22, 2010) afternoon to bid her farewell.
“By name she is known as the President of the Republic. But in our hearts, she is the mother of SK’s empowerment. The support, trust and confidence she has extended to us and to our program have demonstrated how the statement in our constitution is translated into action,” said Cajes.
“She has been a great mother to this nation. The motherly leadership that she exhibited during her term is definitely a unique statement of her leadership principles and philosophies,” she added.
Through rough and trying times, we have seen how she managed to brave all challenges and how she triumphed over political battles and how she forged all the storms and turbulence, Cajes said.
For her part, Lumanog said that the youth from Mindanao will forever be grateful to President Arroyo for the various infrastructure projects, the tourism industry, the ports, airports and seaports, the scholarship programs, the peace effort that are being implemented in different approaches and the battle to maintain and promote peace, security and peace and order in our homeland.
Gumban said “the SKs and the youth of the Visayas are grateful for your dedication and for the development that you have sowed in the humble lands of the Visayas.”
“We are thankful for the school buildings you built especially in remote barangays, the hollowed grounds where dreams, aspirations and wishes of young children are being conceived, born and nurtured,” Gumban said.
“We thank you for your efforts to attract investors to invest in the Visayas, your presence in the Visayas which made us and the people Mindanao feel important. We value your presence and your programs,” Gumban said.
According to Gumban, the present generation and those to come, “shall experience and appreciate how you have labored for development to flourish in the Visayas area.”
Formentera, on the other hand, told the President that her “attitude towards leadership changed when she began to be inspired by a person who has gone through a lot of challenges yet remained strong, firm and decisive.”
“The person (referring to the President) encouraged me to face the challenges that I met in performing my duties and responsibilities. She is one of the most powerful women in the world,” she added.
She noted that the President’s accomplishments in various programs to uplift the lives of Filipinos are great but like other public figures she has been subjected to the harshest criticisms by people who chose to be blind to see the fruits of her labor.
“For me and for many young Filipinos, Her Excellency, President Arroyo is the modern face of an empowered woman, the guiding vision. Her constant passion, admirable discipline and remarkable persistence clearly led her to achieve and accomplish so much for a better Philippines,” she concluded. (PIA-MMIO)
Albay, Landbank sign P700-M loan for college scholarships
Legazpi City (22 June) — Albay province has signed Wednesday (June 16) a P700 million loan package with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to finance a first-in-the-country education strategy that aims to produce “a college graduate for every family” through an encompassing yet simplified study now-pay later scheme.
Albay Governor Joey Salceda, who authored the program, referred to it as an “Education Driven Development” (see presentation below); a development approach for his province anchored on a vigorous, well-planned, financed and executed college and vocational education, a system that practically invites more scholars, ups enrollment and produce more graduates.
Salceda signed the loan agreement with LBP President and Chief Executive Officer Gilda Pico Wednesday, June 16, in the presence of LBP ranking officers and Albay Provincial officials, among them, members of the provincial board and members of the media at Land Bank main office in Malate, Manila.
The loan will be used to finance government scholars in the tertiary level, under the Albay Higher Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS), enrolled at the Bicol University and other community colleges in Albay which, this year alone will pay for over 12,000 college freshmen until they graduate. This is estimated to trigger a growth in college enrolment in Albay by 40%.
“I would have placed this amount in infrastructures. But I believe diplomas give better economic returns than roads and bridges,” Salceda said.
“A well-educated constituency has a lot of social payback and economic benefits. It expands their labor mobility. They will seek better jobs. The difference in economic return between an elementary graduate and a secondary graduate is about 7%. But the differential between a college graduate and a high school graduate is about 21%. With diplomas, they can seek jobs elsewhere and not cramp the limited jobs market of Albay. Diplomas are like visas”, he added.
Salceda further stated that at a certain stage, Albay will gain the reputation as the natural source of well-educated labor force. The availability of trainable workforce will serve as a come-on for investors.
Considered a first of its kind in the country, Albay’s education program in all levels, has lately been gaining grounds, among others, raising students’ learning standard as was proven in the 2009 National Achievement Test (NAT) where the province garnered the 106th place out of 202 divisions, a distant leaped of 69 places from a poor 175th in 2007.
Salceda said the province’s present goal is to get to the top 40 schools in NAT within the next three years, and the top 10 within the next six years; there is no room for complacency, simply no space for mediocrity. The education agenda, though, is backed up by a portfolio of interventions, among others, an institutional capacity-building program.
Albay is presently the only province in the country with a Provincial Education Department (PED) – best known earlier as Education Quality for Albayanos (EQUAL) – created by an ordinance, with plantilla staff approved by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management, overseen by a special advisory group – the Albay Council of Educators.
