The Navotas City government said on Saturday, Sept. 23, that it received its fourth Seal of Good Education Governance (SGEG) award from the Synergeia Foundation for its initiatives to provide quality education for the youth in the city.

The SGEG award was given to the city government during the 2023 Washington Sycip National Education Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Sept. 21 to 22.
 

According to the local government, the SGEG is awarded to local governments that have reinvented the local school board, involved the community in helping children to learn well, launched initiatives that significantly decreased the number of non-readers and frustrated readers in their cities, as well as finances programs that enhance learning performance, particularly reading competencies.

The award was received by Navotas Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Meliton Zurbano, along with school officials, and representatives from the Navotas local government.

Navotas City Mayor John Reynald “John Rey” Tiangco thanked all the city’s education partners and stakeholders for their support in ensuring that the Navoteno students receive the best quality of education amid different difficulties or challenges.

"Let us always ensure that young Navoteños are equipped with the right knowledge, skills, and values to help them reach their full potential, achieve success, and become upstanding members of society,” he added.

Among the education projects of the local government were scholarship grants for students who excel in academics, sports, and arts, the distribution of digital learning devices and materials to both students and teachers, an education summit, research conferences, and capacity-building activities for educators and parents.

The city government also said that it continues to implement the Project Teach-a-Learning Child (TLC) wherein volunteers help learners cope with their lessons and catch up on academic tasks.

Over 400 teacher-volunteers have assisted hundreds of learners in completing their basic education and ensuring high functional literacy rates in Navotas since 2020, it added.

It also said School Governing Councils are actively involved in the implementation of education programs for the development of the youth in the city.

The local government said that barangays also help ensure the safety of school children and provide funding assistance for the Alternative Learning System program.

Meanwhile, the city government also coordinated with the business community for different education projects such as providing handwashing facilities, vitamins, and medical checkups for learners.

It said that tricycle drivers in the city volunteered to deliver learners' modules and other educational resources placed in NavoSchool-in-a-Box for free during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Indeed, it takes a village to raise a child. That is why we see to it that everyone in the community is involved in our efforts to get more of our children in school and complete their education," Tiangco said.

Synergeia Foundation works with policy-makers, national and local government units, agencies, communities, and private sector partners for initiatives aimed at transforming leaders, institutions, and communities as sustainable partners toward bringing governance and education together, and improving the quality of learning for children in the country (according to synergeia.org.ph).