ARMM conducts forum on education policy reform

A two-day Forum on Basic Education Policy Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been conducted by Creative Associates, Inc., through its Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS) program for basic education policy in Davao City.

Dubbed as “Renewal of Commitment”, the forum gathered all top educators of the ARMM in crafting educational policy changes in the region to address the pressing issues affecting the educational problems that have been confronting the Department of Education in the region.

ARMM Exec. Sec. Oscar Sampulna said that the forum was not only timely but also realistic because of the fact that ARMM consistently lags behind in terms of access to and quality of education is concerned.

He urged the participants to work together in order to come up with a concrete and doable plan of action to address these concerns.

It can be recalled that Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Puti Uy Ampatuan during his State of the Region Address emphasized that education will be one of his administration’s major thrusts and there is a need to review the present educational system and policies in order to introduce new reforms to make education more responsive and effective.

DepEd regional secretary Udtog Kawit said that education is also the highest priority of the present regional government and stressed his commitment to support the policy reform.

“We need to strengthen the foundation of our education because it is the very foundation of development,” he said.

According to Marcial Salvatiera, deputy chief of Party of Creative Associates, the education policy changes that will be introduced will focus on 3 important areas such as increase learning opportunities, strengthen capacity for teaching English, Math and Science and reintegrate out-of-school youth.

The policy forum, being the first of a series of awareness and advocacy campaign initiatives of EQuALLS, intends to build a constituency committed to education policy reforms in the region and to seek support from legislators in the Regional Assembly (RA) and other leaders particularly those in the Local Government Units (LGUs).

For his part, the chief of USAID’s office of education Thomas Kral assured the regional government of his support to this endeavor. “You have our support and commitment,” Kral said.

The 2-day forum was participated in by the region’s schools division superintendents, assistant schools division superintendents, district supervisors for English, Math and Science, Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Madrasah and key officials of the DepEd-ARMM.

Also present were the chief of Party-Creative Associates, Inc. Jon Silverstone, Philip Purnell, Training and Research Director of SEAMEO-INNOTECH, Dr. Jess Mateo of DepEd national office, Atty. Benedicto Bacani of the Institute of the Autonomy & Governance and officials of the Creative Associates. (BPI-ARMM)