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March 20, 2021 – To improve future programs and projects in basic education, the Department of Education (DepEd) conferred with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Innotech to discuss policy papers on early childhood care, teachers’ motivation, and multigrade schools last March 15.

The meeting’s objective was to discuss the key features of the empirically-based studies that can help the Department address educational issues moving forward.

“These studies will be an important input to form important policies that will help the future projects of DepEd,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

SEAMEO Innotech presented three policy studies on education. The study on teachers’ motivation aims to provide concrete recommendations that could inform policy initiatives toward improving teacher motivation in the basic education system.

On the other hand, the research on early childhood care focuses on understanding children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development in different contexts. Lastly, the study on multigrade schools aims to identify the contributing and constraining factors in achieving the Multigrade Program goals in Philippine Education (MPPE).

Key persons present in the discussion were Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, Undersecretary, and Chief of Staff, Nepomuceno Malaluan, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio, Undersecretary for Planning, Human Resource and Organizational Development Jesus Mateo, and Human Resources and Organizational Development Director Jennifer Lopez.

Meanwhile, Center Director Ramon Bacani and Director for Programs Philip Purnell represented SEAMEO Innotech while Dr. Teresita Inciong attended as one of the research papers’ key proponents.

“I’d like to reiterate once more, our appreciation on the professional researches of SEAMEO Innotech who has undertaken on three very important policy as debates right now are happening in the Department of Education,” Secretary Briones said.

The Center expressed continued support to the Department to provide relevant policy advice through research on the Philippine educational sector.

“We really wanted to make sure that what we are studying really reflects the conditions in the field,” Center Director Bacani stated.

The studies were also in partnership with UNICEF, the Australian Government, and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).

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