USAID, Dep-Ed to expand educ access for OSYs, students in conflict-affected areas

The Department of Education and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed the bilateral agreement for Basic Education Programs aiming to increase access to quality education for vulnerable populations such as out-of-school youth (OSY) and students in conflict-affected areas.

Education Secretary Brother Armin Luistro FSC said that through this partnership, the Department will be able to open opportunities not only for students with special needs and pre-primary students but also to OSYs and students who reside in conflictaffected areas. He added, "Our mandate is to provide every Filipino child with access to quality education."

DepEd Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Alberto Muyot said, "Education is the primary driver of development." He added that education should be inclusive and should serve everyone, "especially the least, the lost, and the last."

US Embassy deputy chief of mission Brian Goldbeck said, "This bilateral education agreement will sustain and reinvigorate our combined efforts to ensure that the Philippines continues its rise as regional and global leader in this new century."

"Education is a shared responsibility," Muyot said. He urged the public to take a stand in education and take an active part in shaping the future that every Filipino learner deserves.

Under the agreement, DepEd and USAID will provide life skills training to youth, promote community engagement and peace education, increase capacity of teachers and youth leaders to meet the education needs of youth and vulnerable population through alternative learning areas affected by crisis and conflict.

The partnership intends to strengthen education governance at both national and local levels. It also aims to empower the local government units, communities, and stakeholders to deliver education and training service for OSYs and to increase OSY employability by providing equitable access to relevant education and skills training.

The program also aims to improve learning outcomes in reading, science and mathematics instruction, diagnostics, and teaching and learning materials.

STEM-ROBOTICS AT STC . Saint Theresa's College, Cebu offers STEMRobotics After-School Program to grade school and high school students. These hands-on learning experiences are designed to sharpen students' knowledge on the fundamental concepts of...