Salceda said Albay has committed over 17% of its annual budget now to education subsidy, under the PED, specifically EQUAL, which this year costs over P178 million – now the biggest item in its expenditure.
The province’s Special Education Fund (SEF), separated from the regular PED budget, which is used in, among others, sports program and maintenance of schools and classrooms in schools divisions, grew from only about P5 million in 2007 to P18 million in 2010, according to Salceda.
“Albay’s education program is producing the social impact; the number of college population has grown by 15% in three years from 34,000 to 38,000 due to provincial scholarships; and college graduates grew by 31% per year from 6,300 to 8,300, more or less,” Salceda concluded. (LGU Albay)
350 graduate from DepEd-ALS livelihood skills training program
by Lito Dar
Baguio City (27 February) — The Department of Education (DepED) Baguio City Division’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) in coordination with the city government of Baguio held a simple graduation program for the 350 learners who finished their Livelihood Skills Training Program, last week.
Congressman Mauricio Domogan and Mayor Reinaldo Bautista who served as guest of honors lauded the DepEd ALS livelihood program and expressed their support for the sustainability of the program and to provide assistance to the graduates, individually or as a group, to those who want to venture into livelihood projects or open up a small business.
According to Domogan, education is the best empowerment the government can give to its people for their progress. He advised the graduates who want to start their own business or livelihood programs, to submit their proposals to the City Social Welfare and Development Office, wherein his office is also funding livelihood programs.
Bautista on the other hand expressed his support for the DepED ALS program, not only on its livelihood skills training but also on its Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) program, which provides chance to elementary and high school undergraduates to pursue their studies.
There is always a chance for everybody and with the ALS program, people are not only given a chance to learn but also an opportunity of employment and livelihood, Bautista said. He also stressed to the graduates that the city government through the City Social Welfare and Development Office is willing to provide them livelihood assistance.
ALS Baguio head Art Tiongan stressed that with through its Livelihood Skills Program, they are not only providing livelihood opportunity but they also give a chance for the elementary and high school undergraduates, in every barangay, the chance to continue their studies and pursue a higher goal in life, by also bringing in their A&E program. In the same manner, the ALS learners are also given a chance to acquire livelihood skills through the program.
Tiongan also stressed that ALS-Baguio holds the highest passing rate of 41 percent, in terms of A&E passers in the past five years and provides livelihood skills training to about 180 individuals in a year.
In the same program, DepED ALS-Baguio also gave plaques of recognition to the institutions, trainers, barangay officials, government officials, volunteers, trainers, facilitators, school ALS coordinators and administrators, who in one way or another fully supported, participated, cooperated and contributed to the success of their programs.
Also present were DepED Baguio Division Superintendent Dr. Ellen Donato, DepED District I – PSDS Dr Revelina Abarquez, ALS Regional Head Gloria Felipe. (PIA)
NVizcaya allocates P60M for education programs, projects
by Ben Moses Ebreo
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (January 5) — The provincial government here has allocated some P60 million to pursue its programs, projects and activities in a bid to raise the quality of education in this province.
Board member Edgardo “Edu” Balgos, provincial board’s chair on education said the amount which was approved by the Provincial School Board (PSB) will be spent for the construction of additional school buildings, purchase of computer sets, trainings and seminars for public school teachers and in raising the incentives of Special Education Funded-teachers in the province who only receive P4,500 each.
The P60 million was shelled out from the P150 million share of the provincial government from the P750 million payment of the Casecnan Water and Energy Company (CWEC), contractor of the $10.5 million Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) in Alfonso Castaneda town.
The amount represents the past and previous tax payments of the company from its real properties since the start of its operation in 2000.
The town of Alfonso Castaneda also got its 40-percent share from the P750 million real property tax payment.
CMIPP which was built under Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme seeks to augment irrigation needs of farmers in Central Luzon and provide additional 100 Mega watts of power for the Luzon grid.
The project siphons waters from the Casecnan and Taang rivers in Nueva Vizcaya through a 36-kilometer diversion weirs to the Pantabangan dam in Nueva Ecija. (PIA NVizcaya)
Albay sets “Gawad sa Edukasyon” next month
by MD Rama
The “Gawad sa Edukasyon” is a province-wide search for principals, teachers and students who exceed the average standards and soar high in the chosen field.
Categories for Gawad sa Edukasyon are:
- Students Excellence Award for Leadership (SEAL) to student achievers in academics and leadership in both public and private elementary and secondary schools in the province;
- Search for Outstanding Teachers of Albay (TOTAL) – a continuing search for outstanding teachers in elementary and secondary;
- Three Outstanding Principals in the Countryside of Albay (TROPICAL) – a similar search as the TOTAL to identify and reward three principals in the province whose leadership resulted to academic excellence, social relevance, organizational efficiency and recognition of their school; and,
- LGUs (local government units) Best practices in Education (Kadunong) – this category will encourage other LGUs to infuse education as the finest program that produces a lifetime return of investment in the locality.
