The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, July 16, signed five separate Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with education partners to collaborate on curriculum programs focused on health, reading, and learning sustainability.
Through its External Partnerships Service (EPS), DepEd has signed deals with Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, Inc., Quipper Ltd., OMNIPAY, Inc., and World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. to enhance support for basic education.
“Education is a shared responsibility,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said during the ceremonial signing. She also lauded the organizations for supporting the DepEd in its initiatives and advocacies in basic education amidst the global public health emergency.
During these trying times, Briones underscored the importance of getting “everybody’s help.” She also noted that even the countries that are considered advanced based on worldwide and global assessments acknowledge that they need help coming from the “private sector and they get what they have to offer, what the advances are.”
DepEd said that the pledges from the organizations include the provision of learning resources on the importance of mental health, oral hygiene kits, education materials, and reading enrichment and remediation programs.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and Project Management Service Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq. Also stressed the importance of these partnerships.
External Partnerships Service Director Edel Carag, on the other hand, also expressed gratitude to the various assistance, which will greatly contribute to the implementation of the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).
“Through the signing of MOA today, we have taken a huge step in achieving the goal of the Department, as well as in your perspective advocacies,”Carag said.
“We are assuring you of our continuous support in whatever capacity that we can as long as it is within the bounds of the law. Support and assistance end here in the MOA signing,” she added.