DepEd opens application for Senior High School teachers

The Department of Education (DepEd) calls on interested teachers, professionals, practitioners, and experts to apply for full-time and part-time teaching positions for Grades 11 and 12 for the School Year (SY) 2016-2017.

Applicants must be interested in teaching the core curriculum and/or applied and specialized subjects under the four Senior High School (SHS) tracks. 

DepEd showcases conservation of heritage schools

The Department of Education (DepEd) continues its efforts in the conservation of the Gabaldon and heritage school buildings recognizing its significant part in the history of Philippine education. 

DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said that the conservation of the heritage schools is important in bringing consciousness and awareness on the rich culture of the country, saying, “Education is about connecting with the stories of the past. Education is about passing on the core values and knowledge of the past.”

DepEd celebrates teachers as living heroes, culminates World Teachers’ Day

Recognizing the vital contribution of Filipino teachers in institutionalizing educational reforms in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) and its partners celebrated this year’s World Teachers’ Day (WTD) at Araullo University in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija on October 5. 

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC emphasized the great responsibility of every teacher in preparing the Filipino youth to be better equipped for the world. He said, “If all the teachers in the country start to move as one, we will start the biggest revolution in education.”

“The revolution in education is a revolution that will change the country and bring about all of the dreams and hopes of our young people... If you want to transform our country, we need living heroes,” he added.

“I will give my life for children”—Luistro

“I can say with all sincerity: I will give my life for children.”

This is what Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said when he was asked if the Department of Education (DepEd) can protect the students from armed conflicts during the deliberation of the 2016 proposed budget for the Department of Education at the House of Representatives.

Luistro said, “Without any second thoughts, a teacher's first move is to protect children.” The education chief reiterated that all schools are zones of peace, adding that education and children should not be casualties in any conflict nor be subjected to any form of violence.

DepEd sets out career guidance campaign and early registration guidelines for incoming SHS students

The Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out a Career Guidance Program (CGP) for incoming Senior High School (SHS) students to guide them on their career path in time for the National Early Registration Day for Grade 10 completers in October.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the CGP will assist Grade 10 students make informed choices regarding their preferred SHS track. “We want our students to be aware of the importance of choosing a track that suits their interest while at the same time matches the available resources as well as job opportunities that await them,” he added.

DepEd sets out career guidance campaign and early registration guidelines for incoming SHS students

The Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out a Career Guidance Program (CGP) for incoming Senior High School (SHS) students to guide them on their career path in time for the National Early Registration Day for Grade 10 completers in October.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the CGP will assist Grade 10 students make informed choices regarding their preferred SHS track. “We want our students to be aware of the importance of choosing a track that suits their interest while at the same time matches the available resources as well as job opportunities that await them,” he added.

Statement on the passing of DepEd Undersecretary Francis Varela

The Department of Education (DepEd) deeply mourns the loss of one of its greatest officials in the person of Francis M. Varela, Undersecretary for Finance and Administration. 

Usec. Varela has been very instrumental in forging ahead education reforms particularly in ensuring that every cent in the education budget is spent judiciously.  He was a staunch advocate of anti-corruption efforts in the Department and played a very important role in instituting reforms to ensure that ethical standards are observed in all transactions involving the agency.

A highly principled man, a sharp mind, a willingness to make tough decisions, and the compassion for the Filipino learner were all hallmarks of Usec. Varela's five years in DepEd. 

We are one with his family in this difficult time and one with the nation in mourning the loss of an extraordinary public servant.

DepEd Region I conducts career guidance for incoming SHS students in 2016

To further strengthen the goal of K to 12 Program in producing graduates equipped with skills that will prepared them for higher education, employment and entrepreneurship, the Department of Education (DepEd) Region I and Grade 10 students of Pangasinan participated in the 2015 Regional Career Guidance Info Blitz held recently.

DepEd Region I Education Program Supervisor (EPS) of the Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD) Dr. Arlene A. Niro highlighted the benefits of the K to 12 program in the pursuit of career advancement and opportunities, saying that the K to12 Basic Education Curriculum “will be sufficient to prepare students for work and slowly erase the common thinking that college is the only route for success and gainful employment.”

DepEd boosts capacity for its last mile efforts

The Department of Education (DepEd) is conducting a series of workshops for its regional and division coordinators for the Adopt-A-School Program (ASP) to strengthen the capacity of its field offices for building partnerships and linkages with educational stakeholders from different sectors for the Department’s Senior High School and other last mile efforts.

The workshop aims to orient newly-designated ASP coordinators on their roles and responsibilities, strengthen coordination, and reinforce guidelines concerning the said program. Standardization among ASP-related processes from project preparation to implementation and monitoring was also emphasized. 

DepEd issues IPEd Curriculum Framework

In recognition of the right of indigenous peoples to culturally rooted and responsive basic education, the Department of Education (DepEd) adopted the Indigenous Peoples Education Curriculum Framework (DepEd Order No. 32, s. 2015) which aims to provide guidance to schools and other education programs as they engage with indigenous communities in contextualizing the K to 12 Curriculum based on their respective educational and social contexts.

The said framework is a fruit of a series of consultations with community elders, leaders and implementers of community-based Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) initiatives. As a major milestone in the enhancement of the IPEd Program, it will benefit more than 1.19-million IP learners enrolled in public schools, as well learners enrolled in community and civil society organization-run schools. In line with this, DepEd has started a training program for teachers and school heads in schools serving indigenous communities.

