Office to ensure quality education for indigenous peoples formed

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education has created a unit to supervise and implement programs and activities for the education of indigenous peoples (IPs) and ensure the delivery of quality education.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that the Indigenous Peoples Education Office (IPsEO) shall take the lead in planning, implementing, and monitoring activities related to IPs’ education.

“This office is also tasked to develop and recommend policy standards and actions to DepEd management to enhance DepEd’s implementation of education initiatives for IP learners,” Luistro said.

The move is in line with the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (Republic Act 8371) which mandates all government agencies to recognize and promote the rights of indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples within the framework of national unity and development.

Invoking the said law, Luistro has issued DepEd Order No. 62 in 2011 entitled National Indigenous Peoples Education Policy Framework to serve as an instrument for promoting shared accountability, continuous dialogue, engagement and partnership.

The IPsEO, the order provided, will serve as the clearinghouse for all education-related transactions including the production of learning modules and the issuance of indigenized curriculum, among others.

DepEd is partnering with other national government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society groups, indigenous peoples organization, private businesses, corporate foundations, and academic institutions to promote IPs education.

“These efforts are part of our mandate to make quality education accessible to all Filipinos and inclusive of all learners,” Luistro explained.

Legarda lauds creation of IPsEO

Senator Loren Legarda has commended the Department of Education (DepEd) for taking a step further in bringing education closer to Filipinos belonging to indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) through the Indigenous Peoples Education Office (IPsEO).

Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on cultural communities, said that as a basic right, education should be made accessible to all Filipinos, including members of ICCs, most of which live in far-flung areas.

“I am glad that DepEd came up with the idea of creating the IP Education Office to help effectively implement education programs for IPs. I hope that this will ensure not only the delivery of quality education to our IPs but also the preservation and promotion of their culture and heritage,” the Senator stressed.

Legarda said that this initiative will help open more opportunities for members of indigenous groups.