National Career Assessment Exam set on August 28

The National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) shall be

administered to fourth year high school students nationwide on August 28,
the Department of Education announced.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said NCAE will be given to fourth
year high school students in public and private schools but stressed that
“only private secondary schools with permit from the Department shall be
included in the administration of the test.”
The education chief required all fourth year high school learners from
both public and private secondary institutions to take the NCAE. “In case of
absences due to sickness or any force majeure, students should signify
their intention to take the special test through a letter noted by their parents
to be submitted to the School Division Office and National Education
Testing and Research Center (NETRC) which shall schedule a test,” Lapus
said.
The test seeks to enable students and parents to better assess
career options based on the student’s skills and inclinations towards
various fields of interest. This will also determine not only the students’
academic aptitude, but also their technical and vocational capabilities, as
well as entrepreneurial skills.
Components of the NCAE include scientific ability, mathematical
ability, reading comprehension, verbal ability, manipulative skills, clerical
ability, non-verbal ability and entrepreneurial skills.
The NETRC will conduct the test with the assistance of the public
and private secondary school officials all over the country.
To ensure smooth administration of the NCAE, the Department shall
hold a national orientation on guidelines in the conduct of the examination.
By Cherry Morada

DepEd Sets Hiring Guidelines for School Principals

The Department of Education has revised the guidelines in the selection,

promotion and designation of school principals in public elementary and secondary
schools nationwide.
 Secretary Jesli Lapus said that DepEd Order No. 85 in 2003 was amended by
Order No. 42 s. 2007.
“Under the revised guidelines, the school heads are responsible for the
administrative and instructional supervision of the school or cluster of schools,” the chief
said.
This, he said, would require them to have at least five years experience in the
aggregate as head teacher, teacher-in-charge, master teacher and teacher III.
The prospective school heads must possess the following: educational leadership
which is the ability to craft and pursue a shared school vision and mission, as well as
develop and implement curriculum policies, programs and projects; people leadership
which is the ability to work and develop effective relationships with stakeholders and
exert a positive influence upon people; and strategic leadership which is the ability to
explore complex issues from a global perspective, manage an educational enterprise
and maximize the use of resources.
The Education chief stressed that principal positions shall be open to all qualified
candidates from within and outside the division where the vacancies exist.
The appointment of a school principal, he explained, is non-station specific.
In the ranking for principal positions, the computation of points shall be done on
the following criteria: performance rating - 30; experience-10; outstanding
accomplishments – 30; education and training – 20; potential – 5; and psychosocial
attributes and personality traits – 5.

The division superintendent shall designate teachers-in-charge (TICSs) in schools

without principal items. The prospective TIC should posses at least three years teaching
experience and undergo a screening process conducted by the division office.
Assignment of head teachers shall be one per subject area with priority on the
core subject areas like English, math, science, Filipino and araling panlipunan.
By Maribel Cabasal

