SDO Palawan installs 196 RBI sets as

part of Teachers on Air Initiative

June 6, 2021 — In continuous support for the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan
(BE-LCP) and distance learning, the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Palawan has
installed 196 mini radio stations as part of the Teachers on Air initiative.

Spearheaded by Mr. Rueben Herrera, the school head of Marikit Elementary School
(MES) in Aborlan, Palawan, the Teachers on Air initiative started last May 2020 as
support to distance learning. Presently, over 196 Radio Based Instruction (RBI) kits are
installed and are being used by learners all over Palawan.

The Initiative was pioneered in Palawan at MES with eight (8) teacher broadcasters
personally trained by Principal Herrera. Other schools in the Division have also begun
implementing and adapting RBI.

“We know that elementary grade pupils are not independent learners. We know that the
parents in our community will also unable to guide their children in learning. Those were
the deciding factors why we opted for RBI,” Mr. Herrera explained.

“Our desire to continually guide our learners was the most important thing that we
should be doing and we can only do it by teaching over the radio,” he added.

To further guide the learners, MES also introduced the use of a phone patch system
dubbed Boses mo, Iparinig mo. Through this, teachers and learners can establish two-
way communication, making interaction easier.

In addition, ‘BidaBest’ (Bida na,da Best pa) quizzes the learners on how well they
understood the lecture. The teacher will then call a learner to have them recite their
answers on air.

MES also launched reading initiatives anchored on the Department’s Bawat Bata

Bumabasa program, like the Mga Kwentong Marikit (Story Reading Time by learners),
which aims to further guide the learners during distance learning by making reading fun,
enjoyable, and accessible.

Furthermore, MES has also developed other off-air enhancement activities for learners
who are unable to catch the lesson, to ensure all learners are brought up to speed.

Teacher broadcasters get their training from Principal Herrera and Regional Information
Officers. Virtual scriptwriting and radio production training programs were also provided
by the DepEd Central Office as early as September 2020.
Mr. Herrera urged other schools in SDO Palawan to adapt their initiatives to support the
success of the RBI programs in the division.

“Efforts of teachers and educators are a big help to us. The passion that they are putting
in to ensure that their learners remain curious and interested about learning is the
essence of DepEd,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones commended.

https://www.deped.gov.ph/2021/06/06/sdo-palawan-installs-196-rbi-sets-as-part-of-teachers-on-air-
initiative/
DepEd-backed teacher education
network gets accredited as ASEAN
official entity
June 6, 2021 – Supportive of academic and research endeavors of teacher education
institutions (TEI), the Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed the accreditation of
the Association of Southeast Asian Teacher Education Network (AsTEN) as an official
entity affiliated with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

AsTEN is a network of premier leading TEIs of countries in the ASEAN, with the
Philippine Normal University (PNU) serving as the Founding Chair and Permanent
Secretariat.

Last September 2020, Undersecretary for Planning and Human Resource and
Organizational Development and Senior Officials Meeting on Education (SOM-ED)
Chair Jesus L.R. Mateo officially endorsed the application of AsTEN as an ASEAN-
associated entity, which was supported by the Commission on Higher Education and
SOM-ED.

“AsTEN will have significant contributions towards strengthening the ASEAN education
sector through the provision of quality teacher education programs for the region. With
the many possibilities in the future of workforce, teacher development and welfare are
important aspects to look into,” Usec. Mateo said.

On March 29, ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi informed AsTEN, through a
letter, of their successful application to the list of ASEAN-associated entities, placing the
TEI network under the Think Tanks and Academic Institutions category.

“AsTEN’s inclusion to the roster of entities associated with ASEAN is a milestone for the
Network and the Philippine Normal University. This accreditation is given to
organizations representing different sectors that initiate programs and projects to benefit
ASEAN peoples. AsTEN represents the teacher education sector in ASEAN under the
category of “Think Tanks.,” Dr. Bert Tuga, President of PNU, said.

Being an official entity, AsTEN will play a significant role in promoting ASEAN’s agenda,
contributing towards the realization of ASEAN vision, recommending policies, and
expressing views on significant events of regional and international concerns.

It can now also work with ASEAN on its ASEAN Community Vision 2025 that aims to
work on the blueprint of the ASEAN community on political-security, economic, and
socio-cultural community aspects, according to Dr. Tuga.
Aside from PNU, other member institutions of AsTEN include Kolej Universiti Perguruan
Ugama Seri Begawan (Brunei Darussalam), National Institute of Education (Cambodia),
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (Indonesia), National University of Laos (Laos PDR),
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Malaysia), Yangon University of Education
(Myanmar), National Institute of Education-Nanyang Technological University
(Singapore), Kasetsart University (Thailand), and University of Social Sciences and
Humanities (Vietnam).

https://www.deped.gov.ph/2021/06/06/deped-backed-teacher-education-network-gets-accredited-as-
asean-official-entity/
DepEd to strengthen SHS graduates’
work readiness
June 4, 2021 — To better equip learners with work-ready skills, the Department of
Education (DepEd) will conduct nationwide upskilling activities on work and professional
development among Senior High School (SHS) students.

“Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of blended learning, we
want to make sure that our learners in Senior High School will have the best opportunity
available when the time comes that they want or need to be employed,” Education
Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

In partnership with Microsoft Philippines, the Department eyes to conduct training on

Microsoft Learn, Microsoft Imagine Academy, and LinkedIn Learning, which will enable
them to connect with industry practitioners from different fields. DepEd will also train
graduating learners to build impactful resumes and online professional profiles.

