Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, who also serves as Secretary of Education, revealed the seven priority areas for the Department of Education's (DepEd) intervention to strengthen education and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The announcement was made during the Partners Convergence event held at the National Museum of Natural History in Luneta Park on Thursday, May 25.
Recognizing the need for collaborative efforts, Vice President Duterte stated, "As we work towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in basic education, we must acknowledge that no organization or government can achieve them alone. We need strong partnerships that involve all actors, including the private sector, civil society, and local communities."
The Partners Convergence event brought together education partners, stakeholders, embassy representatives, and local government units. It resulted from DepEd's engagements with Official Development Assistance (ODA) partners and local collaborators to align ongoing and future projects with the MATATAG Agenda.
VP Sara highlighted the Finance strand's plan to enhance the loan management systems and conduct financial literacy programs for DepEd employees and students.
Meanwhile, the School Infrastructure and Facilities strand aims to construct and rehabilitate classrooms, establish disaster-resilient schools, retrofit existing classrooms, and provide electrification and connectivity programs.
Furthermore, the Administration strand aims to digitize DepEd forms, improve existing systems, and offer assistance in parametric and indemnity insurance for public schools.
The Curriculum and Teaching strand intends to strengthen Literacy and Numeracy Programs, review Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education, digitize national assessments, and enhance inclusive education programs and teaching approaches.
The Human Resources and Organizational Development strand plans to establish a robust quality assurance system, upscale the National Educators' Academy of the Philippines, and foster knowledge sharing among partners as part of their priority intervention programs.
DepEd's Operations strand intends to provide mobile medical and dental clinics, enhanced school-based feeding programs, learner rights, and protection mechanisms, mental health programs, learner and youth program development, as well as farm-to-table nutrition initiatives.
The Procurement strand also aims to streamline the department's procurement processes through continuous capacity building for personnel and digitalization initiatives.
The event also served as a platform for the Secretary of Education to express gratitude and acknowledge the commitments made by local government units and Official Development Assistance partners. They reaffirmed their dedication by signing the "MATATAG Partner Ako" commitment wall.
"To be part of a movement that has the power to transform lives and communities. It means collaborating, learning, and growing together toward our shared goal of creating a better world through education," added Secretary Duterte.
Expressing their support for DepEd's initiatives, Manila City Mayor Maria Sheilah Honorado "Honey" Lacuna-Pangan, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson, Aboitiz Foundation President and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz, and Governor Dakila Carlo E. Cua also voiced their commitment to providing quality education that equips students with essential skills, knowledge, and values to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Governor Cua stated, "Learning lies in the heart of our shared goal. It is our duty to provide a quality education that equips our students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and values to strive in the ever-evolving world."