News

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.

Pangasinan school bags international award

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — The University of Luzon (UL) here bagged the league championship and semi-finalist trophy through its Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team who participated together with 40 countries worldwide in the recently-concluded 2011 SIFE World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia held last month. The UL Team competed last Oct 3 to 5 through its entry Agenda for Reforms and Initiatives toward Sustainable Economy (ARISE) focusing on the four projects. 

These include Project SAVE Plus (Sustainable Actions for Viable Enviropreneurship), Project iCARE (Intensified Community Actions to Rescue the Earth), Project WELL (Women “Energizement” for Life-Long Livelihood) and Project WOW Ifugao (Wealth on Wonders of Ifugao). The ARISE Program addresses such issues as livelihood, malnutrition, food security and environmental protection by providing financial assistance and livelihood training to marginalized sectors, children, unemployed women, out-of-school-youth and persons with disabilities. 

The program benefitted around 19,000 individuals and 4,686 families. University of Regensburg in Germany won the title. The UL awardees included the presenters, Blas Jordan Matias, Lora Thana Santiago, John Eddie Gonzales, Aimee Rose Espinosa, Russel Justin Cruz, Sunny Luigi Prado; project leaders, Jennifer Caragay, Jessie Marie Idos, Prince Ulysses Diaz, Francis Baroma, Robycorahelga Marcos, Maureen Gamboa and Patricia Ayla Marie Geronimo.

The Philippine Star 
November 03, 2011

LCC conducts module development workshop for ALS radio program

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Oct. 25 (PIA) –- A consultative module development workshop for a Radio Program on Literacy (RPL) in Regions 9 and 10 will be held at Dynasty Court, this city on Oct. 27-28. 

The RPL aims to promote the thrusts and programs of Republic Act 10122, otherwise known as “An Act Strengthening the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) by Amending RA 7165,” also, known as “An Act Creating the LCC, Defining its Powers and Functions, Appropriating Funds, therefore and for Other Purposes.”

Dr. Norma Salcedo of the Department of Education (DepEd), Head of the LCC Secretariat, said the program aims to intensify advocacy and social mobilization promoting the literacy endeavors of the LCC through radio broadcast in remote areas of the country where the literacy rate is at its lowest. 

She said through the RPL, the LCC hopes to convince the parents in these areas by showing them the importance of sending their children to school or to non-formal schools for out of school children. They also aim to encourage out of school youths (OSY) and indigenous people to avail of non-formal schools, placements and assessment programs. 

Meanwhile, the RPL will be conducted by the LCC, in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), in the provinces of Basilan in Region 9 and Misamis Oriental in Region 10. 
Some of the “30 Bottom Barangays with Lowest Literacy Rate, 5th and 6th Class Municipalities,” are found in these regions, as shown in the “Literacy Mapping of the 20% of the Total Number of Barangays of the 20% Total Number of 5th and 6th Class Municipalities: Policy Implications to Local Government Units,” done by the LCC in 2007, Salcedo said. 

Thirteen of these barangays were in Region 10, of which seven were in Lanao del Norte, three each in Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental respectively. These were Barangays Pendalonan, Bubonga Radapan and Old Poblacion in Munai, Dansalan in Sapad, Cabasagan and Natangcopan in Pantao Ragat and Bangcal in Pantar, in Lanao del Norte, Barangays Dioyo and Ventura in Sapang Dalaga and Manalad in Calamba, Misamis Occidental and Matampa, Alipuaton and Bunal in Salay town, Misamis Oriental. 

However, the LGU’s in these areas have qualified that the data might have been gathered when most of the people were not in their homes as these were declared “no man’s land,” during the period due to the insurgency problems. 

Meanwhile, Staff Director Emelyn Q. Libunao of the PIA Program Management Division (PMD) said preparations for the creation of the RPL in the workshop will be attended by the following: 
Regional Directors of the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Chief, DepEd Alternative Learning System (ALS) in region 10; 

ALS Coordinators, Mobile Teachers and Barangay Chairpersons in the Municipality of Salay, Misamis Oriental and Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental and concerned local chief executives (LCE) of Lanao del Norte, Regional Director of PIA, Region 9 and Information Center Managers of Basilan, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental. 

