ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE NATIONAL LEARNING RECOVERY PROGRAM

BERNADETTE R. TORRES

The Department of Education (DepEd) said realigning the disapproved confidential fund with its National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP) will be “very useful” for learners.

According to the DepEd, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte requested for the realignment of the funds amounting to PHP150 million instead of providing additional fund for the agency's Government Assistance for Private Education (GASTPE) program.

Realigning the confidential funds with the Department’s NLRP bring more impact to learners considering that we are still recovering from our learning loss not only during the pandemic but even the losses prior to the pandemic, the agency said.

The Education Secretary assured that even without the confidential fund, DepEd will try its best to eliminate threats to the learning environment and work for the safety and security of its personnel.

The threats, which need surveillance and intelligence gathering, may include sexual abuse and all other forms of violence; graft and corruption; involvement in illegal drugs of learners and personnel; recruitment for insurgency, terrorism, and violent extremism; child labor; child pornography; and recruitment for criminal activities, gangsterism, and financial and other scams, according to DepEd.

Meanwhile, officials urged teachers to be more vigilant on the possible recruitment of insurgents from among the basic education learners.

The DepEd will continue to improve the basic education's literacy levels, including the implementation of programs focusing on the well-being of learners to protect them against external threats that would be detrimental to their development, not only as students, but as citizens of the country.

The Department still has internal programs in the Department. It has included in the curriculum peace education to develop the appreciation of learners for peace and especially on being patriotic and nationalistic.

-oOoTHE AUTHOR IS A TEACHER I AT CAMBA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL