News

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.

 

A conference was held on February 11, 2020 at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City with the theme, “Alliance for the Creation of a National Strategic Workforce Development Plan.” It aimed to gather diverse perspectives that can inform curriculum, instruction, assessment, industry and employment practices, capacity-building standards and policy formulation and implementation on having a consolidated strategic workforce plan for the Philippines in achieving the long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people in the next 25 years through AmBisyon Natin 2040.

 

The Revision of the National Literacy Awards (NLA) Guidelines was discussed during the Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting on February 5, 2020 held at the Teacher Education Council (TEC) Secretariat Conference Room, Mabini Building, DepEd Central Office. Mr. Zaldy I. Masangkay, Bureau of Local Government Development Division Chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, presided over the LCC Secretariat, TWG and Council Representatives to revise the NLA Guidelines on the Selection Process, Categories and Procedures. The Council also amended the draft DepEd Memorandum on the conduct of the 2020 National Literacy Awards.

Proposed Timetable of Activities for the 2020 NLA conduct, including the selection process of regional entries and the Special Award of Excellence in Literacy, were tentatively settled. The List of Board of Judges (BOJ) for the Outstanding Literacy Program, Outstanding Local Government Unit (LGU), and Special Award of Excellence in Literacy were also agreed upon during the said meeting. Selection on the Outstanding LGU were categorized into Highly Urbanized City, Independent Component City/ Component City, 1^st to 3^rd Class Municipality, and 4^th to 6^th Class Municipality. The NLA Score Sheets for the mentioned NLA categories were also presented, subject for review.

The awarding ceremonies for the 2020 NLA will be held in September.

In partnership with the Research Center for Teacher Quality (RCTQ) and Office of the Secretary (OSec), the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) currently holds a series of workshops with DepEd CO’s various bureaus and offices on topics concerning Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST), Results-based Performance Management System (RPMS), and Capacity Building on Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS).

 

On February 5-6, 2020, the LCC Secretariat staff participated in on the second cluster of activities which highlighted the Elaboration of PPST and Orientation on Recognition Guidelines. As elaborated by Mr. John Arnold S. Siena, Director IV of NEAP, “Teacher quality has a big implication… We always need to check what is critical for learners and teachers.” The activities included workshops on the assignment of Professional Development Credit Units, and Orientation and Review of Recognition Guidelines for non-DepEd Learning Service Providers (LSPs) which are both significant in levelling up the quality of roughly 900,000 teachers in the country.

Ms. Maria Lourdes D. Pantoja, Director IV of Bureau of Human Resource and Organization Development (BHROD), and Dr. Jennie V. Jocson, Senior Program Manager from the RCTQ facilitated the brainstorming on PPST while Mr. Edward DJ. Garcia, Project Development Officer V, Ms. Graciel A. Retardo and Mr. Lee S. Macalisang, Technical Assistants II of NEAP- Quality Assurance Division (QAD) led the discussions on NEAP Tranformation, and Authorization, Evaluation and Recognition of non-DepEd LSPs.

The week-long series of workshops of NEAP is anticipated to be successfully concluded tomorrow at DepEd – NEAP NCR Training Center, Marikina City.

 

The first joint meeting of the Committees on Higher and Technical Education (CHTE) and Basic Education and Culture was conducted on February 4, 2020 at Nograles Hall, House of Representatives. This House Bill 208 was introduced by Representative Joet Garcia of the 2nd district of Bataan. Rep. Garcia has seen the importance of lifelong learning in lowering poverty in the City of Balanga, Bataan. It also seeks to introduce lifelong learning by providing guidelines for the mandatory establishment of learning cities nationwide and providing benefits for the successfully compliant cities.

 

The LCC Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting was conducted on January 23, 2020 at the Bureau of Curriculum Development (BCD) Conference Room, Bonifacio Building, DepEd Central Office. The LCC Secretariat, together with the TWG and Council Representatives, discussed the Proposed Literacy Coordinating Council Bill as amended by Republic Act No. 10122 enacted on July 27, 2009. This was presided over by Mr. Nemesio O. Malatamban III, Supervising Legislative Officer II of the House of Representatives.

The proposal to revise and expand the current LCC Law was initially presented during the last Midyear Performance Review held on July 16-18, 2019 in Cebu City. Originally, the foundation of the LCC Law (RA No. 10122) was the Republic Act No. 7165, otherwise known as “An act creating the Literacy Coordinating Council, defining its powers and functions, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes”. On-site comments and suggestions on RA No. 10122 were integrated vis-à-vis the proposed LCC Bill through a matrix. Further revisions and inputs on the Proposed Revised LCC Bill will be included in the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) once the new law is approved.

 

The Philippine Normal University, being one of the Council Members, took the lead on the recently conducted Focus Group Discussion on January 14, 2020 held at DepEd RO II, RELC-NEAP in Tuguegarao City. Region II hosting the Cluster Luzon, marks the completion of the data gathering of the Research Study on the Development of the National Literacy Framework spearheaded by Dr. Heidi B. Macahilig.

Aimed to come up with invaluable data and insights from different sectors, the research team has been visiting different regions since the last quarter of 2019. Participants in the said activity included focal persons of literacy from various offices of DepEd, DILG, Private Companies from different industries, Academe, and NGO.

The said research study seeks to develop a national overarching framework of literacy skills and competencies that will make every Filipino ready and equipped for 21st century living. The results of the research are expected to be also used in guide policies on curriculum development, instruction and teacher education, facilitators’ training in both formal and informal education systems, and literacy governance.