Target date of the RPL implementation in Basilan and Misamis Oriental is November 28, this year. (PIA-10) 

PIA Press Release Wednesday, October 26, 2011

1st Int’l Conference on Open and Distance e-Learning set

MANILA, Philippines – Educators, scholars and practitioners are invited to submit abstracts for paper and poster presentations at the first International Conference on Open and Distance e-Learning: Creating Spaces and Possibilities on Feb. 22 to 24, 2012 at the Century Park Hotel, Manila. Dubbed ICODeL 2012, the conference focuses on the convergence of philosophies, pedagogies and technologies in open and distance e-learning (ODeL), the opportunities opened up by this convergence, and the issues and challenges arising from the practice of ODeL in various contexts, including among others, education, public service and development. 

International experts Curtis Bonk of Indiana University and Denise Kirkpatrick of the UK’s Open University will speak at the conference. The proposed paper or poster should be relevant to one of the conference’s four sub-themes: The State of the Art in ODeL; Innovations and Best Practices in ODeL; Problems, Barriers, Reforms and Solutions; and Future Directions, Spaces and Possibilities in ODeL. 

The deadline for abstract submission is Nov. 15. Participants can register until Feb. 16, 2012. For details, log on to icodel.upou.edu.ph or e-mail at icodelsecretariat@upou.edu.ph. ICODeL 2012 is co-organized by the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Philippine Society for Distance Learning and UPOU Foundation, Inc.

The Philippine Star 
November 03, 2011

DepEd’s dental project piloted in 20 grade schools in South

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — At least 20 public elementary schools spread out in Mindanao’s six regions have been selected by the Department of Education (DepEd) to pilot the implementation of its dental project called “Happy Smiles for Healthy Kids” for school year 2011-2012 in the country’s second biggest island region. 

Dr. Walter Albos, DepEd regional director for Western Mindanao, said the project enforced by the department’s Health and Nutrition Center (HNC) in coordination with the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) and Lamoiyan Corp., is expected to initially benefit some 10,000 pupils in the Southern Philippines where tooth ailments, particularly dental caries, are found to be prevalent among school children. 

Luistro, Albos said, identified the 18 provincial and city schools divisions where the pilot schools are located as Pagadian City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Dipolog City and Zamboanga City in Western Mindanao or Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9); Bukidnon, Ozamiz City, and Camiguin in Northern Mindanao (Region 10); Davao del Sur, Davao City and Davao del Norte in Southern Mindanao (Region 11); South Cotabato, Kidapawan City, Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato City, and North Cotabato in Central Mindanao (Region 12); Surigao del Sur and Butuan City in Caraga (Region 13), and Lanao del Sur in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). 

Luistro also directed concerned schools division superintendents to strongly support the project which seeks to ultimately reduce the prevalence of dental caries and other tooth diseases among pupils, especially those in rural schools. 

The Philippine Star
November 03, 2011 

Bill to allow students with unpaid fees to take exams

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Manuel Villar Jr. is pushing for the passage of a bill that would make it illegal for all tertiary level institutions to prevent their students from taking their examinations due to non-payment of tuition fees. 

In Senate Bill 2992, Villar noted that students of post-secondary and higher education institutions shall have the right to take the mid-term of final examinations “notwithstanding the existence of unpaid financial obligations to the school.”

“Unfortunately for students and their parents, schools can be quite exacting when it comes to tuition and this could not be any more apparent than during examinations,” Villar said. 

“While we understand that tuition and other fees are necessary for schools to provide the service required of them, there will be instances when parents/students are unable to pay on time,” he added. By filing the bill, Villar said that he is looking to prohibit all public and private higher education institutions, including the vocational schools from enforcing the so-called no permit, no exam policy.

Villar lamented that a lot of these higher education institutions (HEI) have ignored appeals by the Commission on Higher Education for them to exercise a greater degree of flexibility towards students with unsettled accounts.

This, he said, has caused a great deal of suffering and mental torment on the students and their families who have their dreams of making their way out of poverty through education.

Instead of prohibiting the students with obligations from taking their exams, the bill would provide the HEIs certain rights that would protect their own interests. 

By Marvin Sy (The Philippine Star) 
November 03, 2011