THE United States recently handed over to the Department of Education (DepEd) teaching and learning resources to support early-grade learning initiatives.
US Agency for International Development Director of the Regional Financial Services Center Bret Campbell led the turnover to Education undersecretaries Nepomuceno Malaluan and Diosdado San Antonio. The resources included USAID-developed teacher training tools, literacy and numeracy packages, early-grade reading materials, and various collateral supporting literacy assessment.
“We are happy to accept the materials, which [are] symbolic of the strong partnership between DepEd and USAID,” said Malaluan. “In this partnership, we have sought common aspirations, as well as shared commitments.”
The ceremonial handover was held during the National Consultation for Philippine Participation in the 2022 United Nations Transforming Education Summit. Slated in September, TES will bring together global, national, and local education stakeholders to discuss solutions that can transform education.
The DepEd organized the national consultations during its recent Education Forum in Baguio City to discuss the policy, planning and budgetary changes needed to recover learning losses; actions needed to get back on track to meet UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 of inclusive education for all; and steps required to reimagine education systems for the future.
“I have no doubt…the Education Forum will play a key role in ensuring inclusion, consensus, and most important, continuity and action,” said Malaluan.
USAID expressed its support for the department’s national consultations, then called on partners to find solutions and actions helping transform education.
“[Through USAID, we remain committed to strengthening and reimagining global education systems while] revitalizing national and global efforts to ensure every child has access to free, equitable, and quality education,” said Campbell.
Through its ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines project, USAID has trained more than 23,000 teachers and distributed more than 11.5 million early-grade reading materials to support Filipino learners.
Image credits: Embassy of the United States