DepEd chief bats for childhood care, ALS in education

Education Secretary Sonny Angara speaks at a meeting with representatives of the United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, for the Outcome Review Meeting in the ninth Country Programme for Children in the Philippines. —Inquirer files

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara pushed to strengthen the country’s early childhood care and development (ECCD) programs and its alternative learning system (ALS) as part of reforms for the education sector.

The push came during Angara’s Outcome Review Meeting with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) for the ninth Country Programme for Children in the Philippines on Feb. 4.

DepEd said in a statement Wednesday, “Angara stressed the need to reinforce early childhood care and development programs and the alternative learning system to strengthen early learning foundations and facilitate the reintegration of out-of-school youth into formal education.”

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The Unicef meeting saw Angara meeting with the international organization’s education chief Akihiro Fushimi and planning chief Xavier Foulquier along with DepEd and Teacher Education Council representatives, to discuss its partnership to reform the country’s basic education.

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“DepEd considers Unicef one of its strongest allies in education. This partnership has transformed many lives and helped drive improvements in basic education in the Philippines,” Angara said.

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At the meet, the Philippine education chief touted the department’s Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) tutoring program as well as its Dynamic Learning Program to ensure learning continuity even during disasters.

Further, he reported that hiring guidance counselors to provide psychosocial support for students and teachers was a priority for schools in implementing the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act.

Meanwhile, Angara reported that the department was reviewing the senior high school program as well as the Anti-Bullying Act.

The DepEd previously laid out a five-point agenda to address education reforms through the following matters:

• an enabling learning environment
• the welfare of teachers
• the well-being of learners
• efficient learning delivery in all its forms, and
• a future-ready workforce

—with reports from Sheba Maya R. Barr, INQUIRER.net trainee