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The Bureau of Education Assessment – Education Research Division (BEA-ERD) facilitated the conduct of the strategic Validation Workshop of the Roadmap towards Multi-literacy for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Learners (DHHLs) held on November 18-22, 2019 at the Puerto De San Juan Beach Resort Hotel, San Juan, La Union.

This activity aimed to provide equality and equity in Multi-Literacy Education for DHH learners through evidence-based approaches by aligning the internal and external partners’ Programs, Activities and Projects (PAPs) and finalizing these based on their strategic directions indicated in the long-term plan for Philippine Deaf Education. The Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat, together with the other selected representatives from bureaus/offices of DepEd Central Office including the Bureau of Curriculum Development and Planning Service, provided highly technical inputs in polishing further the Roadmap document. Contingency planning and review of the priority needs formulation through strategic execution and identification of Key Result Areas and Key Performance Indicators were also performed under the three (3) thematic areas, which include Access, Quality and Governance.

Other participants include selected teachers and administrators of DepEd Regional and Schools Division offices, Philippine Federation for the Deaf, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, and the International Deaf Education Association Philippines. Ms. Thea Abigail Abines of the LCC Secretariat represented the Council in this activity.

 

 

The Department of Education (DepEd), through the Curriculum and Instruction strand, facilitated the conduct of the Consultative Forum on Curriculum and Instruction’s Issues and Concerns on November 25, 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center as a venue to identify the current challenges and verify the recommended interventions addressing the need to provide quality education for all. Education leaders, including selected DepEd Central Office (CO) bureaus/ divisions, Regional (RO) and Schools Division (SDO) offices, in all regions of the country were gathered to discuss the strategies to shift from access to quality education.

Its main highlight is the launch and unveiling of the Seal of Commitment for the “Hamon: Bawat Bata Bumabasa (3Bs) Initiative” as a step to improve literacy competencies and skills of children for lifelong learning and as to bridge the gaps of learners’ reading comprehension based on the results of national assessments. As indicated in DepEd Memorandum Order No. 173, series of 2019, all offices at the CO, ROs, SDOs and school levels are highly encouraged to support the campaign of DepEd’s 3Bs initiatives by intensifying advocacy for reading and by pledging commitment to make every learner a reader at his/ her grade level. These offices should align their priorities towards the promotion of the culture of reading, considering the Conceptual Elements in implementing the program which are Oral Language, Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency and Comprehension.

According to the Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado M. San Antonio during his welcome remarks, “Ito ang pinakauna natin dapat gawin, kasi we can never pursue quality education if the kids do not know how to read. This is the basic tool for lifelong learning. We will never expect a Filipino or any human being to continue to learn without actually being equipped with the fundamental reading skill”.

The Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat attended the said conference, presented its policy recommendations, and supports the campaign and advocacy of DepEd’s challenge to make every child able to read as an initial movement to globalize literacy and improve the quality of basic education in the country.

 

 

 

The Validation Workshop on the LCC Website Structure and Content was spearheaded by the Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat (LCCS) on November 12-15, 2019 held at DepEd RO XI RELC-NEAP, Quirino Avenue, Davao City. Fulfilling the mandate to establish an information exchange and dissemination system to support literacy efforts at the national and local levels, the activity aimed to review and validate the current elements, face and features of the site; update the contents of the data resources of the website; develop new features based on the current trends and needs of the stakeholders; and integrate the National Literacy Information System (NLIS) with the current structure.

Participants from DepEd – Information and Communications Technology Service (ICTS), LCC Council Representatives from Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Education Network (E-Net) Philippines, and the Technical Team provided inputs on the review and finalization of the NLIS Modules and enhancement of LCC web Home Page. The Technical Team consisting of Mr. Jezrel P. Macale, District ICT Coordinator from Oogong Elementary School, Santa Cruz, Laguna; Mr. Daryl Ausejo Peralta, District ICT Coordinator from Victoria Senior High School, Victoria, Laguna; and Mr. Numeriano Esteban, Freelance IT Assistant from Liliw, Laguna, together with Mr. Judel M. Tabano of DepEd-ICTS, painstakingly worked together to integrate the inputs of the finalized NLIS Modules into the LCC Website. The said system is slated to be finalized next year.

