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November 4, 2021 – The Department of Education (DepEd) extends its appreciation to the United Nation International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for citing the country’s response on basic education amidst the pandemic in the recently-published Ensuring Equal Access to Education in Future Crises: Findings of the New Remote Learning Readiness Index (RLRI).

Out of the 67 nations analyzed, the Philippines was one of only four countries that received a five-star rating across all levels of basic education in the RLRI, a new composite indicator to measure countries’ readiness to deliver remote learning in response to school closures.

According to the UNICEF study, the Philippines, alongside Argentina, Barbados, and Jamaica, had ‘efficient policy responses supported by high emergency preparedness and existence of household factors that support remote learning.’

In this international recognition, we credit our teachers, parents, partners, learners, and other stakeholders for ensuring that learning opportunities shall be available to all Filipino children and showing the Bayanihan spirit in the realization of the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP). Through our united efforts, we managed to support the education of more than 27 million learners while prioritizing their health and safety amidst the pandemic.

Nonetheless, we also took note of the study’s recommendation in improving the curriculum and addressing learning gaps. The Department, together with our various partners, is continuously developing strategies to solve these familiar issues also encountered by other countries.

With these developments and the upcoming pilot implementation of face-to-face classes, we call on our stakeholders to work with us in maintaining these positive insights from UNICEF and furthering our policies and response to school disruptions.

Para sa bayan, para sa bata

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