The Department of Education–Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) is calling on more stakeholders to support their convergence project which aims to ensure that no Cordilleran learner is left behind.
DepEd CAR’s Project Salaknib Tan Namnama is gaining support from other regional line agencies with the recent donation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-CAR) of slightly used 81 cellular phones and 61 mobile tablets to aid in the ongoing implementation of distance learning in the region.
“Salaknib Tan Namnama,” meaning protection and hope, aims at giving assistance to learners from the marginalized sector, living in hard-to-reach areas, and in vulnerable situations such as early pregnancy and parenthood, abuse, and even armed conflict.
According to DepEd CAR Regional Director Estela L. Cariño, the project is on top of the other deliverables and services the basic education department is doing.
“We are also banking on the opportunities provided by Executive Order No. 70, series 2018, which calls on more collaborative and collective engagements with other regional line agencies and non-government organizations to amplify our services, most especially to our learners and this will bring realization to what we always emphasize that it takes a village to raise a child,” Cariño said.
She added that DepEd-CAR came up with this project to help beneficiaries to rise from their circumstances and develop in them the faith to become better and empowered, as well as protect them from abuse and recruitment by dubious groups.
“We thank DSWD-CAR, especially former regional director Leo L. Quintilla for responding to our call and we hope that all other agencies will be pitching in later on with their services and donations that will alleviate the situations of our learners,” the regional director said.
First to take on the challenge of DepEd CAR for a convergence during the project’s launching last December 3, 2020 was the Commission on Population (POPCOM-CAR) when they turned-over copies of learning materials for teachers on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and Sexually Health and Personally Effective Adolescents (SHAPE) which will strengthen the integration of sexual health, parenthood, and the like to the lessons of learners in the region.
Orientation and training of teacher-facilitators are ongoing relative to said modules.
On the other hand, in previous meetings with other member-agencies of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood, and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) under the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-CAR) also expressed their interest in joining the convergence project.
The project aims to provide beneficiaries with spiritual enrichment, livelihood education and training, assistance for education, psychosocial services, among others.
At present, the project pilot-tested in Benguet with 63 learner-beneficiaries. The beneficiaries will be receiving tablets as well as other assistance.
The other schools division offices are currently determining their own pilot schools and learner-beneficiaries.
“We call on our colleagues in the government service, interested groups and individuals who would like to help us in this endeavor to visit our office,” Director Cariňo enthused.
“Let us ensure that no Cordilleran child is left behind by guaranteeing a safe, peaceful, cohesive, and loving community where every child can plant themselves and grow to become the hope of the next generation,” she added. By Georaloy I. Palao-ay
