DIGITAL LEARNING ASSISTANCE. Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones pointed out the combined effort of local government units (LGUs) and external partners in supporting DepEd to provide digital learning assistance this school year.
As of this writing, over 475 partner local government units (LGUs), as well as several non-government organizations (NGOs), and external partners partnered with School Division Offices (SDOs) to provide learning materials to learners, parents, and guardians, and teachers and personnel.
The Secretary also shared that the Department and partners have been distributing distance learning equipment for teachers since last year to ensure that distance learning would be possible amid the health and safety crisis.
In a report sent by the Regional offices, around 1,202 donation activities of LGUs or external partners have been conducted, consisting of printing supplies, electronic gadgets, and items concerning the implementation of safety and health protocols in the region.
CULTURE OF PEACE STRENGTHENED. DepEd continues building a culture of peace and resilience in conflict-affected and vulnerable communities, to ensure learning continuity and to protect the learners and personnel’s rights, welfare, and neutrality during armed conflict situations right after the resumption of school year 2020-2021 this January.
The program is spearheaded by DepEd and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) in partnership with Unicef Philippines and the Documentation of Good Practices on Schools and Communities in Armed Conflict Situations. It was developed to showcase selected case studies of notable peace-building practices and initiatives on establishing and maintaining learners and schools as zones of peace.
According to Secretary Briones, the practices are reflective of the three building blocks of DepEd Order No. 32, s. 2019 or the National Policy Framework on Learners and Schools as Zones of Peace or LSZOP, namely (1) Education for Peace, (2) Peace for Education, and (3) Crisis Management through Education in Emergencies (EiE).
UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said that they hope that this study contributes to making our schools safer, more secure, and child friendly. Educators, community members, parents, and students can work together towards a better world where all people live safely and free from fear.
GOOD NUTRITION IN EDUCATION. DepEd currently inked a partnership with Nestlé Philippines, Inc. (NPI) to further promote a healthy lifestyle among Filipino children in a virtual Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony last January 13.
Secretary Briones emphasized in her speech that health and education are closely related pinpointing DepEd’s joint programs with the Department of Health (DOH) on child nutrition and health.
Briones pointed out that an unhealthy child cannot learn as much one who is healthy, well-fed, and given nutritionally sufficient assistance, especially for those who cannot afford the expense of maintaining healthy children thus she said DepEd is very grateful for Nestlé Philippines for its long years of partnership and help.
It can be noted that the said partnership has paved way for NPI’s advocacies in education which are the (1) Nestlé Wellness Campus Program; (2) Milo Home Court Program; and (3) Laki sa Tibay Program which includes the printing and distribution of Tibay Learning Modules and DepEd Learning Kits, and the inclusion of product samples in DepEd’s learning packets.