Through these activities, learners can acquire necessary competencies and digital
certifications by completing learning paths in digital productivity, computer sciences,
cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), and data science aligned to in-demand jobs globally.

In addition, the agency will partner with the Employers Confederation of the Philippines
(ECOP) to involve more industries in providing learners with work experience and
possible employment opportunities. The Department plans to collaborate with ECOP to
expand and develop the SHS Internship and Immersion Program for Grade 11 learners
to boost their employment experience before graduating.

“With these initiatives, students are upskilled, and what they have learned through their
basic education is reinforced with more skills training while the industry sector is made
aware of the capacities and potential of SHS graduates,” Undersecretary for
Administration Alain Del Pascua said.

DepEd will also revisit and expand the SHS Internship and Immersion program and
align the curriculum guide with the current situation and regional direction.

“A paradigm shift and an open and optimistic mind can change the future of our Filipino
youth and move towards the success of the Philippine K to 12 basic education
program,” Usec. Pascua emphasized.

These efforts are part of the Public Schools of the Future (PSOF) Framework of the
Administration Strand led by Undersecretary Alain Del B. Pascua and Assistant
Secretary Salvador Malana III. It is under the leadership of Secretary Leonor Magtolis
Briones.
https://www.deped.gov.ph/2021/06/04/deped-to-strengthen-shs-graduates-work-
readiness/
DepEd recognizes external partners’
support to learning continuity
May 31, 2021 – Advocating for stakeholder engagement and collaboration, the
Department of Education (DepEd), through its External Partnerships Service
(EPS), recognized the exemplary assistance of more than 130 external partners to
learners and teachers this school year during the Virtual Partners’ Appreciation program
last May 14, 2021.

With the theme “Celebrating Partnership Amidst the Pandemic”, the Department
acknowledged and awarded plaques of appreciation to 139 partner organizations for
their continued support in basic education especially in the implementation of the Basic
Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).

Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones highlighted the continuous collaboration

of the external stakeholders with the Department despite the challenges brought by the
current global health crisis.

“We are very grateful for your continued support for never abandoning us, in fact, a
number of you increased your level of support at this very difficult time. For we are
threatened not only with COVID-19 pandemic but also with the threat of further
exacerbating or worsening the challenges that we face in education,” Secretary Briones
said in her message.

“We thank you for your continued support and your listening ear. Your continued
support, your love, your sympathy, has been a source of inspiration to us as we strive to
continue, as strive to respond to the call of the constitution for quality education for all
learners,” she added.

Based on the partnership data generated from the DepEd Partnership Database
System (DPDS), a total amount of P 21,891,547,312.20 worth of resources was
received and reported at the school level nationwide as of December 2020. Of this
amount, P7,134,704,779.00 was from Brigada Eskwela (BE) activities, which
highlighted partnership initiatives that complement the Department’s efforts to ensure
that quality education will continue despite the challenges brought by COVID-19
pandemic.

The majority of the partners have developed and offered DepEd partnership projects for
education, which are aligned with the BE-LCP, including their support for the Brigada
Eskwela (BE) Implementation.
Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and Project Management
Service Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq. emphasized the importance of partnerships in
education amidst the health crisis.

“Dahil po sa inyong lahat, ang ating pangarap na ihanda ang magandang kinabukasan
para sa ating mga anak para sa kanilang kinabukasan ay tunay na matutupad at
mangyayari,” Usec. Umali said.

Undersecretary for Planning and Human Resource and Organizational Development

Jesus L.R. Mateo also graced the event to show support and appreciation to DepEd
partners and discuss the agency’s direction in creating additional teaching positions.

https://www.deped.gov.ph/2021/05/31/deped-recognizes-external-partners-support-to-
learning-continuity/
Briones says Education for Sustainable
Development a shared responsibility in
UNESCO Conference
May 25, 2021 – Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones highlighted the vital role
of stakeholders at the local and global level in raising awareness and action on
education for sustainable development (ESD) at the UNESCO World Conference last
Tuesday.

“Learning, including education for sustainable development, is a shared responsibility.

We need to integrate planning and to pull resources and ensure that we are able to
connect various learning spaces, formal and informal, physical and virtual and in-person
and remote that supports social and active learning and provide access to learning
resources that enrich learning,” Secretary Briones said in her message during the
conference.

The education chief added that promoting ESD is in the agency’s priorities as she laid
out the Department’s efforts in researching, monitoring, and institutionalizing policies
and programs for sustainable development.

“The Philippine Department of Education recognizes the urgency to deepen our

commitment and action to inculcate among our learners the awareness, knowledge,
values, and capacity for sustainable development through education and learning,” she
said.

“We have convened the Education Forum for Inclusive Quality Education or Educ
Forum. [Our] partners, including civil society organizations, education sector
organizations, and foundations coming from the private sector, bilateral agencies, and
multilateral organizations, shall ensure that education for sustainable development will
be among its key areas of work,” Briones shared.

The Department, through the Education Futures Programme, is also collaborating with
various stakeholders in creating integrated designs of future learning spaces to cover
formal, informal, physical, virtual, and remote spaces, including ESD.

The Education Chief noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has widened the Department’s
perspective and increased community participation regarding learning space and
processes despite the distance.

“The disruption of in-school learning, delivery at a large scale, has necessitated that we
reach out to households and communities to be active partners in the learning process,”
she mentioned.
Organized by UNESCO in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education and
Research of Germany and the German Commission for UNESCO, the UNESCO World
Conference for Sustainable Development was held virtually from May 17 to 19, 2021.

https://www.deped.gov.ph/2021/05/25/briones-says-education-for-sustainable-
development-a-shared-responsibility-in-unesco-conference/