Training for Grade 7 teachers, subsidy for special sports program

As government prepares for the full implementation of its basic education reform program, the Department of Education is conducting training to prepare teachers for the enhanced first year high school curriculum to be introduced this school year.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said some 1,530 teachers would undergo training in teaching English, Science and Mathematics from experts at the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS).

In DepEd Memo No. 68, Luistro said the training was meant to prepare teachers for the conversion of first year high school into Grade 7 under the K to 12 (Kindergarten to Grade 12) program.

The DepEd is set to introduce enhanced Grade 1 and first year high school curricula as part of the phased implementation of K to 12, the flagship education program of the administration of President Aquino designed to enhance the quality of Filipino high school graduates by extending learning by two years.

The training, to be held in two phases in May and in October, is part of the PSHSS Learning Institute for Teachers upgrading program.

Eligible to participate in the program are teachers of science high schools with one to five years’ work experience and those identified to be in need of improvement.

“Regional directors shall see to it that divisions/schools involved in the training under this project shall cooperate and collaborate with PSHSS on all processes, which include the conduct of training and monitoring and evaluation of the impact of training,” said Luistro’s memo.

Some 180 participants will be accommodated in each of the PSHSS campuses in Quezon City, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte, Davao City and Lanao del Norte.

Meanwhile, the DepEd has earmarked P8.5 million as subsidy to 17 regional schools that offer a special program in sports to develop the athletic skills of their students. Each school will get P500,000 as training subsidy.

Under DepEd Order No. 28 series of 2012, the additional subsidy, which would augment the schools’ maintenance and operating expenses, would go to the training of teachers and administrators on relevant topics in sports.

The money would also be used to buy instructional materials, sports supplies and athletic uniforms, and to support student development activities such as training, workshops and participation in DepEd-approved competitions.

Travel allowance of students during training and competitions, as well as support for the participation of teachers in DepEd-sponsored scholarships and professional upgrading, including enrolment in master’s degree programs in sports, would also be drawn from the fund.

Luistro said the subsidy would enable schools to deliver services effectively to student athletes so they would stand out in national and international competitions. The secretary said, “There is cost in developing world-class athletes and the schools are the natural breeding ground of grassroots talents.”

But Luistro stressed, “Because we want to develop the whole person and not just their physical talent, we require that our athlete-beneficiaries attain a mean percentage score above the national average in the National Achievement Test.”

The directive also stated that the subsidy could be suspended if schools failed to comply with the guidelines.

The 17 school beneficiaries are Ilocos Norte National High School (NHS), Region I; Cagayan NHS, Region II; Victoria NHS, Region III; Lopez National Comprehensive HS, Region IV-A; Palawan National School, Region IV-B; Camarines Sur NHS, Region 5; Iloilo NHS, Region 6; Negros Oriental NHS, Region 7;

Palo NHS, Region 8; Zamboanga Sibugay NHS, Region 9; Bukidnon NHS, Region 10; Santo Tomas NHS, Region 11; General Santos City NHS, Region 12; Bayugan National  Comprehensive HS, Caraga; Datu Paglas NHS, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Tabuk NHS, Cordillera Administrative Region; and Muntinlupa Science HS, National Capital Region.