The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Wednesday, Nov. 20, that it met with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to request assistance in supporting Sulu's transition through joint learning interventions.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara met with UNICEF on Nov. 13 to ensure the smooth transition of Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) back to DepEd supervision, following the Supreme Court's ruling that the province is no longer part of BARMM.
Joint education interventions, efforts
DepEd, in a statement, said that the two agencies collaborated to discuss joint educational interventions and align their efforts with DepEd's strategic initiatives, including the Five-Point Agenda and the Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) 2030. These plans prioritize enhancing early childhood education, strengthening foundational academic skills, and supporting out-of-school youth.
Angara also urged UNICEF to implement new technologies and digital solutions in schools and field offices, particularly focusing on teacher assessments and data-driven analytics.
In light of the recent typhoons that affected the country, UNICEF highlighted the need to map schools' connectivity through the Giga initiative to identify which schools in the Philippines lack internet access.
UNICEF emphasized that connectivity is crucial for DepEd to maintain learning continuity during calamities and emergencies.