The successful 10 outstanding teachers as well as three outstanding principals will receive plaque and P100,000 cash each. While an LGU with best practices in education will receive P200,000 and P20,000 each for 10 students with excellent leadership.
Governor Joel Salceda has allocated an amount of P5 million for the Gawad sa Edukasyon which was introduced in 2008 as an effective motivating factor to better performance.
The provincial government of Albay awards cash certificates, trophies, plaques, medals to achievers and high performers.
These extrinsic rewards are reinforcing motivation that clearly recognizes outstanding achievements.
During the same occasion the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay is also set to give the highest provincial honor and P250,000 cash gift to Efren Penaflorida. He bested nine other nominees from different countries for the Hero of the Year award initiated by CNN.
The nominees were initially selected by a panel of 14 “Blue Panel” luminaries but the Hero of the Year award is given to the one with the most number of online votes in the CNN Heroes website.
For his innovative “Kariton Klasrum” (pushcart classroom) Filipino educator Peñaflorida has been awarded by CNN as “2009 Hero of the Year.”
Governor Salceda said Albay will make Penaflorida an honorary son of the province. “Regional Development Council chairman we will make similar commendation.”
“His sense of civic duty should inspire citizens, reignite hope for our nation but remind public servants to bring service closer to the people and more importantly employ political will and local leadership,” Salceda said. (PNA Bicol/PIA)
DOST eyes for science education champions
Manila (20 October) — The search is on for the country’s top science educators as the Science Education Institute announces the 2nd Gawad Leadership and Innovations for Development Relevant to Science Education or Gawad LIDER.
On its second search, SEI Director Dr. Ester B. Ogena said the Gawad LIDER becomes more prestigious with higher prices at stake.
“We want to entice more people to come out and nominate individuals and institutions who have contributed to the betterment of science education in the country,” she said.
For the 2nd Gawad LIDER, prizes are pegged at P200,000 and a medal for winners in the Exemplary Leadership and Innovation Award Categories.
Ogena said the Exemplary Leadership Award is conferred to individuals and institutions/organizations that have consistently demonstrated leadership qualities leading to improvements in the field of education in the sciences which have generated nationwide impact.
On the other hand, the Innovation Award is given to an individual or institution for the introduction of a technology-based innovation that benefits education in the sciences.
Awardees of the 1st Gawad LIDER include former Marikina Division School Superintendent Dr. Flordeliza Mayari, now the Valenzuela Division School Superintendent, University of the Philippines-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development, and Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology for Exemplary Leadership and Mr. Virgil Samonte for the Innovation Award. Last year’s winners received P150,000 and a medal.
Any head of an institution, community leaders, organization or individuals may nominate an individual or institution/organization for the Gawad LIDER awards.
Ogena said any person or institution/organization who has demonstrated sustained leadership capability through the conduct of a project with significant impact on education in the sciences may be nominated for the Exemplary Leadership- Individual and Institution Category.
She said the nominee in the Individual Category of the Exemplary Leadership Award should have led the implementation of a program or project for at least five years.
Ogena noted that any individual or organization who has introduced a technology-based innovation and has successfully used or adopted these innovations that contributed to the advancement of education in the sciences may be nominated for the Innovation Award.
She said an innovation is operationally defined as the development or enhancement of devices, equipment, gadgets, tools, or products or procedures that resulted in greater effectiveness and higher efficiency in teaching and learning in the sciences.
Nomination and application forms may be obtained from the SEI office and at the DOST Regional Offices.
Deadline of submission of nomination is on January 15, 2010 at the DOST Regional Offices and January 31, 2010 at the SEI office. Awarding of the winners will be conducted during the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week in July 2010. (PIA-MMIO)
Deped shortens school breaks for make-up classes
Pasig City (5 October) — The Department of Education canceled the semestral break for elementary and secondary levels, as well as shortened the Christmas and summer vacation to make up for the number of lost school days due to Typhoon Ondoy.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said “Aside from holding Saturday classes in schools, semestral break is canceled.”
Secretary Lapus said that the holding of makeup classes was necessary to attain the required 204 class days in a school year. Remedial classes are usually held on Saturdays and semestral breaks.
The DepEd calendar says the school year shall begin on June 1, 2009, and end on March 31, 2010.
There should be 54 class days in the first quarter, 48 in the second, 51 in the third and 51 in the last quarter, Lapus said.
Lapus has directed DepEd National Capital Region director Teresita Domalanta and other regional directors to draw up the guidelines in the holding of makeup classes.
