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Enlist schools in ecological waste management, DepEd urged

MANILA, Philippines – Environmentalists yesterday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to push the country’s 55,230 public and private elementary and secondary schools to engage in waste prevention in line with the opening of a new academic year. 

The EcoWaste Coalition specifically requested Education Secretary Armin Luistro to issue a memorandum that will remind school administrators to put in place appropriate policies and systems for reducing and managing school discards if they have not yet done so. 

The last time the Education Department issued a reminder on the implementation of ecological solid waste management in schools, the group noted, was in 2001 during the term of then Secretary Andrew Gonzalez. 

“With another La Sallian brother at the helm of the department, we hope to see more schools becoming centers of excellence in terms of eliminating garbage and promoting environmental stewardship and action among our students and citizens,” said Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste Coalition president. 

He stressed, “Zero waste resource management will contribute to a healthy and socially-responsible school system that will not add to the 35,000 tons of trash that the whole country generates each day.” 

Alvarez recalled that DepEd Memorandum No. 33-2001 provided for the monitoring of school implementation of ecological solid waste management, including the promotion of “sorting-at-source,” the “use of recycled materials” and “banning any form of open burning.” 

“Now is the best time for DepEd to reiterate school involvement on Zero Waste resource management as this will complement the government’s national green agenda, particularly in preventing and reducing trash,” said Christina Vergara, also of the EcoWaste Coalition. 

“The memorandum can also include attractive incentives for schools to enforce and shine in ecological waste management, including morale-boosting commendations for practicing schools,” she added. 

The group cited the grand winners of the “National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools,” namely, the Peñablanca East Central Elementary School in Peñablanca, Cagayan; La Castellana National High School in La Castellana, Negros Occidental; and Palawan State University in Puerto Princesa; as well as the recipients of the “Dark Green School” label from the Environmental Education Network of the Philippines such as the De La Salle University- Dasmariñas Cavite; Miriam College in Quezon City and Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte; and the Cavite Institute in Silang, Cavite, which the World Bank cited for its innovative recycling for scholarship program. 

By Rhodina J. Villanueva 
The Philippine Star, May 12, 2011 

Tagum City relaunches literacy programs

The City of Tagum under the leadership of Mayor Rey T. Uy, relaunched its City Literacy Coordinating Council Skilled Workers English Enhancement Program (SWEEP) and IELTS Review for Skilled workers on January 31, 2011 at UM Tagum College, Tagum City. The graduates in this community- based training will have a chance to work here and abroad.

One of the guests during the launch was Dr. Norma L. Salcedo of the Literacy Coordinating Council. Speaking before a group, she acknowledged and thanked the participants in the recently-concluded National Literacy Conference and Awards held last September 8-11, 2010 in Baguio Teachers Camp, Baguio City for their continuous support and participation. She also congratulated Tagum City for winning 1st Place in the 2010 National Literacy Awards, Outstanding Local Government Unit Category, Component City under the leadership of Mayor Rey T. Uy. She commended Mayor Uy for continuously supporting literacy programs in their City.

Mayor Uy focuses on iteracy programs not only focusing on basic literacy but also functional literacy. This demonstrates how a local government can provide for the development of functional literacy.

Dr. Saceldo emphasized in her message that the challenges in society today and in the future require that the competencies of educated Filipinos should not be merely restricted to reading, writing, comprehension and numeracy skills which alone may not be sufficient to insure that they will function effectively in their immediate and gradually expanding community and in the rapidly changing world.

She stress that “Globalization has dramatically altered structures in the world of work. In our globalized world, the competitiveness of national economies and enterprises depends, in a large measure, on a highly skilled workforce that can respond effectively and efficiently to changing work processes. An essential part of such processes is ICT. This requires continuous adjustment on account of evolving hardware and software, modern communication and the immediacy of information on the internet. As the knowledge and skills of workers are regularly updated and expanded, more advanced knowledge of ICT becomes a must. Such new and changing demands require appropriate and periodically updated training. Akin to the demands of rapid economic development, globalization requires appropriate and periodically updated training. Such catchwords as “lifelong learning” and “learning-on-demand” would appropriately describe the kind and extent of training needed. The training may heavily lean on ICT and may incorporate e-learning and mobile learning.”

