BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

As part of ongoing efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd) to address on-the-ground concerns, Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited five schools in Northern Mindanao and spearheaded the agency’s first out-of-town Management Committee (ManComm) meeting under his watch in his two-day official visit.

Secretary Angara visited the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) and City Central School in SDO Cagayan de Oro; Kinanao Pamalihi Elementary School and Opol National Secondary Trade School in SDO Misamis Oriental; and Sinaloc National High School in SDO El Salvador City.

Sec. Angara personally checked in on teachers and learners and assessed the conditions of classrooms and facilities. He also took the opportunity to discuss DepEd’s current programs, emphasizing key initiatives being implemented under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“We are here to assist you and I think with good coordination, mas marami rin tayong solusyon,” Sec. Angara said.

A key highlight of Angara’s stop at Kinanao Pamalihi Elementary School was the turnover ceremony of a Last Mile School building, a significant project dedicated to the indigenous Higaonon community. At City Central School, Angara also inaugurated a newly established Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC). The state-of-the-art facility includes a hydrotherapy room, speech laboratory, computer laboratory, drone simulation facility, and a Madrasah classroom, catering to the diverse needs of the student population.

Angara also presided during the DepEd ManComm meeting, which focused on updates on the preparation of the agency in the upcoming international large-scale assessments including PISA and the Early Procurement Activities to be conducted this year. Additionally, the rollout of the Alternative Learning System – Senior High School (ALS-SHS) program was also discussed.

Joining Angara were other top DepEd officials, including members of the Executive Committee, as well as Bureau, Service, and Regional Directors from across the country. Some Executive Committee members also visited various schools, including Cagayan De Oro National High School, West City Central School, Gusa Elementary School, and El Salvador National High School.

Angara also attended the 53rd National and 14th International Convention of the Philippine Association for Teachers and Educators (PAFTE). Addressing participants, he laid out the department’s vision for advancing teacher education and professional development, underscoring the vital role educators play in shaping the nation’s future.

*All Photos from DepEd