Dep Ed, NGOs give ARMM education a boost

DepEd-ARMM secretary Mitmug stresses a point during the meeting with DepEd central office representative. BPI-ARMM

DAVAO CITY: The Department of Education (DepEd) central office and its partner non-government organizations vowed to work together to further improve the quality of education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Education Assistant Secretary G.H Ambat said the department’s national office will work together with the people of ARMM to achieve its goal in terms of education.

"I am happy that we're here to discuss not any crisis in the region but the development of education in the ARMM. Pareho tayong mga Pilipino na ang pangarap ay magkaroon ng maayos na pamumuhay at makakamit natin ito sa pamamagitan ng maayos na edukasyon," Ambat said.

Crisanto Cayon, emergency specialist of UNICEF, said that for years they have seen how the ARMM has been coping in meeting the national standards for education.

"The ARMM really improved in the education sector. Its attempt in hiring qualified teachers, empowering teachers and supporting them in their quest to provide quality learning opportunities for learners are highly commendable," Cayon said.

To date, the ARMM has 25,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel catering the region’s 861,628 students in 2,670 elementary and secondary schools.

The UNICEF, he said, is satisfied seeing that the ARMM create a healthy, safe and protective environment for the learners, as well as in encouraging children to get into the school through its feeding program.

Lawyer Rasol Mitmug Jr., DepEd-ARMM secretary, said their partner NGOs have a big role in improving the quality of education and in strengthening the delivery of education services in the region.

"Bringing all the stakeholders makes the improvement in education sustainable," he said.

"We are happy that many organizations show willingness to support and help the ARMM in terms of improving the education for the future of the Bangsamoro children," Mitmug added.

Ambat said the DepEd central office “will surely focus on the needs of the people of ARMM.

“And I'm confident that the ARMM will definitely prosper and will catch up,” she said. She added that she was glad that the ARMM and its partner organizations and agencies were working and contributing a lot for the betterment of education in the region.

She also assured that the department will continue its drive to bring out-of-school youth back to learning.

Meanwhile, a total of 125,004 children and youth affected by last year's conflict in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur will benefit the ARMM's Back to School and Stay in School program launched here on Monday. This is to ensure learners are able to go back to school or access learning through the provision of basic education services, skills training, and peacebuilding.

"This is part of the ARMM government's response for conflict-affected individuals in Marawi and Lanao del Sur," Mitmug said.

Another program launched was the Responsive Innovation Fund (RIF), a key feature of the DepEd-ARMM’s Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways), a program funded by the Australian Government. It is aimed at providing opportunities for all education stakeholders to contribute in the delivery of quality education in the ARMM.

Mitmug said the grant ranges from P500,000 to P4 million, adding that the department welcomes proposals from parents, teachers and local government units in ARMM as well as from civil society organizations, local, and international development organizations.

Projects funded by RIF will run for six months to one year.

Applicants may visit www.pathways.ph/rif to know more of the program and to download the application form.

Applications can be sent through rif@pathways.ph or to the Pathways Program Management Office located at DepEd-ARMM, ORG Compound in Cotabato City. (Bureau of Public Information)