A RESPONSIVE BASIC EDUCATION

CARMELA E. ESTANISLAO

The Department of Education has commitment to delivering quality, relevant, inclusive, and responsive basic education. This is further strengthened by the present administration’s Eight-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and the MATATAG Education Agenda to produce competent, job-ready, active, and responsible citizens, equipped with essential competencies and skills for lifelong learning. The Department’s current initiatives provide opportunities to enhance learners’ academic performance, particularly the low proficiency levels in reading based on national and international large-scale assessments. These assessment results necessitate prompt attention to address learning gaps and strengthen the reading proficiency of every learner. To bolster the basic education priorities articulated in the MATATAG Agenda and accelerate the achievement of education targets as stipulated in DepEd Order (DO) No. 013, s. 2023 titled Adoption of the National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP), there is a need to intensify Values, Health, and Peace Education. Values Education remains a priority in compliance with Republic Act (RA) No. 11476, Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education Act, which recognizes the vital role of the youth in nationbuilding. Meanwhile, the urgency for Peace Education is a prompt response to the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) results which reveal that bullying remains a pervasive problem in public schools. It was also borne out of the need for Filipino learners as global citizens to acquire and strengthen peace competencies, allowing them to become peace builders and advocates in their respective communities, while Health Education demands stronger advocacy to ensure the overall health and well-being of learners.