The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday assured that it will continue to prioritize the delivery of quality education to the Filipino students as it continues to address the challenges in the basic education sector.

In celebration of the 2020 International Day of Education (IDE), DepEd conducted a virtual forum to feature efforts and initiatives of various education stakeholders amid the pandemic.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that DepEd remains “faithful to the expectations, to the requirements of what education should be in a country like the Philippines.”

Despite the problems brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Briones said that “education continued even as face to face teaching and class sessions were not allowed.”

This school year, DepEd is implementing distance learning approach using multiple learning delivery modalities. “And now we are strengthening the technologies side of education so that we not only cut down on costs but also become much more efficient in keeping in touch, in keeping abreast with all the development,” she added.

Meanwhile, Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan acknowledged the challenges in education quality amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “While we have succeeded in achieving great strides in making basic education accessible to our children and youth, as shown by our participation rates, quality has lagged behind,” he said.

Despite this, Malaluan assured that DepEd remains steadfast in its commitment to provide quality education for all. As such, the agency continues to conduct various activities under the “Sulong Edukalidad” initiative as DepEd’s measure to “improve education quality in the country.”

Led by the DepEd-International Cooperation Office, the event also highlighted inspiring stories of teachers and students who excelled internationally.