CSCA Opens One Year US Scholarship for Students

The Center for Students and Co-curricular Affairs (CSCA) of the
department and the AFS-Partners for Learning Youth Exchange and Study
(YES) Scholarship Program opened the nominations for a year of full
academic scholarship to the US to third year high school students in public
schools.
The YES program aims to build bridges of understanding and mutual
respect between the United States and countries with significant Muslim
populations.
 According to Joey Pelaez director of CSCA, priority is given to
students from regions 9,10, 11, 12 and the Autonomous Region for Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) this year.
Nominees must belong to the top 10 percent of the third year
population of their respective schools, 15 to 17 years old, and must have
medical clearance,” Pelaez added.
The YES scholars will be placed in grades 10 or 11 in US public high
schools. They are expected to participate in classroom and extra curricular
activities as regular students. At the end of the program, the scholars are
required to be back in the Philippines to finish fourth year in their school.
Other program participants are students from Egypt, Ghana,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, India and Brunei.
Since 2004, the program has sent 118 Filipino scholars to the US.
Some 40 scholars are scheduled to leave on August 5, 2007, making it a
total of 158.
The YES program is administered by a consortia of exchange
organizations in the US. It is funded by the US State Department, Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
In the Philippines, the YES program is implemented by the AFS
Returnees Foundation Philippines through its AFS Intercultural Programs-
Philippines office.
Applications may be hand carried or delivered by courier to: Emily
David, YES Program Officer, AFS Intercultural Programs-Philippines 2/F
UP ISSI Bldg., Jacinto St., UP Campus Diliman, Q.C. 1101.
Deadline for submission of application is on August 30, 2007 at 5
p.m.
By Maribel Cabasal
Muslim Drop-Outs Can Study Thru ALIVE Project
The Muslim out-of-school youths (OSYs) and adults can now have
better access to basic education through the Alternative Learning System
(ALS) – Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) project of
the Department of Education.
The ALIVE in ALS project is a new approach of delivering ALS
program to the Muslims OSYs and adults. The program provides core
learnings with additional Islamic concerns consisting of Arabic language
and Islamic values in the learning experiences of Muslim learners.
 According to Undersecretary for Muslim Affairs Manaros Boransing,
the ALIVE in ALS project will initially target the Muslim OSYs and adults in
the urban areas where massive migration have been noted. The Muslims’
search for “better business opportunities” in the cities, particularly in NCR,
have led to the big number of Muslims here,” Undersecretary Boransing
said.
“The ALIVE project can also be an option on the present problem of
overcrowding in our public schools,” Undersecretary Boransing added.
The pilot sites for the ALIVE project include: Manila, Taguig,
Paranaque, Pasay, Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, San Fernando City
and Angeles City.
Other sites are Cavite, Bacolod, Iloilo, Aklan, Bohol, Tagbilaran,
Cebu City, Mandaue, Lapu-lapu City, Talisay City, Zamboanga City,
Zamboanga Sibugay, Pagadian, Dipolog, Dapitan City, Cagayan de Oro,
Iligan, Ozamis, Bukidnon, Oroquieta, Valencia City, Davao, Kidapawan and
Baguio.
By Maribel Cabasal
159 OSYs Take Basic Ed Diploma thru Alternative Learning System
A grade 3 finisher was conferred certificate of elementary education
graduate after she topped the Alternative Learning System Accreditation
and Equivalency (ALS A & E) test.
Lisa Ann Alvarado was among the five passers who graduated in
elementary education while 154 others graduated in secondary course
during the graduation rites held on June 30 at San Juan High School,
Mexico, Pampanga.
The ALS A & E passers are qualified to pursue the next level of
education. According to Dr. Leonardo Zapanta, ALS education supervisor 1
of the division of Pampanga, majority of their passers are pursuing tertiary
and technical-vocational courses.
As part of basic literacy program, ALS regularly conducts A & E
Learning sessions for out-of-school (OSY) youth and adults who did not
finish schooling due to poverty or absence of school in their areas.
OSYs who are over high school age and those over elementary age
can take the A & E test for secondary and elementary education,
respectively. OSYs can submit their applications for A & E test through the
division office on September 3 to November 23, 2007.
 The graduation of ALS A & E passers was attended by Director
Carolina Guererro of BALS; Dr. Felipe Canoza, DepEd regional Office ALS
chief; Dr. Amelia Julian, assistant chief; Dr. Nicolas Capulong, assistant
schools division superintendent of Pampanga.
“The vigorous implementation of ALS A & E program is a
manifestation of the commitment of the division of Pampanga to Education
for All,” Director Guerrero said.
By Dr. Amelia Juan, ALS Region 3

Region 3 Ranks 4th in NAT

DepEd Region 3 ranks 4th in the roster of top performing regions in
the National Achievement Test (NAT) given in school year 2006 to 2007 to
Grade 6 pupils in the public schools.

Balanga City is 5th placer among the country’s highest divisions with
a mean percentage score of 77.67. Balanga City division attributes its NAT
achievement to its close supervision of instruction in schools, various
interventions, intensive reading instruction and teachers’ training.

The division of Bataan retains its 2nd highest rank in the region for
two years. With 74.60 mean percentage score, Bataan is 13th highest
division in the national level.

The next highest NAT raters in the region are Malolos City with 72.7
1, Science City of Muñoz with 67.74 and Cabanatuan City with 67.01.

