Basic quality education for IPs and all

The Department of Education in Davao Region (Deped 11), under the leadership of regional director lawyer Alberto T. Escobarte, CESO III, spearheaded the 2017 National Indigenous Peoples Education Gathering on January 10, 2018 at Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City.

The Division of Davao City headed by Schools Division Superintendent Maria Ines C. Asuncion tendered a fellowship dinner with Secretary Leonor M. Briones and the DepEd Central Office Executive Committee members, former Education Secretaries Jesli Lapus and Mona Valisno with RD Escobarte, the regional chiefs and the other SDSs

In her message during the event Secretary Briones reiterated the Department of Education’s (DepEd) solid support to further strengthen the Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) Program through continuous consultations with IP elders, leaders, and community representatives.

The said activity commemorated a decade of meaningful dialogue between DepEd and IP communities all over the country that led to the birth of various policy issuances that provide appropriate directions for IPEd Program implementing regions and divisions, so that initiatives are responsive to the aspirations and educational needs of IP learners.

During the gathering at Grand Regal Hotel, a prayer-blessing also opened the second decade of dialogue, with community elders and leaders expressing their hopes for a deepening relationship between IP communities and DepEd, and praying for the guidance and well-being of all those involved in implementing the IPEd Program.

Briones highlighted specific education issues that have direct involvement on IP learners and communities and the implementation of an education that caters to a more quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating basic education for all.

The education chief emphasized the importance of environmental protection in the curriculum as one way to contribute in keeping IP learners and communities safe, as their identity, culture, and livelihood are shaped by the natural environment surrounding their communities.

Briones called on DepEd to be a champion of the environment as this is a concern of all, not only of IP communities and the significance of utilizing technology in ensuring that the cultures of various IP communities in the country are nurtured and protected.

Conveying her message not just for IP learners but to all Filipino learners she urged them to be brave, courageous and should not be afraid even as they know that the world is changing and by the time that they graduate, it will change even more.

Also gracing the occasion aside from the present secretary and the two former chiefs were Undersecretaries Alberto Muyot, Jesus Mateo, Lorna Dino, Alain Del Pascua, Annalyn Sevilla, and Victoria Catibog; Assistant Secretaries Revsee Escobedo and Josephine Maribojoc.

It can be recalled that as of 2016, the IPEd Program has reached 16 regions, 31 cities, and 80 provinces; established mechanisms for engagement and partnership with 170 Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) in 290 communities nationwide; developed more than 500 contextualized lesson plans in collaboration with 60 ICCs located in over 200 communities nationwide; and conducted basic training on IPEd and the use of contextualized lesson plans to 2,718 schools serving IP learners.

This Corner hopes that with all of these initiatives, all IP learners and their communities shall be playing significant roles in achieving basic quality education for all across cultures and traditions. - o0O0o Director’s Cut: (This portion features the thoughts of Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte, CESO IV, Regional Director, DepED Region 11 to all stakeholders and recipients of the efforts to improve the basic education). “Let me assure you that in the performance of my official duties and even my private acts will

be guided and guarded by my Oath of Office, The Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno, the Philippine Constitution and all the laws that govern our actions.”

You can access DepED Updates, latest issuances, photos and other relevant information through our website: http:// www.deped.gov.ph and our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DepEd. Philippines/. For queries, complains and other concerns for the different schools divisions email them to davao.city@deped.gov.ph, davao.delsur@deped.gov.ph, davao.delnorte@deped.gov.ph, tagum.city@deped.gov.ph, panabo.city@deped.gov.ph, igacos@deped.gov.ph, davao.oriental@deped.gov.ph, digos.city@deped.gov.ph, mati.city@deped.gov.ph and compostela. valley@deped.gov.ph.