According to her “A global environment is participative, consultative and decentralized. This means that the Filipino as a global citizen will need to behave in a more democratic and consultative manner. Greater public access to new information technology needs to be provided to give the public greater opportunities to participate and provide occasions for continuing dialogue and consultation. The kind of literacy needed in a global environment is the ability to be responsive and flexible, because times change and even occurrences that we do not anticipate do happen. The school through the curriculum, should teach the Filipino learner to be continually responsive or to even go beyond what is prescribed to be an effective member of society.”

Pledge of Commitment were given by Dir. Fely Rabaca, School Director; Hon Nicanor T. Suaybagui, Jr ., CLCC Co-Chairmperson; and Ms. Nenita E. Lumaad, School Division Superintendent. Mayor Uy gave words of challege for his city to achieve functional literacy for all.

Tagum City – Looking Back and Moving Forward

Tagum City wins the Hall of Fame Award for being three-time Outstanding Local Government Unit (Component City category) winner in the National Literacy Awards in the years 2001, 2008, and 2010. 

The City’s literacy packaged with livelihood programs helped develop the potentials of the constituents in the community specifically those in the marginalized sectors. 

The programs include the following: 

– Consistent implementation of functional literacy programs that reach out to learners of different ages, ethnicity, and gender, and taught in ways where learners are able to develop their artistic potentials, build their small enterprises, or get work in their locality or abroad

– Balik Sigla program where masseurs trained by the LGU are hired to give therapy to constituents who suffer from immobility due to heart attack or stroke; service is provided in all barangays based on a mapping done by the LGU. More than a thousand have graduated from this program and some of them are now earning through private practice in Tagum, where they have set up their clinics with the help of the LGU. Still others were accredited by TESDA and were able to work abroad. 

– Indigenous education – the young generation of indigenous communities taking pride in their culture and history as they learn the dances and rituals from their ancestors through education programs with the LGU; shared through the yearly festival held in the City 

– Organic farming – conversion of waste from the butchery and the market into organic fertilizer and training of more than 100 farmers in organic farming using the compost. 

Indeed, Tagum City is an LGU to reckon with. Its good literacy and livelihood practices have proven to be enabling mechanisms that contributed to the empowerment of its people, the Tagumeños and for other LGUs to benefit from through replication of the programs. 

The same programs brought Tagum City to the 2011 UNESCO Literacy Awards, winning for its City Literacy Coordinating Council the Honorable Mention in the 2011 King Sejong Prize for Literacy.

DepEd’s highly successful ‘Brigada Eskwela’ bags Anvil

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) bagged an Anvil Award for their highly-successful yearly effort to bring in the participation of the community and the entire private sector to prepare public schools for the June school opening. The National Schools Maintenance Week (NSMW) or the “Brigada Eskwela”, initiated during the term of former Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus under the master-plan and guidance of former Education Undersecretary for Finance and Administration Juan Miguel Luz, won an Anvil Award of Merit given by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. 

DepEd was the only government line agency to win an award this year in the prestigious search. 

The award was received by Education Secretary Armin Luistro together with De Jesus and Luz, with the latter being present to recognize their pioneering role in the program. Brigada Eskwela which started in 2003 enjoins the participation of the whole community to do repairs and clean up of schools prior to the opening of classes, thus effectively reviving the dying bayanihan spirit. 

Luistro said the award brings home the point that private sector participation is important in improving the quality of education in the public school system. 

“The award is very timely since three months from now we will once again call on the community stakeholders for another round of Brigada Eskwela and we hope for a more enthusiastic response,” said Luistro.

By Rainier Allan Ronda 
The Philippine Star, February 24, 2011  

DepEd to start ‘K+12’ in June

The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to implement the first phase of its ambitious K+12 (kindergarten plus 12 years) proposal with the establishment of thousands of “kindergarten schools” in most of the 38,000 public elementary schools throughout the country by the opening of school year 2011-2012 this June.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said yesterday the kindergarten schools would also be bolstered by thousands of pre-schools to be created from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) barangay day care centers in collaboration with the Department of Health.

Luistro said the DepEd was given much encouragement to push ahead with their grand plan to add two years to the basic education curriculum (BEC).

The current BEC has 10 years of elementary and secondary education, but the DepEd now wants to have six years of elementary education, four years of junior high school and an additional two years of senior high school.

Luistro said consultative meetings in the country’s 17 regions regarding the K+12 program have been completed, and results of a survey conducted among the participants of these meetings showed that 77 percent approved of the plan.

