Innovative strategies to achieve universal basic education

To reinforce the government’s efforts in reaching all learners and achieving universal basic education, the Department of Education (DepEd) is pressing the need to innovate learning interventions and reforms.

The Department has innovative approaches in engaging the support of stakeholders outside state and multilateral organizations, especially in attaining Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4 to ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

In addition to utilizing conventional methods of financing, DepEd establishes partnerships at the national, local, and school levels to enable more learners have access to free, quality, equitable, and inclusive education.

One financing innovation at the national level is the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), which allows for the fast-tracking of classroom construction and delivery while enabling the public sector to focus on delivering other critical functions and services. Its beneficiaries include schools in Region 3.

Another innovative government program that gives stakeholders the opportunity to become proactive partners in education is the Adopt-a-School Program. It is a fund mobilization method based on the concept of matching grant involving the private sector and non-government organizations (NGOs). The costs on human resources, materials, and facilities acquisition and development are shifted to various stakeholders who have a natural interest in the promotion of basic education.

The Department also engages the personal participation of education partners through Brigada Eskwela, wherein an army of volunteers assemble to repair and prepare classrooms in time for the opening of classes. The venture provides private partners the chance to contribute resources, while local government units (LGUs) and community members provide workforce and volunteer services during the week-long activity.

Local government units (LGUs) also provide supplementary funding support to public basic education through the Special Education Fund (SEF), a sustainable source of financial resources designated to the basic education subsector.

At the school level, the Department also implements Normative School Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE). This program allows for the allocation of funds to elementary and secondary DepEd schools that need to comply with service standards in implementing the approved regular curriculum for K to 6 and Grades 7 to 10. Special programs and activities that have been incorporated in the School MOOE beginning 2016 include special curricular programs in Science, Sports, Arts, and Special Education; DepEd internet connectivity program; schools-based management (SBM) grants; and Gulayan sa Paaralan.

--oOo— The author is Teacher II at Bebe Matua Elementary School, Masantol South District, Pampanga.