Briones highlights achievements, gains in education sector
Published Jul 19, 2019 08:51 pm
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Education Secretary Leonor Briones highlighted the gains in the education sector and expressed optimism that it will be able to achieve the goals that it has set in the remaining years of the current administration.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones
(DepEd / MANILA BULLETIN) Ahead of the 2019 State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 22, Briones said DepEd has been exerting efforts to ensure that gaps in education resources are addressed – among others. “We’re really focusing on access, for instance, our ALS has become wider and continues to gain support,” said Briones in an interview with Manila Bulletin. “Access is our strongest gain as well as our school building program as there is catching up that needs to be done,” she explained. Gains in Education In terms of facilities, data from DepEd showed that from July 2016 to March 2019, a total of 67,667 classrooms were built, 66, 6654 were repaired and reconstructed; and 284 Gabaldon Heritage School Buildings were restored. To address gaps in other basic education resources, DepEd said that 4, 447, 150 armchairs have been delivered; 486 635 ICT equipment were installed; 158, 850, 171 textbooks and manuals were distributed; and 20, 421 packages of Math and Science equipment were provided. Likewise, the agency noted that employment of 177, 218 teachers and feeding of 4, 526, 432 students nationwide. Under Duterte’s administration and Briones’ leadership, DepEd noted that several undertakings were also initiated such as the construction of 4, 136 Tech-Voc laboratories and workshops; delivery of 1, 396, 614 new tables and chairs; and provision of 1, 338 packages of Tech-Voc laboratory tools and equipment. DepEd also upgraded the electrical systems in 2, 191 schools. Recently, DepEd also announced its “Last Mile Schools” Program which aims to “address the gaps in resources and facilities in schools that have not yet met the allocation criteria for various education inputs.” In particular, DepEd – in the next two years – will prioritize around 8,000 “last mile schools” or those that are situated in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected (GIDCA) areas. DepEd has initially proposed some P 46. 24 billion for the introduction of the program in 2020 which will be lodged as a separate item or outside the agency’s budget. Shift to Quality In the coming years, Briones noted the shift from access to quality. “We’ve improved so much on access and now, we’re into quality because there are only three years left,” she said. “We have started this already but we’re really focusing our attention on it and we have to work harder to improve the quality of education that we deliver,” she said. Briones noted that among the challenges in the shift to quality from access is the use of books – particularly in some private schools – that are not prescribed by DepEd. “Those erroneous books that became viral, we don’t use that, the private schools use these materials,” she said. The initiatives to improve the quality of education, Briones said, are pursuant to the mandate of the Constitution. “The Constitution talks not only of access but also of quality that’s why we’re focusing more on the curriculum,” she ended.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones(DepEd / MANILA BULLETIN) Ahead of the 2019 State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 22, Briones said DepEd has been exerting efforts to ensure that gaps in education resources are addressed – among others. “We’re really focusing on access, for instance, our ALS has become wider and continues to gain support,” said Briones in an interview with Manila Bulletin. “Access is our strongest gain as well as our school building program as there is catching up that needs to be done,” she explained. Gains in Education In terms of facilities, data from DepEd showed that from July 2016 to March 2019, a total of 67,667 classrooms were built, 66, 6654 were repaired and reconstructed; and 284 Gabaldon Heritage School Buildings were restored. To address gaps in other basic education resources, DepEd said that 4, 447, 150 armchairs have been delivered; 486 635 ICT equipment were installed; 158, 850, 171 textbooks and manuals were distributed; and 20, 421 packages of Math and Science equipment were provided. Likewise, the agency noted that employment of 177, 218 teachers and feeding of 4, 526, 432 students nationwide. Under Duterte’s administration and Briones’ leadership, DepEd noted that several undertakings were also initiated such as the construction of 4, 136 Tech-Voc laboratories and workshops; delivery of 1, 396, 614 new tables and chairs; and provision of 1, 338 packages of Tech-Voc laboratory tools and equipment. DepEd also upgraded the electrical systems in 2, 191 schools. Recently, DepEd also announced its “Last Mile Schools” Program which aims to “address the gaps in resources and facilities in schools that have not yet met the allocation criteria for various education inputs.” In particular, DepEd – in the next two years – will prioritize around 8,000 “last mile schools” or those that are situated in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected (GIDCA) areas. DepEd has initially proposed some P 46. 24 billion for the introduction of the program in 2020 which will be lodged as a separate item or outside the agency’s budget. Shift to Quality In the coming years, Briones noted the shift from access to quality. “We’ve improved so much on access and now, we’re into quality because there are only three years left,” she said. “We have started this already but we’re really focusing our attention on it and we have to work harder to improve the quality of education that we deliver,” she said. Briones noted that among the challenges in the shift to quality from access is the use of books – particularly in some private schools – that are not prescribed by DepEd. “Those erroneous books that became viral, we don’t use that, the private schools use these materials,” she said. The initiatives to improve the quality of education, Briones said, are pursuant to the mandate of the Constitution. “The Constitution talks not only of access but also of quality that’s why we’re focusing more on the curriculum,” she ended.