DepEd sets up a monitoring system to address school building-related issues
(Photo courtesy of DepEd)
To address urgent issues and concerns related to school buildings, the Department of Education (DepEd) piloted a monitoring system with the help of civil society organizations (CSOs). “There is an urgent need to address the learning gaps in the basic education, studies show improved learning capacity of students being taught inside a regular classroom,” said DepEd Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III in a statement. Densing, who heads the School Infrastructure and Facilities (SIF) strand, added that if this is not addressed immediately, it will have “profound economic implications for the future of the country—affecting the quality of life, literacy rates, and the overall fabric of Filipino society.”
(Photo courtesy of DepEd)
During the ongoing Pilot Roll-Out of the School Building Program Monitoring System, DepEd also highlighted the significance of collaboration between the government and CSOs. Led by the SIF strand, DepEd convened with various CSOs to introduce the monitoring system as a “step” towards addressing pressing school building-related issues. DepEd, through the SIF, also emphasized the importance of openly communicating and sharing plans, timelines, and objectives with different members of the organizations. This, as the agency recognizes the urgent need to provide retrofitted classrooms and disaster-resilient school buildings nationwide. DepEd noted that the General Appropriations Act (GAA) provides a special provision within the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF) to “capacitate and involve” CSOs as partners of the agency to “monitor the construction of school buildings and other infrastructure projects.” The pilot program was launched in Cebu City and was attended by CSOs represented by the Parent-Teachers Association, Civil Society Network for Education Reforms (E-Net Philippines), and Cebu City Youth Development Commission. Also in attendance were the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors Inc., Supreme Student Government, Unang Hakbang Foundation Inc., Food for the Hungry Inc., World Vision, Quidan Kaisahan, and Bulacao Youth for Service and Empowerment.