DepEd statement on the occasion of World Indigenous Peoples’ Day

The Department of Education is one with the indigenous peoples and the rest of the nation in celebrating the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9, 2015.

DepEd remains steadfast in its commitment to provide access to an inclusive and culture-based education to every indigenous learner in the country through continued efforts in enhancing the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) Program and strengthening the capacity of our public schools and learning programs to deliver such services.

DepEd, educ stakeholders team up for K to 12 full implementation in QC

The local government of Quezon City and education stakeholders from different sectors gathered together for the Senior High School (SHS) summit on the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) track with Information Technology (IT) as the focus industry yesterday.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro FSC lauded the efforts of the city to ensure that the TVL curriculum is both aligned with students’ interests and contextualized to satisfy employment demands within the vicinity.

DepEd Statement on Teacher Hiring

In response to Senator Ralph Recto’s conclusions on the Department of Education’s (DepEd) teacher hiring as carried by the Manila Bulletin last July 19, 2015, DepEd stresses that we have adjusted and improved the qualifications in hiring teachers in public schools to ensure the quality of education in the country. In the last four years, DepEd was able to fast track its hiring process: with an average of three months (May to July) hiring period now compared to an average of 14 months before. With over 128,000 teachers hired from 2010 to 2014, records show that DepEd has an average of 95% filling up rate in the past five years.

DepEd: 2015 budget not discretionary

The Department of Education (DepEd) has been cited by former Senator Panfilo Lacson as one of the agencies with the highest lumpsum or discretionary budgets under the 2015 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

While the Honorable Senator did not enumerate the details of the PhP80.7 billion lumpsum budget attributed to DepEd, he may have been referring to aggregate amounts that are not discretionary in nature, but are intended for specific expenditures. Such funds include the construction of classrooms for the Senior High School (SHS) program, school repairs and other infrastructure needs (PhP36.9 billion), the budget for salaries of new teachers to be hired and other personnel requirements of the Department (PhP25.6 billion), the conduct of a school based feeding program for undernourished children (PhP2.4 billion), and the training of teachers on the enhanced K to 12 curriculum (PhP2.0 billion).

DepEd Statement on Make-up classes

In light of the recent class suspensions due to Typhoons Egay and Falcon, the Department of Education (DepEd) would like to reiterate DepEd Order no. 9, s. 2015 which states the protocols on the make-up classes stating, “Make-up classes can therefore be conducted to compensate for the school days spent for activities deemed beneficial to the learning-teaching process. Likewise, make-up classes are recommended in lieu of no-school days due to occurrence of natural and man-made calamities. A mechanism for having make-up classes must be agreed upon by school administrators and parents. In this regard, the regional office may issue a regional school calendar to reflect their respective concerns.

DepEd urges family engagement in disaster preparedness

In its continuing efforts to ensure safety and readiness of learners and teachers, the Department of Education (DepEd) in partnership with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) held a joint workshop on earthquake preparedness, highlighting the importance of school preparedness and family involvement in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) efforts. 

K to 12 Program Wins Support From LGUs, Parents, Teachers

Support from the local government units (LGUs) and General Parents-Teachers Associations (GPTAs) continues to pour out as the Department of Education (DepEd) gears up for the full implementation of the K to 12 Program.

“The K to 12 Program will remove the disadvantages for our graduates and professionals who compete in the global market.  In connection, K to 12 opens the door  for the recognition of our graduates and professionals under the European Standard known as the Bologna Process and the Washington Accord for the United States,” said John Marvin Nieto, Acting Presiding Officer of the City Council of Manila, in a statement.

Industry partners back full implementation of K to 12

In pursuit of updating the industry partners on the updates of the current education reform, Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC shared the triumphs of K to 12 in a gathering of education partners and stakeholders held recently in Cebu.

Luistro presented the current situation of the K to 12 roll-out, the decrease of out-of-school children and the department’s update on the basic inputs -- learner materials, school seats, teacher hiring, classroom construction, among others. He also explained the Senior High School (SHS) Program and the vital role of the industry partners in the implementation of SHS.

Dominica Chua from Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. emphasized the support they will provide for DepEd’s ongoing campaign. Chua mentioned that 60% of their budget is dedicated to education. “We are your biggest fan,” she added. Most notable of their education efforts are the more than 600 classrooms for public high school lined-up for next year.

K to 12 key to social economic development - Salceda

Albay Governor Joey Salceda expressed his full support to the government’s K to 12 program amidst calls for the Supreme Court to declare the program unconstitutional.

Salceda said it is necessary to add 2 years to the current basic education program to give Filipino graduates a chance to compete in the international labor market.

“Number one talaga para sa kabutihan ng ating mga graduates kasi kung kulang din naman talo sila sa international labor market so hindi sila napo-promote. Sa dami naman ng graduates natin taun-taon na umaabot ng 450,000, kulang sila ng dalawang taon, so kailangan talaga matugunan natin,” Salceda said.

Champions To Move Forward As MILO Marathon Welcomes 39th Season

The National MILO Marathon, the country’s most prestigious running event, is set to mark its 39th season this year, with the first of 18 regional legs set in Dagupan on June 28. A globally renowned race event, the MILO Marathon continues to attract not only running enthusiasts and professional athletes, but also runners from all walks of life from across the country and internationally. The National MILO Marathon expects 230,000 runners to participate this season. Throughout the years, the esteemed race has not only catered to professional athletes but also welcomed aspiring runners in the 3-K and 5-K distances where young aspiring sprinters have emerged as division winners.