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Spearheaded by The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and UNICEF Philippines, the Webinar on Adolescent Health During COVID-19 was facilitated earlier at 10:00 AM-12:00 NN local time via Zoom application. Along with the LCCS personnel, the said activity was also attended by adolescents, youths, academe, school health personnel, focal persons, Nongovernment Organizations (NGOs) and other relevant stakeholders involved on child rights and adolescent health.

The webinar featured relevant discussions such as Effects of COVID-19 on Adolescents, Child Protection during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Framework, Telemental Health and Medical Services during the ECQ, and Online Engagement of Adolescents. It also included an open forum wherein the speakers provided practical scenarios which gave the participants an in-depth understanding on mental health issues especially during the COVID-19 and the ECQ.

As for the conclusion, the speakers reiterated that “We are acting normal in a very abnormal environment. The feelings that we experience are all valid. We need to establish a community of strong support where everybody cares for everyone.”

Planning of LCC Activities for the utilization of funds for the 2020 National Literacy Conference and Awards (NLCA) which was cancelled due the COVID-19 pandemic became the main agendum during the first-ever virtual Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting via Microsoft Teams held on April 28, 2020. This is amid the Luzon-wide Lockdown as recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Dr. Heidi B. Macahilig of the Philippine Normal University (PNU) presided over the virtual meeting aimed at approving the LCC Secretariat’s proposed activities for 2020 Current Funds which were narrowed down into four (4) key result areas (KRAs) Advocacy, Social Mobilization and Networking; Policy Formulation and Research; Knowledge Management; and Capacity Building, including other possible procurement programs. The Council’s contribution to DepEd’s Learning Continuity Plan was also presented for discussion, seeking the participation of the Council member agencies to support the Secretariat in the coordination and implementation of the plan. These proposed activities are in lieu of the cancelled implementation of the 2020 NLCA, as ratified during the recently conducted 141st Council Meeting.

The videoconference was participated in by Mr. Nemesio O. Malatamban III of the House of Representatives; Mr. Zaldy I. Masangkay of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); Ms. Melinda T. Quiñones of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA); Ms. May R. Cinco of the Education Network (E-Net) Philippines; Mr. Edicio dela Torre of the Education for Life Federation; Ms. Aurea Jean A. Abad of the NLA Board of Judges, and the LCC Secretariat head and staff.

The Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) conducted its first-ever virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams on April 20, 2020 amidst the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Deliberation and discussions included the approval of the minutes and status of agreements of the 140th Council Meeting; presentation on the updates, issues and concerns on the conduct of the 2020 National Literacy Awards (NLA); amendments to the House Bill on the Revised LCC Law; and the appointment of the new representative from the network of Non-Government Organizations (NGO).

As ratified and approved by the Council, all activities relative to the conduct of the 2020 National Literacy Conference and Awards have been cancelled this year and may be implemented either next year or in 2022 when the situation would already permit. It was also decided that the House Bill on the revised LCC Law will be further amended for finalization. Lastly, the Council confirmed the appointment of Prof. Flora C. Arellano, President of Education Network (E-Net) Philippines, as the official NGO representative to LCC.

LCC Chairperson Diosdado M. San Antonio, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, presided over the 141st Council Meeting attended by Council members and representatives Mr. Adnan P. Ahmad of the Philippine Senate; Mr. Nemesio O. Malatamban III and Atty. Devi Katerina Martinez-Negre of the House of Representatives; Dr. Heidi B. Macahilig of the Philippine Normal University; Dir. Myrna Clara B. Asuncion of the National Economic and Development Authority; Ms. Melinda T. Quiñones of the Philippine Information Agency; Prof. Flora C. Arellano and Ms. May R. Cinco of E-Net Philippines; and Mr. Edicio G. dela Torre of Education for Life Foundation.

The LCC Secretariat would like to extend its gratitude to all the Council members and representatives and its warmest congratulations to the newly-appointed NGO Representative Prof. Flora C. Arellano!

The webinar took place on Friday, 24 April 2020 from 13:00–14:30 (GMT+2), to share experiences from around the world. It presented key issues to consider for preparing and planning for school reopening. It also highlighted some of the common challenges to anticipate and ways to address them; and presented lessons learned from past crises that can be useful in the current context.

The target audience for this webinar are primarily Ministry of Education officials engaged in planning for school reopening, following school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also relevant to other interested representatives of the wider education community, including teachers, students, parents, academics, civil society and private sector representatives, private school providers, other government officials, including from Ministries of Health, Social Affairs, and others.

The Department of Education, Planning Service – Policy Research and Development Division (PS-PRD) held its bimonthly research forum on March 2, 2020 at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.

With the theme, “Addressing the Challenges on Basic Education: Focus on Reading Literacy,” various literacy enthusiasts and advocates from academes and DepEd offices convened together to talk about the issues and concerns involving reading literacy.

The highlights of the said forum were the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) procedures and results, and different action reserach studies on reading. The forum targeted the impact and importance of localizing reading stories, teaching reading in multigrade classroom, and using ICT-based reading materials in enhancing the comprehension skills of the students.

The LCCS ensures its participation in literacy events such as this as it serves as an avenue of listening to the feedback from the grassroots. By doing so, this will allow the Council to formulate effective policy recommendations that will cater to the country’s dynamic needs.

On February 13, 2020, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) organized a Public Seminar on Reforms in the PH Education Sector, specifically on Education and Labor. Held at the PIDS Conference Hall in Quezon City, the said event was well attended by delegates from different Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Academe and Private Sector who actively participated in the said seminar.

The first presenter of the said activity was PIDS Senior Research Fellow Aniceto C. Orbeta, Jr., on “Process Evaluation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931): Status and Prospects for Improved Implementation;” followed by a discussion on the “Philippine Graduate Tracer Study 4” shared by PIDS Consultant Ms. Melba V. Tutor; while PIDS Consultant Ms. Karen Domique B. Brillantes talked about “Status of Senior High School Implementation: A Process Evaluation;” and lastly, PIDS Consultant Jennifer D. Monje pondering on “Starting Where the Children Are: A Process Evaluation of the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education Implementation.”

The first paper tackled on the early assessment of RA 10931’s first implementation by focusing on the law’s program design and objectives, including the evaluation and experiences of stakeholders and implementers. The second paper showed the graduate’s college experience which includes skills learned, quality of education, alignment to employment, and socio-cultural development of the graduates and perception of their employers. The third paper covered topics on the implementation of the Senior High School program identifying the best practices, issues and areas for improvement particularly on the program theory, service delivery and utilization, and program organization. The last paper reviewed the use and implementation of the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) program during the formative years of children.

The presentation of research papers was followed by an open forum where the participants were able to raise important points on the said topics. As a conclusion, the organizers successfully closed the program by appreciating the presence of the delegates and resource persons for sharing of insights.

Participating in such convergence allows the Council to formulate relevant and timely policy recommendations and initiatives towards the universalization of literacy, considering the country’s current issues and concerns on it.