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Revised Dress Code for Civil Servants Faces Mixed Reactions

   The Civil Service Commission (CSC) recently unveiled its updated dress code for government employees, emphasizing inclusivity, cultural identity, and professionalism. While the move has garnered praise for promoting Filipino and ASEAN heritage, many civil servants, particularly teachers, have raised concerns about practicality and comfort. Under the new policy, outlined in Memorandum Circular No. 16, series of 2024, civil servants are required to wear Filipiniana-inspired attire on Mondays, agency-prescribed uniforms Tuesday through Friday, and smart casual clothing on weekends if working. The guidelines also align with the Philippine Tropical Fabric (PTF) Law by requiring locally sourced fabrics for uniforms. Concerns from Teachers On social media, teachers voiced strong opinions about the policy, particularly the prescribed fabrics and designs. "Maari po ba na cotton din po sana tela ng uniform ng mga teachers dahil parang sako po ng tela at sobrang init kapag isinusuot. ...

Marcos signs ARAL Law to accelerate learning recovery

  Highlights: The ARAL Program offers free academic support to students struggling with learning gaps due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to help learners improve their competencies in reading, mathematics, and science, ensuring they meet grade-level standards. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) 12028, or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Act , into law during a ceremony at Malacañang on October 18, 2024. The ARAL Law seeks to accelerate learning recovery for students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and address widening educational gaps. In his address, President Marcos highlighted the critical state of education in the Philippines, referencing data from the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) that revealed 75% of Filipino students were below the minimum proficiency levels in reading, mathematics, and science. He stressed the need for immediate action. "This alarming trend remains persistent and ...

Expanded Career Progression System: A New Era for Public School Teachers in the Philippines

Public school teachers across the Philippines now have a clearer and more structured path for career advancement, thanks to the recently completed Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Executive Order No. 174, Series of 2022 . This order establishes the Expanded Career Progression System for Public School Teachers . The ceremonial signing of the IRR, led by DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, took place at the DepEd Central Office on 26 July 2024, marking a significant milestone in the professional growth of teachers. This new system is set to reshape the teaching profession, providing a more dynamic and flexible career trajectory. The signing event was attended by key education stakeholders, including Dr. Jennie Jocson, who played a vital role in crafting the new system through RITQ’s technical assistance. What Does the Expanded Career Progression System Offer? The Expanded Career Progression System introduces several changes that benefit public school teachers, providing them with m...

Marcos appoints key officials to DepEd leadership

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed several key figures, including Ronald Mendoza, a former dean of the Ateneo School of Government, and Georgina Yang, former spokesperson for Vice President Leni Robredo, to leadership roles at the Department of Education (DepEd), Malacañang announced on Thursday, October 3. Mendoza has been named Undersecretary for Policy and Planning at DepEd. With over 25 years of experience in development policy and public administration, he previously served as Associate Professor of Economics at the Asian Institute of Management and as a senior economist at the United Nations in New York. Mendoza was also appointed to the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) from 2021 to 2025. Georgina Yang, former executive director of the Galing Pook Foundation and spokesperson for Vice President Robredo, has been appointed Assistant Secretary under the DepEd Office of the Secretary. She also managed the flag...

Potent Remedy

In a world where knowledge is the cure, the Philippines faces a challenge in ensuring its students have access to the most effective learning tools.  While traditional methods may not be fully optimized, the Department of Education's (DepEd) recent initiative, "Catch-Up Fridays," as stated in DepEd Memorandum No. 1, s. 2024, offers a promising approach. Catch-Up Fridays aims to bolster reading proficiency among Filipino students. This focus on a foundational skill is a positive step in the right direction. By dedicating time to reading, the program has the potential to significantly improve literacy rates. However, the program's execution can be improved. The initial rollout faced hurdles due to a lack of preparation time.  Moving forward, ensuring clear communication and providing teachers with adequate training will be crucial. Additionally, addressing concerns about resource allocation and differentiated instruction will enhance the program's effectiveness. The...

Empowering Indigenous Education: Unleashing the Digital Revolution for IP Learners

The Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) Program implemented by DepEd-Sarangani plays a crucial role in fulfilling the mandate of delivering culture-based and culture-sensitive education to Indigenous People (IP) learners. In line with this objective, the IPEd program has been actively engaging in various activities to contextualize and indigenize teaching and learning materials, with a particular focus on young learners. This feature article highlights the efforts and partnerships undertaken by DepEd-Sarangani to enhance IP education through the development of locally-contextualized digital materials. Forging Partnerships for Indigenous Education: DepEd Sarangani has established valuable partnerships with private organizations, including Save the Children, Conrado & Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc. (CLAFI), Smart Communications, among others, to provide support for IP education. These collaborations have paved the way for the development, production, and utilization of dive...

Mosqueda bids farewell; Estacio takes rein as DepEd Sarangani’s SDS

Last Friday, a turnover ceremony was held at Venue 88, General Santos City, to mark the leadership transition in the Department of Education's Sarangani Division. Gildo G. Mosqueda, CEO VI, who had been serving as the Schools Division Superintendent, officially handed over his responsibilities and authority to Ruth L. Estacio, CESO VI, who was assigned as the new Superintendent. Attended by various DepEd officials, educators, and stakeholders in the education sector, the occasion marked the start of a new era for DepEd Sarangani. The turnover ceremony was an opportunity for Mosqueda to bid farewell to his colleagues, staff, and friends, and for them to express their appreciation for his leadership and contribution to the division's growth and success. APPRECIATION. Board Member Jess Bascuña hands Mosqueda a plaque of appreciation for his service as SDS of Sarangani for over three years. (Photo by Jonathan Agreda) Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Jess Bascuña awarded Mosqu...