Lapus said that in general, classes will resume on Monday except in areas which remain inaccessible due to floods brought by “Ondoy” or where schools are still being used as evacuation centers and areas where classes are ordered suspended by local authorities due to bad weather.
“In most parts of these areas, schools are still being used as evacuation centers and many homes are still submerged in floodwaters and worse, mud, which would make it very difficult for students in these places to go to school,” Lapus said.
Records showed that 16,328 families from three regions, including Metro Manila, are temporarily sheltered in 204 schools.
Meanwhile, classes in the tertiary level are also expected to resume on Monday but no official announcement has yet been made by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). (PIA)
DepEd shocked at reported beheading of kidnapped Sulu principal
Pasig City (9 November) — The Department of Education (DepEd) today expressed shock at the reported beheading of kidnapped principal Gabriel Canizares, following reports that the severed head of the abducted school head of Patikul, Sulu was recovered in the vicinity of Caltex in Jolo at 5:30am today.
Canizares, 36, was kidnapped last October 19 at around 4:20pm. He was the principal of Kanague Elementary School of Patikul, Sulu, according to DepEd officials.
In a statement released today to media, DepEd said: “The entire DepEd family is shocked and grieves with the family of one of our best-performing principals, Mr. Gabriel Canizares. A key catalyst in teacher trainings with Synergia in Sulu, he is a great loss to efforts to improve the quality of education of our children in the area. We condemn this heinous act committed against the people of ARMM. Violence creates more sufferings and sabotaging education by harming teachers will have dire consequences in the attainment of peace and progress.” (DepEd)
Tuguegarao City PopQuiz regional champion anew
Tuguegarao City (29 September) — The Department of Education Tuguegarao City division has retained its crown as the undefeated PopQuiz regional champion after dominating the other five provinces and three cities of Region 02 in the 2009 Regional PopQuiz held at the Department of Education Regional office here.
Marah Kryzzia P. Purificacion of Cagayan National High School (CNHS), coached by Grace Mabasa, outwitted his top rivals from Batanes National Science High School and Cabulay High School, Santiago City who also won second and third place respectively.
Purificacion will represent Region 02 in the upcoming National PopQuiz to be held at the Baguio City Convention Center on October 14 of this year.
The CNHS senior high school student said she is sharing the honor to the Tuguegaraoenos especially the students and teachers of CNHS who helped her in preparing for the competition.
“I will share the knowledge and information I gained from this competition to my fellow youth because I believe that these information will serve as our weapon in fighting poverty”, Purificacion added.
Purificacion received a cash prize of P3,000, trophy and certificate of recognition.
John Philip A. Peralta of Batanes National High School landed on the second place while Lucky Joy A. Domingo of Cabulay High School finished third.
Peralta and Domingo received cash prizes of P2,000 and P1,000 respectively. (PIA 2)
Public schools promote peace through simultaneous storytelling
Pasig City (25 September) — The Department of Education (DepEd) slates a nationwide storytelling event to promote peace on September 28, 2009. All public elementary and high schools are enjoined to use peace-oriented tales during their English, Filipino or Edukasyong Pagpapakatao subjects.
Dubbed as Kwentong Pangkapayapaan: Mga Kwentong Binasa Mo, Natututunan ng Puso, the campaign supports Executive Order 570 entitled Institutionalizing Peace Education in Basic Education and Teacher Education.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said, “We harness education, seeing it is as one vital and effective tool for peace to take root, especially in areas where there is conflict.”
DepEd promotes reading stories that promote peace and understanding which can be engaging and enlightening to both young and old. They are among the department’s tool in building and nurturing a climate of peace in schools and communities.
He added, “Stories allow us to examine our attitude and prejudices and to turn our focus on the similarities rather than the differences.”
Lapus draws support from all stakeholders as the campaign aims to increase awareness and appreciation of creative and non-violent ways of resolving conflict. The event also aims to facilitate in removing biases and prejudices against Filipinos in Mindanao.
Last year, DepEd joined the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and civil society representatives in drafting the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) for Executive Order 570.
DepEd and OPAPP have also developed elementary and high school peace education exemplars as a way of mainstreaming peace education in the basic formal and non-formal education curriculum.
According to EO 570, DepEd will spearhead the mainstreaming peace education concepts, skills and values in the learning content of the basic education and alternative learning systems (ALS).
It is tasked to encourage and nurture local peace initiatives in schools, ALS local systems and communities and to organize peace education learning circles/teams in the region, division and school level.
Lapus noted, “Our practical experience shows that without education, the community cannot develop its full potential.”
The DepEd Chief directed Region and Division Peace Education Coordinators as well as English supervisors to engage the schools on the peace education activities. (DepEd)
