PASAY CITY, February 23, 2019 – Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones underscored the importance of instilling 21st century skills among all learners during the 3rd Annual EduTECH Philippines Conference and Exhibition held from February 20 to 21 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

In her keynote speech, Briones explained the key deliverables of the Department with emphasis on making education relevant to the urgent needs of and opportunities for the nation. This is in line with the event’s theme, “21st Century Quality Education for All in the Philippines.”

“What we teach and encourage our learners to learn from school has to be relevant to the 21st century, to our needs, and has to be responsive to the challenges that our country faces at this time,” the Secretary stated.

She further explained that there is something new and exciting happening in and outside the Philippines every day to which the basic education system has to respond. Thus, it has resulted in massive outputs like the provision of school buildings with improved design and facilities, and the setting up of 21st century classrooms with various innovative features and equipment.

Briones also noted that the Department recognizes and supports the digital rise in the Philippine education system. She shared that as early as 2010, the Department already started efforts in raising the information and communications technology (ICT) literacy of the learners, teachers, school heads, and other personnel through the DepEd Computerization Program.

Furthermore, Briones emphasized, “Even as we focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, we must not forget that we are Filipinos and we have a history and multi-varied culture all over the country. This is why it is equally important to focus as well on the social sciences or the so-called soft sciences. I believe this is possible. We don’t have to neglect one for the other.”

The conference was organized by the Terrapin Pte. Ltd and was supported by DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Moreover, it aimed to provide the participants with insights on the latest innovations and pedagogies transforming K to 12 Basic Education, and enable them to discover how learning and teaching is getting transformed in higher education.

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