DepEd-ARMM highlights key achievements, prepares for transition to Bangsamoro

ARMM Gov Hataman. Old file

DAVAO CITY: The Department of Education of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) showcased here on Monday, July 9, its major accomplishments under the administration of Gov. Mujiv Hataman as it prepares for the looming transition of ARMM to Bangsamoro.

Atty. Rasol Mitmug, Jr., ARMM’s Education secretary, said the region’s educational system is now better off compared with that of the previous administrations especially in providing quality education to children and the youth.

“We have gone a long way since Gov. Mujiv Hataman assumed office,” said Sec. Mitmug adding the DepEd-ARMM has improved by leaps and bounds since it implemented its education reform agenda.

It can be recalled that ARMM was once mired by issues such as ghost schools and students, poor quality and unfinished classrooms, delayed salaries, and unremitted premiums of teachers to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

“We’re happy to note that all these issues were addressed as early as 2014,” Sec. Mitmug said. He added the DepEd-ARMM beefed up its data collection and management systems to eliminate ghost schools and students, develop plans that are evidence-based, and aid in decision-making.

“We paid the salaries of our teachers on time and resolved their P1.9 billion unpaid GSIS premiums to keep them motivated to teach,” he said. DepEd-ARMM also trained its school heads in classroom construction management.

“Unlike in the old days, our school heads would now check every corner of newly-constructed classrooms to look for discrepancies before they sign handover papers,” he said. The regional DepEd Secretary noted that while students in ARMM continue to lag behind in the National Achievement Test results, the department has put in place systems and mechanisms that will strengthen educators’ professional development.

These include teachers’ training, implementation of Learning Action Cell, efforts to contextualize the curriculum, and the provision of learning materials to both teachers and students. “Results of these initiatives will be evident in the medium term,” he said.

Sec. Mitmug is confident that the Bangsamoro government can build on the gains of ARMM’s education reform agenda. “We are happy to facilitate the smooth transition of DepEd-ARMM to an Education ministry under the anticipated Bangsamoro government,” he said. - Bureau of Public Information