“We’re very happy with the results,” Luistro said in a press briefing yesterday at the DepEd central office in Pasig City.

Luistro noted that there were even several regions, namely IV-A, IV-B, V, VII, VIII, XI, and Caraga, that were 100 percent supportive of the program.

The stakeholders invited to attend the consultative meetings were students and educators in private and public schools, their parents, and representatives from the government and the private sector, according to Luistro.

The education chief, however, said there were also some sentiments against the program that were raised during the meetings.

“We noted that in most of the regions, there was a turnaround in sentiment on K+12 when we explained it clearly, when we presented the benefits of the program and allayed concerns on the additional costs and years in school,” Luistro said.

He said that what they emphasized was that the K+12 program will make high school graduates ready for employment straight out of high school.

The DepEd earlier said that the K+12 plan is projected to need additional funding amounting to P43.67 billion for more classrooms, teachers and textbooks.

But Luistro said the DepEd is not yet focusing on the financial aspect of the program since the additional two years of school that will be instituted in public schools will only be set up by school year 2016-2017.

“That’s a long time from now. We’re focusing now on addressing the current shortages in classrooms,” Luistro said.

The Philippine Star, April 26, 2011  
By Rainier Allan Ronda 

A new standard in student-centered, international education in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – In continuing to deliver quality international education in the country, Esteban School formally renames itself the Australian International School (Australian IS). The announcement coincided with their celebration of a family sports day held last Feb. 26. 

The event kicked off with a parade led by the students, together with a square-off between the school’s two houses – Wisdom and Integrity. The two teams battled in a series of sporting events, showcasing their talents, skills, and athleticism. This year, Integrity proved to be mightier emerging as the champion after winning in the various sports challenges.

After a morning of competitive and fun-filled events, the whole community of Australian IS relaxed with a picnic for all students, parents and guests. More than 400 people participated in the family day which fostered camaraderie and goodwill among parents of the students. The students of Australian IS also wowed the crowd with their talents as they performed several special numbers.

Representative from the Australian Embassy Carolyn Atkinson graced the event and talked about the outstanding quality of Australian education. Atkinson expressed confidence that Australian IS will deliver a very high standard of academic excellence to its students. She recognized the educational institution as a pioneer and one of the largest and most instrumental organizations in promoting Australian education in the Philippines.

What sets a graduate of AIS apart from other students is the Australian high-school diploma that one will earn. “It gives the student an edge when they apply for a university anywhere in the world,” said David Esteban, Australian IS’s director for marketing and communications.

“Enrollees and prospective enrollees will enjoy the high standard that we are offering to them,” added Esteban. “They will be exposed to an environment that nurtures their passion for learning and gives space for creative and personal growth.”

The Philippine Star, May 12, 2011

Australian IS sets a new standard in student-centered, progressive, international education in the Philippines. Students and parents that come to Australian IS will be joining a happy and healthy, welcoming school community.
Australian International School is located at 2332 Chino Roces Extension, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Gawad Kalinga offers classrooms nationwide for DepEd’s universal kindergarten program

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) will hold public kindergarten classes in 346 Gawad Kalinga villages that has given them space to serve as preschool classrooms all over the country.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that DepEd was grateful for the offer of the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation (GKCDF) of 346 classrooms nationwide to be used for extension classes for five-year-old children who are enrolled under the Department of Education’s universal kindergarten program.

“Our gratitude goes to the foundation for offering not only their facilities but their teachers as well,” a beaming Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.

Under the arrangement, children are officially enrolled in public elementary schools but shall attend or hold classes in GKCDF classrooms under a volunteer teacher from the foundation. The teacher will use the National Kindergarten Curriculum Guide developed by DepEd.

DepEd’s started implementing the universal kindergarten program this year as the initial phase of their ambitious K (Kindergarten) +12 Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) program, to give five-year-olds enough preparation on the rigors of regular schooling. Many studies have shown that a learner who has a pleasant preschool experience is more likely to complete basic education.

The sudden surge of enrolment in preschool which is offered by the government for free aggravated the perennial problem of classroom shortage in public schools.

“We welcome this offer of GKCDF because it concretely addressed classroom and teacher shortages which we all know is a continuing challenge for DepEd considering the increasing number of enrollees which do not go lower than one million new entrants every year,” stressed Luistro.

DepEd is duty-bound to accept into its fold all students who want to enrol in public schools as part of its mandate to make education accessible to all Filipinos.

