DAVAO CITY—The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is looking at its Southeast Asian neighbors for the best applicable model of an educational system.
At least three of these countries—Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia—belong to the same regional grouping as Mindanao.
BARMM Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal said he was looking at these three countries “for inspiration and expertise in education” when he spoke during the “35th Asean Council of Teachers + 1 Convention” held in Brunei on September 28.
Iqbal earlier sent a team to Indonesia in June this year, in a program supported by Australia through the Pathways Program.
He said the BARMM was interested with Indonesia’s educational system, “which provides integrated education services to all of its people regardless of backgrounds.”
“We learned a lot from that learning trip to Indonesia and we hope to gain more insights from our neighboring countries,” he said.
Like Indonesia, Iqbal said BARMM would also provide its constituents equal opportunities.
“The Bangsamoro government shall develop an educational framework relevant and responsive to the needs, ideals and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people,” he said.
He assured the education system in the Bangsamoro shall be accessible to all Moro, Christian and tribal students. “We’ve seen this educational system worked in Indonesia,” Iqbal added.
Iqbal said his Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education was assigned to draft and submit the Bangsamoro Education Code to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
The code shall govern the education system in the Bangsamoro area and set the strategic direction for the implementation of a balanced educational structure and standard in the Bangsamoro, he added.
Iqbal also thanked the government and people of Brunei for their continued support to the peace process by sending a contingent to the International Monitoring Team.
He also appealed for more investments in the BARMM.
“This will help your brothers and sisters come to their knees after almost 50 years of struggle for self-determination,” Iqbal appealed.