May 13, 2021 – To foster intellectual understanding and global citizenship in schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) has recognized 15 Filipino teachers and three schools for participating in the 2021 KPTEP Online Teacher Exchange Programme.

“I always believe that opportunities to understand other cultures would always enhance the competence and commitment of our fellow teachers in terms of effort to really create learners who are respectful of diversity,” Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio said during the Programme’s launch.

In partnership with the Korean Ministry of Education (MOE Korea), the KPTEP Online Teacher Exchange Programme participants in the Philippines are (Luzon) Ms. Elizabeth Catibog (KPTEP Alumna, Lead Coordinator), Mr. Efraim Coronacion, Ms. Fergie Gonzales, Ms. Barbara Ramos, and Mr. Emmanuel Dela Cruz; (Visayas) Mr. Edmund Dacua (KPTEP Alumnus, Lead Coordinator), Ms. Reggie Lou Savior, Ms. Regine Lagrimas, Ms. Honey Riza Yu Vega, and Ms. Jocelyn Llego; (Mindanao) Ms. Cherry Lyn Balbacal (KPTEP Alumna, Lead Coordinator), Ms. Johanna Paño, Ms. Honeyline Depra, Ms. Shella Rose Amodia, and Mr. Edgardo Pamugas III.

Meanwhile, selected Philippine schools for this year’s program are Renato Lopez Elementary School in Mandaluyong City, Tisa II Elementary School in Cebu City, and Rizal Elementary School in Panabo City. For each school, participants will be comprised of a study group and one lead teacher that is a KPTEP Alumnus.

“According to our own experience, we’ve been able to work very well with our Korean counterparts in making sure that participants from the Philippines become fully able to develop and acquire the competencies intended to be focused on as this exchange program is implemented,” Usec. San Antonio added.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Programme was launched this year to spread the impact of educational exchange.

“Through programs like the KTEP, Filipino and Korean teachers have the opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices in the field of education, as well as from strong cross-cultural connections. This exchange epitomizes the true essence of people-to-people cooperation with its focus on global citizenship education,” Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of Asia and the Pacific Affairs Assistant Secretary Nathaniel Imperial said in his congratulatory message.

For UNESCO-Asia Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU) Director Lim Hyun Mook, countries should work together to overcome the challenges of the pandemic in education.

“Global education emphasizes solidarity and cooperation, which are the keys to problem-solving. So this year’s online exchange program is particularly important. Since this is our first attempt, we will be facing a number of unexpected problems and challenges. But through this process, we will also learn valuable lessons that will help us a lot in planning our future exchange programs to include both offline and online equities. APSEIU reconfirms its support to the participating teachers and schools for the success of the program,” said Mook.

DepEd Regional Directors Wilfredo Cabral (NCR), Salustiano Jimenez (Region VII), and Allan Farnazo (Region XI) and SDO officials ASDS Dr. Romela Cruz of Mandaluyong City, SDS Rhea Mar Angtud of Cebu City, and SDS Reynante Solitario of Panabo City also gave their support to the participants.

 

END