Multi-Donor funded projects inaugurated in Maguindanao; turned-over to DepEd-ARMM

SHARIFF AGUAK, MAGUINDANAO – Three projects were officially turned-over Wednesday to Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) funded by World Bank, Australian Aid for International Development (AusAID) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Regional Teacher’s Training Center (RTTC), Staff House of the Center and the Library Hub, stand at the compound of Shariff Aguak Central Elementary School, are seen to help boost the quality of education in ARMM.

Dr. Ian D’Arcy Walsh, Australian Project Director for Basic Education Assistance in Mindanao (BEAM), said at the inaugural ceremony that education has the biggest role to alleviate poverty and establish peace in the autonomous region.

“It is uncommon that three donors collaborated to develop an improved learning system for teachers and students in the ARMM. We believe that a quality education is a big contribution for the attainment of peace and development in the region,” Walsh said.

Further, USAID Deputy Chief of Party Kevin Corbin said, “We wanted to help ARMM address education challenges. By increasing learning opportunities for children and strengthen capacity of teachers on basic subjects, we can achieve this very soon.”

The 2,800 square meter and two-storey RTTC with 14 accommodation rooms and three function rooms is a P17.5 million project funded by World Bank through ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP) under the Strategic Regional Infrastructure component. The facility will further enhance teachers’ skills and capabilities in teaching all subject areas thereby improving also the students’ performance.

The P2.75 million-Staff House serves as a support facility to RTTC and will house trainers during trainings and seminars. It was funded by BEAM through AusAID. It has an air-conditioned dormitory rooms and training halls equipped with necessary furniture and fixtures, smart board, LCD projector and laptop.

A project of DepEd, the Library Hub is jointly implemented by DepEd-ARMM, ARMM regional government, Maguindanao provincial government and Shariff Aguak municipal government. The USAID through Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS) provided 4,290 books compose of English, Science, Mathematics, storybooks, reference books and various school materials. The Hub will function as ‘warehouse and wholesale library’ for teachers and students.

“Teachers can borrow reading materials in bulk and bring them to their students in remote locations. The books can be lent to schools for 25-calendar day periods and should be returned after to be able to borrow another bundle,” Corbin said.

Moreover, Walsh noted the remarkable improvement of ARMM students’ performance which deserves more funding support to fully achieve its goals. He said that BEAM’s assessment in 2004, ARMM rated only 27% on student’s ability to solve open-ended problem questions, “now it increased by 40%.”

“The 20% increase in 4 years is not terrific but already notable. This is an indicator of progress. With the continuous assistance of different donors as well as the ARMM regional government, in five years, we can reach the expected output,” Walsh said.

DepEd-ARMM Regional Secretary, Udtog Kawit, AlHaj., also remarked on the illiteracy rate of ARMM students citing “we are getting better.”

“ARMM had stepped up to rank 11 from rank 16 among the 17 regions in the whole country which has high illiteracy rate in 2005, now we rank 7. Hopefully after 5 years, we will rank 2,” Kawit said.

On the other hand, the USAID and AusAID representatives hope that the continuing skirmishes in the region will halt to pave way the continuity of project inputs.

“We hope that peace and stability will increase in the region,” Corbin said.

Walsh further said, “We are giving counseling package for teachers on peace conflict resolution for them to handle stress and sensibilities. We want them to be culturally-sensitive. We are establishing a school system that will improve living. Then, we alleviate poverty and eventually provide opportunities for employment. Thus, we contribute to peace and development efforts.”

The ceremony also includes the signing of Memorandum of Agreement between BEAM and DepEd-ARMM for the continuous support to improve access of school children to basic education. The accord also includes the funding support of BEAM for the expansion of Vocational and Technical Skills Training for the out-of-school youth and the rehabilitation of Community Learning Centers in ARMM.

ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan through Executive Secretary Oscar Sampulna Sr. expressed gratitude to foreign donors in helping the autonomous regional government in its efforts to improve the education sector in ARMM.

“We are far from excellence but ARMM is manifesting significant progress. The regional government is doing the best it can. Whatever resources we have and with the assistance of foreign donors, we will utilize it to meet our goal – a quality education for the students in ARMM,” Sampulna said. (BPI-ARMM)