To strengthen its commitment to uphold a culture of peace, and the call for safer and conflict-free schools and learning institutions, the Department of Education (DepEd) has established its national peace framework through the Balangkas ng Nagkakaisang Sambayanan (BANSA).
“DepEd is fully committed to ensuring the protection of learners and schools in conflict-affected areas and the continuity of education during periods of armed conflict,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said in a statement issued Monday, April 25.
“We also want to guarantee that the right of all citizens to quality and accessible education at all levels and for the right of children is protected,” she added.
Based on the DepEd Order No. 16, series of 2022, DepEd will actively participate in keeping the peace and order amid conflicts in the country through initiatives and projects in delivering quality and inclusive basic education under the K to 12 program.
DepEd’s peace framework also highlighted the agency's need to uphold children's rights in basic education, promote their welfare, and enhance their opportunities to grow and live.
The BANSA outline, DepEd said, shall also be guided by good governance, transparency, culture and conflict-sensitive, and empowerment, and has identified Access to Quality Education, Equity Responsive Initiatives, and Character Formation as the most effective strategies for the initiative.
Likewise, DepEd also expressed its commitment to proactively partake in inter-agency meetings and engagements to amplify the importance of education and the safety of the learners and teachers amid localized or national disputes.
DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua explained that the agency’s officials and personnel are also enjoined to adopt the peace framework.
“BANSA will serve as DepEd's Peace Framework in line with the government's thrust of inclusive and sustainable peace through the whole-of-nation approach in achieving good governance,” he added.
DepEd noted that some of the provisions from the recently released order were also in line with the National Policy Framework on Learners and Schools as Zones of Peace (DepEd Order No. 32, s. 2019). To oversee the agency’s participation in peace-building initiatives, the DepEd Central Office BANSA Peace Core Team will also be established.
This will be composed of representatives from the Offices of the Undersecretary for Administration and Curriculum and Instruction, and the Alternative Learning System Task Force.
The Core Team will also be joined by the Indigenous Peoples Education Office, Planning Service, Public Affairs Service, Legal Service, Information and Communications Technology Service, Bureau of Learner Support Services, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service.