Latest news with #School-BasedFeedingProgram
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
97% of new teacher posts filled — DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) has filled 97 percent of the over 21,000 new teaching positions funded last year, while 99 percent of the 5,000 new administrative posts have also been taken. The figures are part of the agency's updates as it marked one year under the leadership of Education Secretary Sonny Angara. This also comes in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directives on improving the education system, as stated in his State of the Nation Address. 'Mula sa simula, malinaw ang layunin natin na makinig, ayusin ang kailangang ayusin, at itayo ang mga kulang,' Angara said. (From the start, our goal has been clear: to listen, fix what needs fixing, and build what is lacking.) Teacher and school staff support The Education Department said it has taken steps to improve the working conditions of teachers. This includes the introduction of new career levels, Teacher IV to VII, and the reclassification of more than 2,100 school heads to principal positions. The department said these changes aim to strengthen leadership at the school level. The teaching supplies allowance was doubled to P10,000, and a medical allowance for teachers was introduced. For private school teachers, the annual salary subsidy is now P24,000, an increase of P6,000. The department also reported a reduction of more than 50 percent in paperwork requirements for public school teachers. Addressing infrastructure and connectivity gaps DepEd said it is working with private sector partners to build 105,000 new classrooms to address the national backlog. Modular classrooms designed for disaster-hit areas are also expected to be deployed by August. To improve connectivity in remote schools, the department is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Energy (DOE), and National Electrification Administration (NEA). A public-private project, PSIP Connect, is in the pipeline to deliver digital devices, solar panels, and internet access to last-mile schools. Focus on early education and learning recovery The School-Based Feeding Program has been expanded to include all public kindergarten learners starting this school year. A new initiative called Project SIGLA will pilot digital health and nutrition tracking for students. Meanwhile, construction has begun on 328 Child Development Centers in the country's most impoverished municipalities. To address literacy challenges, DepEd cited gains in foundational reading skills through the Literacy Remediation Program and the Bawat Bata Bumabasa Program. These were implemented over the recent school break. Curriculum and system changes The revised K to 10 curriculum places greater emphasis on literacy and numeracy. A strengthened Senior High School curriculum, currently being piloted in 900 schools, aims to better align with academic and technical-vocational skills. Senior High School graduates are now eligible for entry-level government jobs under Civil Service Commission rules. DepEd said it also reduced the textbook procurement timeline from 451 days to 60 days, with printing and delivery now taking only 110 days. A digital supplier registry has been created to improve transparency. The department also plans to roll out Project Bukas, a new platform aimed at providing public access to DepEd data. The revamped Adopt-A-School Program and School Finder platform now allow private sector donors to directly support schools in need. To foster digital innovation, the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR) has been launched. Other upcoming digital tools include Project LIGTAS for disaster mapping and Project TALINO for identifying schools with urgent needs. Despite these developments, Angara acknowledged there is still a long way to go. 'Marami pa tayong kailangang ayusin, marami pa tayong kailangang abutin. Pero habang pinagkakatiwalaan tayo ng taumbayan, hindi tayo titigil sa paglilingkod,' he said. (There is still much to fix and many objectives to reach. But as long as we have the people's trust, we will not stop serving.) As DepEd enters its second year under Angara, the agency said its focus remains on building a more inclusive and responsive education system. When President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2024, he issued a clear order to address the gaps in the Philippine education system as he lamented the 'poor reality' hampering young learners. Back then, the President cited international assessments revealing that more than half of students in Grades 6, 10, and 12 failed to reach the ideal proficiency levels, faring low in information literacy, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Marcos thus declared that the national learning recovery program must proceed 'without the slightest disruption,' especially in basic education. 'Our system of education must be strategically calibrated to make sure that our youth are not only taught to become literate. But, it must also consciously develop them into problem-solvers, and into critical thinkers—hungry for success, ready for the future,' he said in his third presidential address. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
21-07-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
DepEd expands feeding program to all kindergarten learners