Region 3’s highest performing schools in NAT are as follows:

Salapungan Elementary School (89.42) and Bagong Baryo Elementary
School (88.80) of Bulacan, T. Carnacho Sr. Elementary School (88.55) of
Balanga City, Tibagan Elementary School (88.09) of Bulacan and Daan
Pare Elementary School (87.16) of Bataan.

The highest performing schools in each subject area are

Bagumbayan Elementary School of Bataan, 98.31 in Mathematics; Tibagan
Elementary School of Bulacan, 95.43 in Heograpiya, Kultura at Sibika; T.
Camacho Sr. Elementary School, Balanga City, 94.27 in Fi1ipino; Alikabok
Elementary School of Bataan, 91.83 in English and 89.92 in Science.
 Dr. Mario Ramirez, regional director, commended the effort of
teachers, supervisors and superintendents and former Director Dinah
Mindo for the region’s remarkable progress in NAT performance from 8th to
4th place.

Mrs. Celia Nacpil, assistant chief and officer in charge of the

elementary education division of region 3, said the NAT performance is a
payoff of the direct training of teachers and the technical assistance
extended by the education supervisors through adopting and focusing on
low performing schools.
There are many high school students being passed in every year
level of high school. This is not because they really pass the test,
examination, recitation, projects etc but rather because of the
fear in that their performance bonus will got deduction as
penalty. Any failed student in your advisory or classroom will
have equivalent performance to the teacher. This system in our
public education have produce unqualified high school graduates.
Let me tell you the process.

If the classroom teachers failed

more than three student in his/her advisory, she will be scolded
and threaten of deduction in her performance known as Revised
Performance Appraisal System (RPAS). This RPAS score is
equivalent to money, bonus or productivity pay. Teacher who
dare to failed more students (which they deserved) will received
less productivity pay and reprimand from principal and
superintendent. Who want to be reprimanded anyway?

Why the teachers are being punish for student failure?

Any number of failed or drop students will reflect to the principal
performance, to the supervisor performance until the highest
level. So is there anyone wanted to have deduction in their
productivity pay and performance level for the failure of
irresponsible student. Bahala na ang student, kung gusto mong
matuto dito sa classroom, kung ayaw mong matuto bahala ka sa
buhay mo. Perhaps the DepEd should inquire or study (researc)
the action/s of many teachers if they found the students who are
intellectually capable but nagpapabaya in their academics.
I believe there are many students like this because I am a
teacher too (There is a need to study the statistics of
intellectually capable student who are pabaya in their academics).
Filipino students are bright yet they use it in other way. Instead
of reading advance, normal student can be found somewhere.
(Study again the statistics of public high school who study at
home and who spent their precious time somewhere). In short
any number of failed students will reflect to the performance of
higher official (accumulated since there are many sections and
year levels) and eventually DEDUCT OF CHANCE OF PROMOTION
both in principal, supervisor and superintendent.

Many reasons of factors why the

student failed the grades. One which i believe is lack of right
attitude. (because i came from poor family too yet i succeed in
academics).Determination is not found in each student and most
of the poor student always used economic status as their alibi.
Secondly, games of any kinds. Computer, chat, TV, barkadas,
separated parents etc. parents support is one. Actually the DepED
doesnt not have research about the ranking of factors regarding
student failure in the academics. It so hard to force the student
to study as well as the parent to force their children to study
right? It is better to return the traditional punishment system just
to improve education (palo and pahiya sa klase pag hindi nag
aral).

Can teacher give me factors affecting student failure in their

academics. Your suggestions are welcome here.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 5:29 PM .
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BESRA

Australia pledges P494M for Philippine education reforms

June 06, 2008 19:14:00
Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines -- Australia is providing A$13 million (P494
million) in aid for the Philippine education reform program, the
Department of Education (DepEd) announced Friday.
The fund, to be given by the Australian Agency for International
Development (AusAID), will be used to bankroll the Basic
Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA) program of the
Philippine government, the DepEd said.
BESRA is a set of policy reforms aimed at providing a sustainable
quality education for Filipino children.

