PASIG CITY, December 3, 2019 – Heading forward, ‘Sulong EduKalidad’ will be the battlecry of the Department of Education (DepEd) as it launched on Tuesday its reforms to achieve quality in basic education.

During the launch, DepEd secured the commitment of all local and international partners, various education leaders, champions, advocates and stakeholders, including representatives from the executive and legislative branch of the government, to contribute their concrete support and collaboration.

“We always remind ourselves that our constitutional mandate to provide every Filipino not only access to education but to basic quality education. We have realized that we are facing the reality that we still have much to do in responding to the constitutional mandate as far as quality education is concerned,” Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones explained.

The initiative is in response to the rapidly changing learning environment of present and future learners and will introduce aggressive reforms to globalize the quality of basic education in the Philippines.

Briones explained that Sulong EduKalidad will have KITE as its four key reform areas: (1) K to 12 Curriculum review and update; (2) Improvement of learning environment (3) Teachers’ upskilling and reskilling; and (4) Engagement of stakeholders for support and collaboration.

“Secretary Briones is correct when she pointed out that the biggest challenge facing basic education in our country today is quality, particularly in the learning outcomes of students. I think we made great strides in improving accessibility especially with the Last Mile Schools program,” said Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.

Members of the Congress, likewise, expressed their commitment to support the cause.

“Ito [Sulong Edukalidad] po ang magiging malaking hamon at malaking gawain natin sa mga susunod na taon,” said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee for Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

“To serve as an inspiration to our learners, to our children, to our teachers, we have to give them something higher to talk about, and that is quality,” said Representative Roman Romulo, chairperson of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture.

On the part of teachers, quality education advocate Father Ben Nebres, and Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2018 finalist Dr. Venus Alboruto also pledged their commitment for the campaign.

Sulong EduKalidad logo

In DepEd’s ‘battle for quality education’, a child running with a vibrant, Philippine flag-themed saranggola will be its symbol of hope.

Sulong EduKalidad’s logo reflects the nation’s aspiration to deliver quality education. The kite symbolizes DepEd’s aim to soar above the challenges in basic education with its quadrants representing the four key reform areas, KITE.

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