DepEd is seeking companies, businesses, cooperatives, schools, Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and other training institutions to be their partners and support DepEd in its various programs.

Mario Deriquito is the Department of Education’s Undersecretary for Partnerships and External Linkages. He is conducting workshops for the regional and division organizers aimed at strengthening the field offices’ capacity in building partnerships with various educational stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of co-ownership to engage the stakeholders in initiating and implementing educational reforms. With their help, the Filipino learners are assured of continued quality basic education.

The workshops orient the newly-assigned Adopt-A-School (ASP)  coordinators on their tasks of reinforcing guidelines, attending to the ASP processes starting from the preparation of the project until its implementation and then its monitoring.

DepEd has organized various educational program for the Filipino learners. Aside from the ASP, they have the Pedals and Paddles Project which aims to provide bikes and boats to learners who live far from their school. They also have the Kariton Klasrum for the out-of-school youth and drop-outs. LightEd PH is another campaign that hopes to provide electricity and technology to learners from schools that are still un-energized. Senior High School in the new K to 12 curriculum will also benefit from the partnerships.

Through the collective efforts of DepEd, private establishments, local government units  and other government agencies, the objective of providing continued basic education will be achieved. Other ways that these groups can help are through work immersion opportunities, apprenticeship, and providing additional resources to provide a more effective educational program.

By: Catherine P. Jarabe | T-III | Antonio G. Liamas Elementary school