Two days ago, the Department of Education took pride as it launched its K to 12 Issues and Trends Explored (K.I.T.E.) Journal broadcasted via DepEd Philippines’ Facebook Page. The said journal is the Curriculum and Instruction (CI) Strand’s initiative envisioned to serve as as the e-Publication for Academic Papers and Researches. It is also a quarterly publication of peer-reviewed academic and scholarly articles on issues and trends of K to 12. The said virtual launch was hosted by Mr. Jose Adrian Fernandez of the Office of the Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction (OUCI) and Ms. Abigail Alviz of Bureau of Education Assessment (BEA).
In line with the celebration of the opening of the classes for School Year 2021-2022, Secretary Leonor Briones, recognized the inspiration shown by the stakeholders in its continuous efforts in promulgating education for all. The DepEd Chief emphasized that “education is a shared responsibility” which requires commitment and collaboration from all agencies, parents and individuals who have interest in education. She also gave her heartfelt gratitude to the DepEd officials, teachers, parents, external partners who have shown their utmost support even pre-pandemic. This has exemplified the spirit of bayanihan and the service rendered to all learners.
After the preliminaries, Dr. Celedonio Balderas, Jr., Editor-in-Chief of the journal, said that under the leadership of Sec. Briones, the quality education reform of K to12 is anchored to the 4 quadrants of the DepEd kite which are: (1) K to 12 Curriculum Review and Update, (2) Improving the Learning Environment, (3) Teachers’ Upskilling and Reskilling, and (4) Engagement of Stakeholders for Support and Collaboration. Complimentary to the reforms is the publication of K.I.T.E. Journal which highlights the informed actions embedded in research and is highly regarded as significant documents to the K to 12 Issues and Trends Explored. He closed his opening message by saying, “Education sector makes learning bountiful by doing research. Being the primal mandate of the Department, it grows a community of educators that cultivates a culture of research. This also serves as an inclusive platform for education research publication for knowledge sharing of best practices of stakeholders for utilization and adoption for quality teaching, and for continuous improvement purposes.”
Curriculum and Instruction Bureau Directors:
Then, the CI bureau directors proceeded on explaining how the journal was first introduced to the Department until its realization through the website. BEA Director and Editorial Team Member Nelia Benito recalled that the call for submission and review of articles for K.I.T.E. Journal was done on September 2, 2020 through DM-CI-2020-00238. While Bureau of Curriculum Development Director and Editorial Team Member Joyce Andaya showed the interface of the relative website homepage. She said that it features the CI Strand News and Updates pertaining to its current events, issuances and notifications to invitations for webinars and fora. Director Leila Areola of Bureau of Learning Delivery and Editorial Team Member quoted the online journal as “a wealth of information for policy development, improvement, educational practices and proposals for educational innovations.” She explained that the main theme of the journal for this year is the preparations and milestones for distance learning implementation; however, other studies conducted in pre-pandemic found valuable and relevant were also included in the publication. Meanwhile, both Editorial Team Members, Atty. Ariz Delson Acay Cawilan of Bureau of Learning Resources and Director Marilette Almayda of Alternative Learning System Task Force educated the participants on the use of the “Projects and Innovations” and the “Technical Reports” Tabs, respectively. Lastly, Teacher Education Council Secretariat Executive Director and Editorial Team Member Runvi Manguera showed the navigation of the “Submit an Article” which in turn, he also encouraged everyone to submit articles following the criteria posted in the said tab.
For the Closing Messages, Assistant Secretary for CI, Dr. Alma Ruby Torio, said that the journal was born out of the relentless determination of the Department to provide quality basic education due to the drastically changing world. She also congratulated everyone who has undeniably given time and effort to materialize this initiative. She reaffirmed the steadfastness and unity taken by DepEd through innovations such as introducing and distributing self-learning modules, launching of online learning management systems, developing TV and radio-based lessons, conducting professional development of teachers online and so much more. This was further emphasized by Undersecretary for CI, Dr. Diosdado San Antonio, stating, “with the support of the local and international partners embedded with data-driven literacy approach, we will carry on and confront the challenges on quality basic education foreseeing an innovative Philippine education adaptive to the rapidly changing world.” He also talked about the importance of the teachers and school heads in improving the outcomes for all learners as they are the ones who translate and shape curriculum goals and theoretical ideas into classroom practices and who have immediate control in shaping the environment for learning in collaboration with stakeholders. He closed his speech with the hope that the first issuance of the journal will be a strong beginning. He left everyone with a challenge to fill the gaps, extend the evidence-based approach and anchor the findings in the local context.
Certifications for the Publication, Contributors and Peer Reviewers for the Volume 1 of the K.I.T.E. Journal were awarded by Ms. Alvis, Style Language Editor, and Mr. Enrico Totañes, Layout Artist of the journal.
The 2 technical reports of the LCC-initiated research studies on literacy are also included in the said first issuance of the journal. They are accessible at: https://kitejournal.online/?page_id=243 with the titles: 1) National Validation of the Foundational Framework for Exemplary Community-Based Literacy Programs and Engagement, and 2) A Foundational Framework for Exemplary Community- Based Literacy Programs and Engagement: Basis for Policy Development.
To check the K.I.T.E. Journal Website, please visit: https://kitejournal.online
To watch the replay of the virtual launching, please click: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&v=275270247763719&ref=watch_permalink
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