The Iloilo Province Education Core Group (EDCORE), in partnership with the Synergeia Foundation and The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), called for a meeting with concerned local chief executives in the province to get their commitment to improving the reading proficiency of Ilonggo learners.
The meeting, held on July 12, 2024, at Casa Real de Iloilo, centered on the proof of concept (POC) for Iloilo on the devolution of basic education and well as getting the mayors to accept their responsibility as part of the education system.
Iloilo was chosen as a pilot area for the implementation of the Proof of Concept (POC) for the devolution of some functions of basic education. Ten towns as well as Iloilo City are part of the experimental group.
In attendance are mayors Jon Aying of Sara, Vicente Escorpion Jr. of Igbaras, Elizalde Pueyo of Cabatuan, Francis Amboy of Maasin, Elvira Alarcon of Batad, Oscar Villegas Jr. of Lemery, and Lydia Grabato of Mina. Guimbal Mayor Jennifer Colada sent her representative. Other concerned municipalities are Barotac Viejo and Leganes. Lawrence Anthony Gorriceta of Pavia also joined the meeting.
OIC-Governor and Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Third District Board Member Jason Gonzales, and Department of the Interior and Local Government VI Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero also joined the activity.
Synergeia Foundation President and CEO Milwida Guevara stressed that addressing the problem of education is a joint effort of everybody.
Mayor Aying fervently accepted the responsibility and said that addressing the problem of education reflects "true good governance."
Mayor Pueyo said his town has involved the barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan members in a community-based approach towards improving the learning proficiency of students.
Mayor Grabato suggested that there should be a law to ensure the sustainability of the program despite the change of leadership.
Data from the Department of Education revealed that only 27.80 percent of Grade III students in Iloilo can read and comprehend at their respective grade levels.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., who is an education champion, accepted the challenge to make Iloilo a pilot area for the POC. His education reform program “Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya (BES Probins) is geared towards an effective, relevant, and transformative educational system in the province of Iloilo.
Banias said the province of Iloilo accepted the challenge to demonstrate to the whole country that we are capable of implementing reforms in the education system.
“The challenge is to make every learner be able to read. But we are undeterred by the times, as Governor Toto put it during our last meeting with the POC stakeholders that reading proficiency should not just be a goal, it is a necessity,” Banias said.
"Through our dedication and hard work, we aim to showcase that these 11 municipalities, including the city of Iloilo involved in this proof-of-concept initiative, would immerge as frontrunners in delivering quality education,” Banias said. (With reports from Krisyl Mae Limbague/WVSU Intern)
📷: 𝑮𝒂𝒚𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑮𝒂𝒚𝒐𝒍𝒂 (𝑾𝑽𝑺𝑼 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏)
#BESProbins
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