‘One Education’ launched to accelerate reforms

MANILA, Philippines — To create a better learning-to-employment pathway for Filipinos, the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) teamed up yesterday and launched “One Education.”

According to DepEd, One Education is a unified initiative that will help learners, families, schools, training institutions, employers and partners have a clearer and more accessible way to understand how education opportunities connect across basic education, higher education, technical-vocational education and workforce development.

“One Education serves as a reminder that our learners’ aspirations are interconnected… When the system is more integrated, it becomes easier for every Filipino to see where they can start, progress and succeed,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

Echoing the need for seamless learning pathways, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the initiative will make the transition from senior high school and technical-vocational education to higher education more efficient.

“Through One Education, we are ensuring that a learner’s prior academic and technical achievements – whether from senior high school or tech-voc programs – are recognized and credited by our HEIs,” she said.

TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, meanwhile, emphasized how the initiative recognizes the changing demands of today’s workforce.

“Whatever industry you wish to enter and whatever your background, there is a clear path toward your dream,” he said. “One Education encompasses our goal of improving access to acquire new skills, earn certifications or pursue further studies. Because whether it is tech-voc, senior high or college, each offers a route to success.”

Aside from the One Education initiative, the three agencies also introduced the Education Reform Fellowship and signed a memorandum of agreement with Analytiks Inc. for Project TAHANAN, which aims to help learners receive exposure across the education and workforce development ecosystem and track their learning-to-employment pathway, respectively.

Bullying

Following the circulation of a viral video involving Grade 11 learners at Columban College Senior High School in Olongapo City, DepEd reiterated its strict zero-tolerance policy against bullying.

“The public is assured that DepEd SDO is taking a proactive stance of zero-tolerance against bullying as a learner-centered institution. We at DepEd assure all stakeholders that victims of bullying will never be alone and will always have a ready steady hand for relief and assistance,” DepEd said.

The agency clarified that the incident occurred on July 8 and involved one victim and two identified perpetrators, while the video surfaced online only on July 15.

The victim, through a parent, sought assistance from the Schools Division Office as early as July 9 and has since been receiving continuous support, including medical assistance, free psychological services, guidance counseling and an alternative mode of learning while recovering.

Immediate interventions, psychosocial assistance and formal disciplinary proceedings for the perpetrators have likewise been initiated.

Security

Beyond addressing bullying, DepEd is likewise seeking to strengthen physical security in public schools.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) backed the department’s proposal to seek P8 billion from Congress to hire security guards after Angara disclosed that only 2,494 security guards currently serve at least 48,000 public schools nationwide.

Sen. Mark Villar filed Senate Bill 2321, or the proposed Learning Institution’s Guaranteed Threat Avoidance and Safety Act, seeking to establish uniform safety standards in public and private schools.

The measure proposes stronger police visibility, coordinated threat assessments, direct emergency hotlines linking schools with police, fire and rescue units, deployment of trained medical personnel and security guards, installation of strategically placed CCTV cameras and security screening systems, comprehensive safety training and the creation of School Safety Councils in every city and municipality.

Sen. Bam Aquino said the Senate committee on basic education will investigate the implementation of the P67-billion Classroom Acceleration Program to determine the status of the construction of 25,000 classrooms funded under the 2026 national budget.

“We want to know where the P67 billion allocated for classrooms has gone and ensure that the funds are still used for classroom construction this year,” Aquino said. — Mark Ernest Villeza