Saturday, June 16, 2007 DepEd sets up center to promote IP education
KORONADAL CITY -- The Department of Education (DepEd) has opened a facility that will lead the promotion of culture-sensitive education for indigenous peoples (IP) here and the neighboring areas.
DepEd Southwestern Mindanao Director Luz Almeda said the facility, dubbed Center for Indigenous People's Education (Cipe), was established to facilitate the full implementation of the IP program, which pushes for a more holistic and culture-sensitive approach in educating the indigenous people.
She said the center, which is located at DepEd-South Cotabato compound, was established through the assistance of the Australian government-funded Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (Beam) project.
Almeda said Cipe, which is managed by DepEd-South Cotabato, houses an administration office, library, training room and a mini museum.
In a simple launching ceremony here, Almeda said the establishment of the facility will play a major role in their efforts to promote the preservation of various indigenous cultures in the region.
"This facility will be the house of love, of compassion and concern for our underprivileged tribal folks," she said.
South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes said opening of the facility is very important for the province as it would eventually help restore the "dying cultural heritage" of local tribal folks, especially of the Tiboli's.
"We are glad that we now have this center. Through our partnership with the private sector, we hope to attain substantial stride in ensuring that all tribes in the province will regain the values that are very necessary for the progress of the province," Fuentes said.
Meantime, the center will initially facilitate training on creative writing focusing on indigenous peoples’ culture for at least 15 teachers from nine pilot schools in the province later this month.
Allan Farnazo, DepEd-South Cotabato assistant superintendent, said the training will primarily emphasize the preservation of the cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples and the promotion of the curriculum.
He said it will cover poetry and short story writing, focusing on the integration of IP themes and experiences to enhance the delivery of the IP curriculum.
Farnazo said the training will be conducted by Fr. Albert E. Alejo, S.J., chair of the Mindanawon Foundation and professor at the Ateneo de Davao University.
Farnazo said the training was primarily aimed at bringing back the cultural richness of the IPs, which is now slowly dwindling.
"Most of our IP children no longer know how to perform their native songs and dances. They are now more exposed to foreign languages, cultures and learning that they could hardly understand and master," he said.
Farnazo said through the Cipe, the plight of the IPs will be given utmost attention and they would eventually receive curricula suited for them.
Aside from the training, the nine pilot schools also received P10,000 each from Beam program for the initial implementation of the IP curriculum.
The Cipe pilot schools are T'boli National High School, Koronadal National Comprehensive High School Annex-Bacongco Campus, Lake Sebu National High School, Lampitak National High School-Tampakan Annex, Lampitak Elementary School, Landan National High School in Polomolok, Lamlahak Elementary School in Lake Sebu, Lugan Central Elementary School and Engkong Elementary School. (AVE)
