Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte has lauded the efforts of the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Aurora in partnering with the military in spreading an awareness drive against the recruitment and infiltration of communist rebels among learners in the province.
“Providing information and education to the youth about local armed conflict is a critical step to keep them from being deceived and recruited by terrorists and communists,” Duterte said in a news statement.
The targets of the drive, which Duterte described as “a whole-of-nation approach,” are students in Grades 9, 10, and senior high schools.
“We trust that our schools and their partners will efficiently implement the information campaign, while still adhering to the Department’s policies on gender sensitivity, safety, and peace building, among others,” she said.
“Patuloy nating alagaan ang kabatang Pilipino. Patuloy nating mahalin ang Pilipinas,” the VP stressed.
Under a memorandum of agreement signed on Tuesday, DepEd will support the efforts of the Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion in lawfully reaching out to students who shall receive education from the DepEd about ending the local communist armed conflict.
The DepEd will allow the youth information awareness campaign in the vicinity of pre-identified schools provided that the plan of instruction (POI), consisting of the subject/topic of the education campaigns, the medium/methodology of instruction, duration of instruction, shall have been evaluated and approved by the regional task force.
Likewise, it stated that the program in schools should not depart from adhering to a gender-sensitive and child-friendly approach in dealing with the students and personnel of the schools. -30-
Image credits: City Government of Davao/Facebook