 

 

 

 

Pasay City. The Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture chaired by Senator Win Gatchalian conducted the second public hearing on Senate Bill No. 740 on 27 November 2019 at the Senate of the Philippines. Also present in this event were Committee members Senator Nancy S. Binay and Senator Ronald “Bato” M. Dela Rosa. During the hearing, DepED Assistant Secretary G. H. S. Ambat presented the Update, Roadmap, and Ways Forward for the Alternative Learning System. Among the invited resource persons were DepEd Director Marilette Almayda of the ALS Task Force; Prof. Flora Arellano of E-Net Philippines; Dr. Ephraim Pitogo of SULADS; and the LCC Secretariat Head, Mr. Enrico Mendoza. Senate Bill No. 740 is an Act Institutionalizing the Alternative Learning System in Education for Out-of-School Children, Youth and Adults, Persons with Disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and other Marginalized Sectors of Society and Appropriating Funds Therefor. It is hoped that this bill will be passed by the Eighteenth Congress of the Republic of the Philippines.

 

 

The DepED Planning Service currently holds the 5-day workshop on the FY 2020 Post-Planning at Makati Palace Hotel and is expected to end on November 29, 2019. This activity is participated in by DepED CO Bureaus and Offices and Regional Offices. Usec. Jesus Lorenzo R. Mateo underscored in his presentation yesterday that we have to work closely to have a positive feedback on DepED programs. The status of FY 2018 Continuing Funds and FY 2019 Current Funds was also presented.

 

Once again, the research team continued its validation activities in Regions 11 and 12 for the development of the Analytic Rubric envisioned for the creation and monitoring and evaluation of exemplary community-based literacy programs across the country. On November 7, 2019, Dr . Merry Ruth M. Gutierrez and Dr. Leonora P. Varela headed to Davao while Dr. Maria Azela L. Tamayo and Dr. Boyet L. Batang went to General Santos cities simultaneously where the validation tool was distributed and discussed among literacy implementers and administrators from the DepEd and Local Government Units.

The last field validation of the research output validation is anticipated to happen in Region 8 in December.

 

Davao City, Region XI Research Output Validation

 

General Santos City, Region XII Research Output Validation

Aiming to develop an analytic rubric to be used for monitoring and evaluation of exemplary community-based literacy programs, the research team headed by its Project Co-Director, Dr. Merry Ruth M. Gutierrez had a dialogue with selected delegates from DepEd and Local Government Units of Region CALABARZON on October 27, 2019 at The A. Venue Hotel in Makati City.

The said event also included validation of the instrument tool developed by the researchers during the Phase I of the said research study on literacy.

Along with Dr. Gutierrez are Dr. Maria Azela L. Tamayo, Member Researcher and Ms. Jem Beryline S. Bualat, LCC Secretariat staff who facilitated the said activities.

Camarines Norte, 29 October 2019. The LCC Secretariat (LCCS) was invited to speak before around 100 Mayors, Vice Mayors, Schools Division Superintendents, and other local government and DepEd officials of the Bicol Region during the Regional LGU Forum organized by the External Partnerships Service of DepEd held at the Bel-Air Resort, Daet, Camarines Norte.

The Forum aims to enhance LGU’s participation in the delivery of basic education and efficient use of the Special Education Fund, as well as discuss school and community-based education programs that can be pursued by the LGUs, among others.

The topic “Championing Literacy – A Guide to Effective Community-based Literacy Program Management” was presented by the head of the LCCS. The presentation was based on the research conducted in 2018 by the LCC, in partnership with the Philippine Normal University on the Standards for Exemplary Community-based Literacy Program and Engagement, Basis for Policy Formulation.

Other speakers were Mr. Ray Caceres, Provincial Director of the DILG Camarines Norte who discussed the Role of the LGUs in the Delivery of Basic Education and Mr. Niño Raymond Alvina, Executive Director of the BLGF, Department of Finance who presented the topic “Ensuring the Effecient Use of the Special Education Fund.”