“With funding support from international donor agencies coming

in, I believe this is the best time to implement comprehensive
and strategic reforms in basic education,” said Education
Secretary Jesli Lapus.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith said the aid
package has been allotted for incentive-based funding, adding it
will be released "subject to performance against agreed
benchmarks."
Incentive-based performance is focused on developing resource
allocation to schools, including performance-based management
of teachers, Lapus explained.
In 2007, AusAID released A$10 million for the initial
implementation of BESRA.
Australian aid for education reforms in the Philippines is expected
to increase in the next four years depending on the success of
BESRA.
Lapus said assistance from development partners like Australia is
“critical to the successful implementation of BESRA."
Australia is one of the country’s top three bilateral grant donors
together with the US Aid for International Development and
Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The Australian government’s official development assistance to
the Philippines for 2008 to 2009 is estimated to reach A$109.3
million (P4.4 billion), and about 40 percent of which is for basic
education.
Copyright 2009 INQUIRER.net and content partners. All
rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Education

Lapus challenges Mindanao educators to produce globally-competitive

Filipinos
By Hannibal C. Talete

MANILA, July 9 (PNA) -- Department of Education Secretary

Jesli Lapus challenged Mindanao educators on Wednesday to
bring back the luster in Philippine public education and
produce globally-competitive Filipinos who will do the country
proud.
During the 5th Mindanao Educators Congress in Butuan City,
Lapus urged them to reach out to more out-of-school youth
and adults and provide them with opportunities to learn
valuable life skills, whether in formal school or through
alternative means.
“Education is not for a few or for some; it is for all,” Lapus
said as he expressed confidence that DepEd can meet its
target of making basic education accessible to all by 2015.
DepEd since 2006 has instituted many reforms that have
contributed to the steady improvement of education
indicators.
“Still we have a lot of work to do, if we really want to achieve
Education For All (EFA) goals in 2015,” Lapus said.
The EFA goals, particularly on Universal Primary Education,
state that all children should have access to educational
opportunities.
“All means 100 percent. Anything less than 100 percent by
2015 constitutes a failure in reaching our EFA commitment,”
he explained. “This is the real challenge of EFA: Almost is not
good enough.”
Lapus is leading educators in beefing up the Basic Education
Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA) to meet EFA goals.
BESRA aims to systematically improve nationwide basic
education outcomes. Its key component -– School-Based
Management (SBM) -- empowers school heads to make
localized decision based on their own unique needs. As part
of SBM, school heads are required to come up with School
Improvement Plan (SIP) that also includes creating linkages
with the local government and the private sector for the
improvement of their schools.
“Our success in implementing BESRA in the short term can
translate to achieving our EFA commitments in the long
term,” Lapus said.
By next year, the department aims to reach 94 percent
participation rate for elementary and 72 percent for high
school; a cohort survival rate of 81 percent for elementary
and 90 percent for high school.
“DepEd also aims to reach completion rate of 79 percent for
elementary and 85 percent for high school and to reduce our
dropout rates to 4 percent for elementary and 2 percent for
high school,” Lapus added.
He noted that DepEd will be coordinating closely with the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), “so that the two institutions can
share information better, leading to a more accurate
assessment of the country’s standing in terms of the EFA
goals.”
He said, “We expect that in simultaneous and coordinated
change, we would produce better results than the
fragmented and pilot-based initiatives that were abundant in
the past.”
He urged the Mindanao educators “to make sure that all your
initiatives are anchored on the key reform thrusts of BESRA.”
“If your teachers and parents do not understand the full
implications of BESRA yet, I implore you to invest in making
them understand and support our reform initiatives,” he said.
He stressed: “If we are all on the same page, starting from
the Central Office to the PTAs, our chances for success will be
very high.”
DepEd’s existing programs and projects will be revisited as
they correlate to the Medium-Term Philippine Development
Plan (MTPDP) and EFA Targets for the six regions in
Mindanao.
Participants in the conference include education leaders in six
regions in the Mindanao area: Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13-
Caraga and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
First hosted by the Caraga Region, the biennial event
ensures sustainability and relevance of basic education
programs and projects in Mindanao. The congress started in
1995, with Region IX-Zamboanga City as host. (PNA)
DepEd Memorandum No.333 S.2009

2009 National Science Club Month Celebration

Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation no.28 declaring Sept as the

National Science Club Month, the Science Club Advisers
Association of the Philippines, the Department of Education
Center for Students and Co-curricular Affairs and the Department
of Science and Technology Science Education Institute announce
the holding of the 2009 National Science Club Month Celebration
for all science clubs in all elementary and secondary school
nationwide.

