DEPED to Improve Basic Education for Children in ARMM

The Department of Education has strengthened its campaign to improve the quality of education in the impoverished region all over the country. In Mindanao, with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID) through the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM), poor access of children to basic education especially in ARMM has been responded with the Distance Learning Program (DLP) in the region.

Recently, BEAM and with some DepED officials distributed an independent and self-paced modules and school supplies under its Component 3-Increasing Access project which seeks to grant opportunities for the school age children in the elementary level starting at grade 3 to grade 6 from far-flung and poor areas. There were eight elementary schools have benefited by the said project namely Datu Gumbay Piang Elementary School of Datu Piang, Dapiawan Elementary School and Libutan Elementary School of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Kalumamis Elementary School of Guindulungan, Pandan Elementary School of South Upi, Malangit Elementary School of Mamasapano, Bobo Elementary School and Piagapo Central elementary School of Piagapo Lanao del Sur. More than 500 larning modules were given to every school, 5 copies per learning area (English, Math, Science, Filipino and Makabayan), per grade level (grade 3 to 6) and per grading period (1st to 4th grading) with a total of 35,000 modules were already distributed.

This approach serves to support the government’s effort to improve the standard of learning and to provide better education by enhancing the quality of knowledge of students mainly in poor and conflict-affected areas. Such undertaking will address those school children who were mostly in drop out cases and absenteeism due to their distant residences from school or working in farms with their parents. Children with physical difficulties and impairments are also eligible with the program.

DepEd also recognized the region’s need of additional school buildings and furniture because of the increasing population of students as well as the replacement of classrooms damaged by internal conflict in the area. DepEd secretary Lesli Lapus emphasized the immediate implementation of the project as part of the pump-priming program of the national government as mandated by Pres. Arroyo to all government agencies implementing infrastructure projects.

Moreover, ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan recurrently lauds the said efforts in helping the regional government on its quest for affordable, accessible and quality education to poor students in remote areas in the autonomous region.