The universal kindergarten program is the first step in the K to 12 basic education reform program under the Aquino administration aimed at producing high school graduates who have the skills to enter the world of work, better prepared for college education and ready for the global market.

Luistro directed all school officials beginning at the regional level to coordinate with GKCDF coordinators in their areas and identify the public elementary schools needing additional classrooms and thus, make use of the foundation’s facility. He also urged them to monitor and provide technical assistance to the GKCDF volunteer teachers.

“We will also invite the foundation’s volunteer teachers to participate in school-based and division training so that we can also help in further honing their teaching skills,” Luistro said.

The Philippine Star 
September 01, 2011
By Rainier Allan Ronda

Palace concerned about Phl’s exclusion from world’s top 300 schools

MANILA, Philippines – The government yesterday expressed concern over the exclusion of the country’s top four schools from the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) list of top 300 universities in the world. “It is a cause for concern. Certainly, that’s a concern for the Department of Education and it’s something that we need to do something about,” said Palace Communications group Secretary Ricky Carandang. The University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), De La Salle University (DLSU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) fell from their 2010 QS rankings. UP dropped to rank 332 from 314 in 2010, AdMU fell to 360 from 307, DLSU fell to 551 from 451 while UST fell from 551 to 600. “I think the report really just emphasizes the need to improve quality education. I think it’s a wakeup call for the whole country,” Carandang said.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said the government should increase the budget for state-run universities and colleges (SUCs).

“If development is needed, we need to invest in development,” Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said in a forum.

“The government has a lot to contribute to the state-run universities and colleges wherein majority of its students come from poor families.”

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges-National Capital Region (PASUC-NCR) also called for an increase in the budgets of state universities and colleges.

In the 2012 proposed national budget, SUCs are allocated a budget of P21.89 billion, way below the P45 billion asked by SUCs. A total amount of P569.8 million would be slashed from the budget of 50 SUCs.

The maintenance and other operating expenses of 45 schools will be slashed by P250.9 million. The budget for personnel services has also been decreased by P403.3 million despite the supposed automatic increase in personnel services for each year, due to the Salary Standardization Law. A zero allotment for capital outlay is also proposed this year. This means that for 2012, there will be no state subsidy for infrastructure in SUCs.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III yesterday supported the call of Kabataan party-list group and other youth organizations to increase the budget of SUCs.

He said there is a need to support the SUCs because “education is a great equalizer” which is also one of the keys out of poverty.

“It is one of the keys out of poverty, if it is not the only key to solve our problem of poverty. So let us invest in our students from kinder all the way to doctorate degrees, science degrees if possible,” he said.

The Philippine Star
By Delon Porcalla With Evelyn Macairan, Christina Mendez 

September 07, 2011

National Literacy Conference set

In order to create awareness on the role of literacy for a peaceful and sustainable future, the Department of Education, in support of the United Nations Literacy Decade, will hold the 2011 National Literacy Conference.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the conference will be participated in by peace and education workers from the government and private sector. It will also become a venue for sharing good practices on peace literacy and good governance being implemented by various group accross the country.

The conference will be from September 27-29 at the Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City.

The Philippines scored a win in the 2011 UNESCO International Literacy Prizes when Tagum City was awarded for its exemplary accomplishment in achieving a thriving business community as a result of its peace education campaign. One of the highlights of the conference is the presentation of the National Literacy Hall of Fame Award to Tagum City for being a three-time first place winner in the National Literacy Awards.

Expected to attend the two-day seminar are bureau, center and regional directors or representatives, schools/city divisions, superintendents and assistant superintendents of the Alternative Learning System and formal education.

Also attending are ALS coordinators and mobile teachers especially those belonging to 5th and 6th class municipalities, as well as officers of government agencies with extension programs involving literacy or continuing education. The invitation is also extended to heads and members of non-government organizations and civil society groups involved in universalizing literacy in the regions; heads of local government units, barangay chairpersons and kagawad members; barangay health workers. One of the outputs expected from the participants is a peace and literacy action agenda that include programs, projects and activities for community development.

Interested parties may call the Literacy Coordinating Council at telphone numbers (02) 631-0579, 631-0567 and 635-9996.