All public kindergarten students across the Philippines will now receive daily nutritious meals under the Department of Education's (DepEd) expanded School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP). The program was formally launched Monday at Juan Sumulong Elementary School in Antipolo City, where education officials outlined the expansion as part of a broader national strategy focused on health, learning, and child development. With a budget of ?11.77 billion for 2025 and a proposed ?14 billion for 2026, the expanded SBFP aims to provide daily hot meals and fortified food products to approximately 3.4 million learners—including all kindergarten pupils and undernourished children in Grades 1 to 6. 'To be implemented over 120 school days, this year's feeding program is no longer limited to severely wasted or underweight students,' DepEd said in a statement. 'Instead, it now covers all kindergarten learners to support cognitive development and classroom readiness from an early age.' DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' Angara emphasized the role of nutrition in education outcomes during the launch. 'Kapag may sapat na nutrisyon ang mga bata, mas madali silang matuto. Hindi natin kailangan hintayin pang magutom o magkasakit sila bago kumilos,' he said. (When children have adequate nutrition, they learn more easily. We don't need to wait for them to go hungry or get sick before we act.) 'Support' According to DepEd, last year's program led to a notable decrease in the number of severely wasted kindergarten learners, which dropped from 113,451 to 47,281. Educators have also reported improvements in student alertness, participation, and overall health. In regions such as Cagayan Valley (Region II) and Davao (Region XI), local data showed that cases of severely undernourished kindergarten children fell by up to 80 percent following implementation of the feeding program. The agency also cited growing infrastructure supporting the initiative, with 74 central kitchens now operational and over 44,000 public schools participating in the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program—school gardens that help provide fresh vegetables while also promoting nutrition education. The program is being carried out in coordination with local government units, the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and civil society partners. Officials stressed that success depends not only on food provision but also on sustained support for children's health, instruction, and home environments. 'Sama-samang gawain ito. Gobyerno ang nangunguna, pero kailangan ang suporta ng buong komunidad,' Angara added. (This is a shared effort. The government is leading, but support from the whole community is essential.) Future plans for the SBFP include improving health monitoring, refining meal quality, and expanding coverage to additional grade levels, particularly Grades 1 to 3, where nutritional gaps continue to affect learning outcomes. DepEd is also exploring increased partnerships with local farmers through homegrown school feeding models. The initiative is part of the administration's broader goals to invest in human capital development by addressing malnutrition early in life—an approach aligned with long-term efforts to improve learning outcomes and reduce inequality. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
03-07-2025
- General
- GMA Network
DepEd expands school garden, farm school programs to support nutrition, agri-education
The Department of Education (DepEd) has expanded its Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) to cover 44,965 schools nationwide this school year — a 50.6% increase from 2022–2023. The GPP plays a pivotal role in supporting DepEd's year-round School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) by supplying nutritious, locally grown produce while enriching nutrition education among learners — a model that has gained traction especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Funded through local school resources and the SBFP, the GPP empowers schools to grow fresh, organic vegetables that supplement student meals. These gardens also serve as outdoor classrooms where students learn about agriculture, sustainability, and food security—particularly vital in rural and last-mile communities. 'Kapag natuto ang mga bata kung saan nanggagaling ang pagkain nila at paano ito pinapalaki, mas naeengganyo silang kumain nang masustansya,' said Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' Angara in a statement Thursday. (When children understand where their food comes from and how it's grown, they are more encouraged to eat healthy.) 'Hindi lang ito tungkol sa gulay. Disiplina, pagtutulungan, at malasakit sa kalikasan at kapwa ang tinuturo natin dito,' he added. (This isn't just about vegetables. We're teaching discipline, cooperation, and caring for the environment as well as others.) As of 2025, 94% of public schools are implementing garden-based learning interventions. DepEd has also significantly increased GPP funding, from ?10 million in 2021 to ?20 million in 2024, with a projected ?21.8 million budget for 2025 — reflecting the Department's sustained commitment to nutrition and holistic learning. Complementing the Gulayan sa Paaralan is DepEd's continued expansion of Farm Schools, an initiative originally championed by the late Senator Edgardo J. Angara and institutionalized through Republic Act No. 10618, or the Rural Farm Schools Act. There are currently 152 farm schools operating across four regions, providing hands-on training in agriculture, agribusiness, and entrepreneurial skills — particularly for learners in rural areas. 'Kailangan nating palakasin ang suporta sa mga farm school dahil mahalagang bahagi ito ng food security at pag-unlad ng kabuhayan sa kanayunan,' Secretary Angara emphasized. (We need to strengthen support for farm schools because they are vital to food security and rural economic development.) Angara reiterated the need for increased investment in farm schools to equip students with practical skills aligned with national goals on agriculture, sustainability, and inclusive growth. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News
