More than 400 leaders from local governments, schools and private sector have attended the 12th National Education Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
The United States, through the US Agency for International Development, convened the summit in partnership with Philippine government and Synergeia Foundation, a multi-sectoral non-government organization that works with local government units to give every child an opportunity to finish basic education.
The participants during the Sept.6 summit shared best practices on education governance, including topics such as increasing community engagement, budgeting, partnering with the public and private sector and civil society, and decentralization of basic education.
The summit is a part of USAID’s five-year, P489-million Education Governance Effectiveness project that supports the Philippines’ goal of boosting learning outcomes in the early grades, the US Embassy said, in a statement.
It also aims to provide an opportunity to benchmark the results of their programs on education.
“The US government believes that early-grade literacy is the foundation for future learning. But this foundation also requires strong community engagement, accountability, and transparency in education,” US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Michael Klecheski said.
“I commend you for taking the necessary steps in investing in your children, and therefore, investing in our common future,” he added.
Since 2013, USAID and the Philippine government strengthened capacity of local governments, school boards, and administrations to effectively plan, manage, and evaluate education programs.
As a result of the partnership, schools now tailor programs to address students’ needs, benefiting 2.2 million children in 91 cities and municipalities across the country.
In May 2018, USAID expanded the EdGE project to address barriers to accessing education faced by students displaced by the Marawi conflict, particularly girls.
At the end of the summit, USAID and Synergeia awarded the Seal of Good Education Governance to 17 local governments in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for demonstrating remarkable commitment to improving education governance.
The children in their respective regions have achieved higher reading scores, and student attendance has increased. As a result, more children are now expected to complete primary school.
The winners of the Seal are: Bacnotan, La Union; Navotas City and Valenzuela City, Metro Manila; Diadi, Sta. Fe, Solano, and Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya; Diffun, Quirino; Mambusao, Capiz; Concepcion, Lambunao, Leon, and Mina, Iloilo; Maribojoc, Bohol; Datu Paglas, Maguindanao; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; and Bongao, Tawi Tawi.