By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Recognizing the need for both teachers and learners to be able to adapt to changes in their environment, Education Secretary Leonor Briones highlighted anew the importance of instilling 21st century competencies in learners.
Leonor Briones (MB PHOTO/FEDERICO CRUZ / MANILA BULLETIN)
“The challenge for us now is to go beyond the robots that we are building,” said Briones during the recent program of the provincial government of Batangas held at the Inosloban-Marawoy National High School in Lipa City. “We need to build robots which will make life easier, will make our homes more livable, and will eliminate the opportunities for corruption in government,” she added.
Briones also mentioned the challenge in this fast-paced modern world. “So we move from toys to practical solution to everyday problems,” she said. “And I know that we, Filipinos, are perfectly capable of doing that with the help of various agencies,” she added.
Partners for education
Briones also expressed her gratitude to the partners of the Department of Education (DepEd) who help uplift the quality of education in the country through various programs and projects. One such partner is the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The DOST implements the 21st Century Learning Environment Model (CLEM) Classroom, a pilot project that aims to support the DepEd’s K-to-12 curriculum through a modern avenue that creates learning practices, human support, and physical environment to facilitate the development of the 21st century skills of teachers and learners.
The other schools in Lipa City currently equipped with a 21st CLEM classroom are Lipa City National Science High School, Bolbok National High School, Pinagtongulan National High School, and San Celestino National High School. Each school has received 26 laptops, one interactive projector and smartboard, one 3D printer, one wireless ink-tank system printer, one smart television, one visualizer/ document camera, and wireless connectivity.
Briones further underscored the vital role of other government and non-government organizations, and the community in providing a quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating basic education for all.
Apart from Briones, also present at the event were DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua and Region IV-A Director Diosdado San Antonio, DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr., DOST Undersecretary Brenda Nazareth Manzano, Batangas 6th District Representative Vilma Santos-Recto, Lipa City Vice Mayor Eric Africa, National Electrification Administration representatives, and other national and local officials.
“Ang edukasyon ay hindi lamang pananagutan ng DepEd, ito ay pananagutan ng lahat ng Pilipino, ng lahat ng departamento, at ng community (Education is not just the responsibility of DepEd, it is a responsibilitt of all Filipinos, departments and the community),” Briones said. “Kasi kung wala ang kanilang tulong ay hindi matutupad ang pangako natin para sa edukasyon (Without their help, we cannot fulfill our promise for education),” she ended.