THE lack of books and reference materials for the Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) specialized subjects will become a thing of the past, as the Department of Education (DepEd)-Leyte Division launched its first instructional manuals for TLE teachers on June 20.
"In the previous years, the implementation of TLE program was not given so much focus, but with keen observation, passion, and determination to change its face, our Education Program Supervisor in-charge of TLE, Dr. Gil Esplanada Jr., with the curriculum writers started the journey and momentarily have its stop station today," said Ronelo Al K. Firmo, the Leyte schools division superintendent.
"This indeed is a wonderful station. A big leap in the curriculum implementation and management," added Firmo, as he congratulated Esplanada and his 24 TLE curriculum writer-teachers during the unveiling of the instructional manuals together with Dr. Alejandrito L. Yman, chief of the Curriculum and Learning Management Division of DepEd-Eastern Visayas, and other education program supervisors and visitors.
Marilyn B. Siao, assistant schools division superintendent, called the new TLE manuals as an "amazing breakthrough" of the division's banner project Seedling or Strategic Empowerment of Educators in the Delivery of Learning Instruction and Needs-Based Governance.
She said the Leyte Division's Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) through its chief, Felicidad T. Espinosa, "is boarding the realm of creativity and innovation, pushing beyond the limits, thinking up new things and doing new things."
"I am happy to unveil one of the great new things that CID is working on along the mandate, ensuring full implementation of the articulated K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum," she added.
According to Siao, the launching of TLE instructional manuals is also anchored on the competency guide, teaching guide and the learning materials in TLE, complemented with the materials coming from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), its partner agency.
She said the most significant thing about the new manuals is that it is being "fortified with the rich experiences of our 24 curriculum writers who are experts of the TLE strands and specializations."
On his part, Yman lauded the Leyte Division, saying the launching of the TLE manuals "is now in congruence with the international standards for operations applied by DepEd Regional Office for certification."
One of the targets in that standard is to contextualize learning materials, Yman said.
"While I was part of the people unveiling (the manuals), I was looking at the bright exercise in teaching-learning activities in the classroom. For all you know, curriculum guides remain to be a document without the learning materials. Our clients at the DepEd are our learners. They are customers," said Yman, as he likened the curriculum the Deped is offering to commercial products on sale.
"Our learners are choosing what kind of products are they going to buy to shape up their personalities in the future," he said.
Yman also challenged the Leyte division to continue the development of its learning materials to further suit the needs of the learners.
Meanwhile, Esplanada thanked the support of his fellow division officials and the curriculum writers for their efforts and sacrifices, saying their next step will be on the "utilization of the manuals," which happened to be his "application project" in the recently-conducted training on "Instructional Leadership Program for Division and District Supervisors, Module I and II."
"These 24 manuals will be submitted to the Learning Resources Management and Development System office for quality assurance," said Esplanada, adding that the manuals underwent a series of editing procedures by TLE experts.
"Before they can use the manual, they will be oriented first on its features and the critical points for proper usage," Esplanada said.
He, however, said that usage of the manuals is not compulsory or mandatory.
"This manual will serve as a guide," he said.
Also, Espinosa expressed her elation over the project launching, saying that "at least, we already have the manuals where we have samples of a contextualized learning resource."
During the event, the TLE coordinators also introduced their newly-designed logo and slogan.
The TLE curriculum writers are Dyna A. Abala (Landscape Installation and Maintenance NC II), Elmer O. Florendo (Animal Production NC II), Alex B. Urmeneta (Aquaculture NC II), Marilyn E. Macasil (Crop Production NC II), Ma. Mivelyn A. Velarde (Food Processing NC II), Dennis A. Badato (Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II), Oliver C. Cayosa (Carpentry NC II), Rosemarie M. Cabero (Plumbing NC II), Ruperto N. Agnes Jr. (Domestic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Services NC II), Jonathan T. Quintano (Electronic Products Assembly and Servicing NC II), Noel P. Del Pilar (Automotive Servicing NC II), Florante Villanueva (Electrical Installation Maintenance and Servicing NC II), Rosendo M. Laurente (Masonry NC II), Jessie Z. Sinday (Dressmaking NC II), Melchor O. Marin (Handicraft NC II), Annabelle R. Abejar (Beauty Care NC II), Fritzie Pastor (Caregiving NC II), Joselita L. Retaga (Front Office Services NC II), Diosalyn A. Rocabo (Household Services NC II), Rosario N. Comora (Cookery NC II ), Katherine P. Arceno (Contact Center Services NC II), Nino Charles G. Advincula (Illustration NC II), Romeo A. Dela Pena (Technical Drafting NC II), and Von E. Alvarez (Computer System Servicing NC II). (SunStar Philippines)