Peoples Journal 
September 7, 2011 
By Alvin Murcia

 

Empowerment through Peace Literacy: Not Far from Reality

2011 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize
Peace Management Literacy and Continuing Education through Night Market

Peace is a very fragile commodity. It can be shattered by an empty stomach, by a wrong perception and understanding of event, by a person’s inadequacy to agee on a common goal. Tagum City, in its quest for peace has used education as a weapon in attaining its goals of literacy, cultural and economic understanding, and unity.

Several peace education initiatives and programs have been introduced by the Local Government over the past years. Programs are continually evolving on how to promote commitment to principles of peace, social justice and literacy for Tagumeños. Such commitment seeks to address the following problems: achievement of economic equity, upholding people’s rights, recognition of cultural integrity of Indigenous Peoples and protection of the environment. As such, Tagum City envisions functionally literate Tagumeños equipped with positive work attitude and sufficient entrepreneurial skills to enjoy quality living.

Years before 2004, night market vendors were already visible in the city. They posi-tioned themselves anywhere they like and left clutter of garbage.

With this scenario, the City Development Plan of Tagum identified literacy programs that would address the needs of the vendors. Policies and strategies were crafted to mainstream different programs and projects for livelihood as their basic rights while also maintaining respect of each other’s cultural roots and identity.

One of the programs conceptualized by Mayor Uy was the establishment of Tagum City Night Market which aims to give small and medium entrepreneurs the opportunity to earn more and sustain their businesses. Along with this, City Ordinance #141 s. 2004 known as the Night Market Ordinance was established for which it legalized the vendors’ businesses. This was reinforced by the passage of City Ordinance 223 s. 2006: “An Ordinance Adapting the Revised Code of Economic Enterprises of Tagum City.”

The establishment of the night market generates more employment and increases the revenue of the local government.

Through these ordinances, functional literacy programs were complemented. Series of trainings and seminars were provided by the CLCC to the vendors such as: Values Formation, Literacy Programs, Health Awareness Campaign and Orientation, Financial Literacy and Management, Solid Waste Management and Peace Education.

The influx of people from the different walks of life visiting the place at night time is an indication of a peaceful city where they can roam around without fearing for their lives. Specific Objectives:

The Local Government of Tagum City sees the importance of peace education and literacy programs through night market in achieving peaceful and orderly city. Specifically, it aims to:

  • Generate additional revenues for the local government to support various programs and projects;
  • open door of educational opportunities and employment of marginalized groups to pursue their dreams and maximize their potentials;
  • Conduct trainings and seminars on entrepreneurial management, and other ltieracy skills of a more practical kind useful to the workers;
  • Provide soft-loan package to sustain operations for the business to thrive;
  • Intensify the efforts to restore ecological balance through good practices in proper garbage disposal and waste segregation;
  • Generate employment from the Indigenous Peoples (IP’s), Muslims, women and youth where they can enjoy socioeconomic freedom;
  • Extend support in maintaining peace and order in the city where children and people can live and develop their potentials free from chaos and danger;
  • Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation for effective feedback mechanism in achieving the 2011 EFA goals; and
  • Adopt responsive measures for sustainability and innovations.

Sustainability

To ensure the sustainability and stability of the Night Market where livelihood, entrepreneurial, and literacy programs are inheret, the City Government provided interventions like regular monitoring and supervision in all aspects; putting up of a tracking system for clientele’s literacy profile and developments; continuous and on the time funding support from the implementing agency; capability building in the form of training, orientation, re-orientation, and workshops; and information dissemination on policies and reforms.

It also forged partnerships with various agencies and organizations such as the Department of Labor which granted P500,000 for capability building, financial literacy for the nonformal learners, and additional financial assistance to entrepreneurs. This helped intensify not only the education of OSYs and interest of small entrepreneurs but strengthened their economic viability as well. Funding were also received from nongovernment organizations such the Rotary Club of Golden Laces, Tagum Cooperative, Inc., University of Mindanano Tagum Campus and other national line agencies like the Department of Education for their literacy programs and the Philippine National Police in keeping the study and work place safe and orderly.

It could be said that from its conception, the management procedures undertaken in the implementation of this project has been expensively sustainable. It was mandated through a city ordinance, in partnership with non-government organizations whose mission and vision coincide with the principles of human development and the cultural practices of the people through economic enterprise and product-service patronizing. It is likewise governed by this catchphrase of the Mayor, “Kinsa man ang motabang sa Tagum kon dili kitang taga-Tagum” (Who else would help Tagum if not the Tagumeños themselves) which epitomizes every Tagumeño’s pride of his/her place.