Valenzuela is the only city in Metro Manila that was awarded the “Seal of Good Education Governance” with 23 local governments in different parts of the country for their educational programs that focused on the youth.
Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian accepted the award from Synergeia Foundation sa National Education Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center last week.
PLDT and Smart Communications gave P1.5-million worth “technology packages” for the city’s information and communications requirements.
Among the other localities that accepted the same award were: Argao, Cebu; Bacnotan, La Union; Balamban, Cebu; Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Cabatuan, Iloilo; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; Concepcion, Iloilo; Dalaguete, Cebu; Dao, Capiz; Datu Paglas, Maguindanao; Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya; Diffun, Quirino; Ivisan, Capiz; Lambunao, Iloilo; Miagao, Iloilo; Mina, Iloilo; North Upi, Maguindanao; Santol, La Union; Simunul, Tawi-Tawi; Solano, Nueva Vizcaya; Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya and Tuba, Benguet.
Also included in the incentives are the installation of “Wi-Fi hotspots in public areas and provision InfoCast, a web-based solution wherein the recipient-local government could broadcast their announcements to the public and at the same time receive feedbacks.
While, those in far-flung areas will be installed with “satellite-based communication solution”, Smart School in a Bag that consists of solar panels for schools without electricity; mobile devices, “curriculum-based educational content”; and training packages for teachers.
The awardees were chosen by a panel of judges composed of personnel Synergia and the Department of Education.
Among the qualifications are: presence of a local school board and school governing councils; more than 66 percent of score in the National Achievement Test for elementary students and a 15 percent decrease of poor readers in school.
Also, more than 70 percent of “survival rate” for Grade 1 pupils to have completed until Grade 6.
Gatchalian, for his part said, the city government will make sure that all programs for education especially that of the youth will be delivered, effectively and efficiently.
