FLORA, Apayao – The municipal government has once more demonstrated its commitment to foster cultural diversity and promote equal employment opportunities by appointing an Agta tribe member as a Local School Board (LSB) teacher to augment the lack of workforce of Balasi Elementary School in Flora.
Carmelita Pasion, an elementary education graduate of 2020 and is currently working under the Mayor’s office in a contractual capacity, is poised to teach Agta kids who comprise the majority of school-going children in the said locality.
Flora Mayor Rodolfo B. Juan, in a LSB meeting held last August 17, said Pasion was chosen to be one among the LSB teachers to be mobilized by the municipal government under its Special Education Fund (SEF) to support DepEd-Flora’s teaching force once classes start on August 29.
“We believe that embracing our indigenous heritage not only empowers our Agta community members but also enriches the overall fabric of our society. This assignment reflects our dedication to a more inclusive and equitable future,” Juan underscored.
DepEd Apayao family led by Schools Division Superintendent Irene S. Angway rallied behind this initiative, underlining the significance of acknowledging and celebrating indigenous wisdom saying, “We acknowledge the effectiveness of hiring Agta teachers in educating the indigenous learners in Balasi, since they are familiar with their dialects, cultures and practices.
Passion is also one of the three Agta tribe members from Flora who were graduates of Bachelor in Elementary Education (BEEd) from Apayao State College, the lone tertiary education in the province.
Juan committed to financially support them in their preparations for the September 2023 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LET). The other two, Agta were Argie Ganaden, 21, and Mercy Laguimon, 26, who graduated earlier this year.
For her part, Angway pledged to sponsor the conduct of review sessions for Passion and her fellow Agta for free. “While it is necessary that these Agta graduates will be enrolled to a review center, we must, as DepEd personnel, be involved firsthand, and become contributors to their success.” By Jomela Dela Torre