The Theme "Adapting to Diverse Science Culture for

Development". the celebration aims to achieve the following
objectives:
 • Strengthen the implementation of various programs and
projects in science and technology.
• Provide opportunities for science clubs nationwide to engage
into productive, meaningful and effective activities that
promote awareness, interest and involvement of the youth
in science and technology.
• Harness the knowledge, skills and values of science club
leaders, teachers, coordinators and science enthusiasts to
cope with and apply the developments and advancements in
science and technology.

For complete details of the memorandum, download here.

DepEd Memorandum No. 333 S.2009

DepEd Officials once again announced the prohibition of the use

of cell phone inside the classroom to keep the students focused in
the lesson and activities. The Officials cited DepEd Order
Numbers 83, series of 2003; 26 series of 2000 and 70 series of
1999, which state that DepEd strictly imposes a ban on the use of
cell phones by students during class hours.

Students are encouraged to turn off their cell phones during class
period. In other way, students may live it open in the principal or
guidance office to monitor emergency calls.

Teachers are also instructed not to confiscate the cell phone

instead make sure to instruct the student switch off their gadgets
prior to classroom discussion
The Career Executive Service Board Examination was set by the
Civil Service Commission for 2009. It will be held in Manila, Cebu
and Davao simultaneously. It is offered to qualified applicants
from Government and private companies holding an executive
positions. This is a third level class in the group of career
positions in civil service. The examination was schedule in June
28, 2009. Walk-in written exam which will be held in Manila. The
dates are March 27, August 28, October 23 and December 11.

Qualified applicants must be a Filipino citizen of good moral

character and must possess the following requirements: for those
Government service, he or she must be appointed to CES
position, or designated in an acting capacity or Officer-in-Charge
(OIC) of a CES position or at least six months, or must have been
appointed to at least a Division Chief Position (SG-24) and
possesses three years of managerial experience.

A need for SciTech Curriculum in every town of the country

Posted in Curriculum, Deped Article, Deped News, DepEd Program
A total of 57 Special Science Elementary Schools were given
financial assistance by the Department of Education to support
science curriculum and programs. The strengthened SSES
Project has been allocated P26.5M as financial assistance to the
project's existing 57 pilot schools and their respective region and
division offices.

The 57 schools piloted in 16 regions will be allocated some

P418,421 each. The regions will be allotted P82,812 for the
upgrading of SSES classes, the provision of the technical
assistance, and the final screening of new students to be
conducted by the Regional Assessment Team.
Education Secretary noted that only 44 percent of high school
graduates pursue science and engineering-related courses.

Meanwhile, the amount granted for each school will be used for
the training and professional upgrading of teachers and school
heads; purchase of instructional materials; pupil development
activities such as conduct of investigatory project development,
leadership, training, educational visits and student participation in
Science related activities.
Lapus affirmed, "A strong science and technology- based
education is the foundation of a progressive society and we have
to set our eyes towards that goal,"

The program started in the pilot schools at Grades 1 and 2 having

enriched curriculum. In 2008, SSES Project has finalized SSES
Curriculum up to Grade 3-6 already. "Teachers and school
administrators were actively oriented on SSES implementation,"
she added. SSES offer longer hours in Science while still
maintaining the same subjects like ordinary elementary schools.

Maybe the Secretary still do not recognize the need to have

science elementary and high school in every town in the
Philippines. Some division have been running science elementary
and high school curriculum since 1996 (or earlier) with less
support from National Government.

Apart from Science and Mathematics training, the DepEd should

not forget to strengthen the values formation program for this
intelligent pupils/student are vulnerable to arrogance owing to
their academic achievements. In my years of service as IT
Teacher in Science High School, I have observed bright student's
growth from first to fourth year. Success and Achievements make
some of them non-deserving leaders. DepEd should give time
weaving a curriculum that stress scientific knowledge and God
fearing character in order to avoid corrupt leaders in the future.