LGUs have expressed their support to DepEd by reaching more undeserved children, youth, and adults and providing them with more lifelong learning opportunities.

The regional LGU Forum was also graced by Dr. Gilbert T. Sadsad, Regional Director of DepEd Region V and Atty. Tonisito M. C. Umali, esq., DepEd Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships and Program Management Service.

The local media outfits were also present in this significant event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) conducted its 2019 Non-Government Organization (NGO) Forum on October 24, 2019 at Robbinsdale Residences, Quezon City. With the theme, “Strengthening Partnerships for Inclusive and Equitable Functional Literacies,” the one-day LCC-NGO Forum featured dynamic discussions about Policies and Programs for Inclusive and Equitable Literacies, Updates on the ALS-EST Pilot Implementation (presented by Ms. Merlie J. Asprer of DepEd CO) and the Brigada Pagbasa program (introduced by Mr. Jett P. Jetonzo of World Vision), as well as Sharing of Good Literacy Practices from selected NGOs.

LCC Chairperson Diosdado M. San Antonio, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, officially commenced the forum with a message. He remarked that if we do not focus on equitable literacies, children would not be equipped with functional literacies. He also challenged everyone not to leave behind a single child unable to read. This was followed by an overview of the conference led by E-Net Philippines President Prof. Flora C. Arellano who also introduced the participants. She expressed her gratitude to DepEd and LCC for being great leaders in universalizing literacy, in cooperation with civil society organization (CSO) E-Net Philippines. Through their long-time partnership, they were able to conduct this said forum.

Mr. Ramon G. Mapa, E-Net Philippines Board of Trustee and Executive Director of People’s Initiative for Learning and Community Development (PILCD), shared the Adult Learning and Education in the Context of Global Report, emphasizing on the importance of adult learning and education, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and issues and challenges in education as a whole. Pastor Ephraim Pitogo also presented the SULADS’ HEAL program, which is a three-time first place winner in the National Literacy Awards making it the first NGO LCC Hall of Fame Awardee for Outstanding Literacy Program. SULADS, Inc. is an organization reaching the unreached Mindanao tribes with the aim of training and serving them through their four-pronged Health, Education, Agriculture and Livelihood (H.E.A.L) program. As a community dreaming of being an agent of change to make a better world through Education, SULADS also reaches the communities of Lumads, Muslims, Mangyans and the Deaf. Last to share their innovation and experience in ALS is Mr. Lito T. Jugatan a.k.a. Tubag, President of Lubos na Alyansa ng mga Katutubong Ayta ng Sambales (LAKAS). Their programs focus on establishing schools for the Ayta community, including the Paaralang Bayan ng mga Ayta sa Zambales (PBAZ) and LAKAS High School, which were built in 2002 and 2013, respectively. The LAKAS President ensures that these schools aimed to maintain the tradition and beliefs of Ayta, untouched by the culture and principles of the “Unat”.

Parallel Workshops on Strengthening Policies and Programs for Inclusive and Equitable Literacies were also done which were divided into three (3) clusters, to wit: Equitable and Inclusive Literacy Policies; Ensuring Data Capturing, Utilizing, Tracking, Reporting and Monitoring; and Recognition and Accreditation of other Modes of Literacies. The activity was concluded by LCC member Mr. Edicio G. Dela Torre hoping that through the annual conduct of the LCC-NGO Forum platform, the NGO Sector will be formalized, literacy resolutions enacted, and criteria on selecting NGOs to be future Literacy Partners developed.

The 2019 NGO Forum, which was graced by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte’s official representative, Ms. Aly Medalla of Education Affairs, and Dr. Juan C. Obierna of DepEd Schools Division Office of QC, was also participated in by some LGU officials from Luzon.

 

 

 

The Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture chaired by Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian conducted a Public Hearing on October 29, 2019 at the Philippine Senate on the Senate Bill No. 740 – An act providing for the Alternative Learning System of Education for adults, out-of-school youth, members of cultural minorities, Indigenous People, and persons with disabilities. This public consultation was participated in by DepEd personnel from the Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat, Bureau of Curriculum Development, ALS Task Force and other stakeholders.