On 29 September 2020, E-Net Philippines initiated a webinar on the topic, “Public Investment in Literacy in Building Back Better”. The discussion features a tripartite panel to draw the multi-pronged efforts of various government bodies and non-government organizations to promote quality education.
The Department of Education (DepEd) discussed its various plans and programs in line with improving the quality of education as well as its delivery to ensure its effectiveness. Congress, on the other hand, is currently crafting a law that will further intensify its response to improve the accessibility and quality of education in the country which includes provisions that safeguard the rights of the poor and marginalized.
On adult learning, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) promotes adult education especially for workers by providing related programs to ensure their holistic improvement. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) also presented the available programs that adults can take as an alternative mode of education to further advance their skills.
From the private sector, the Partido ng Manggagawa, as a representative of workers, emphasized on the importance of providing adequate access to education for workers to continue learning even if they are already in the world of work. ECOP, as the voice of Filipino employers, laid down its advocacies to uphold the interest of employers and its participation to various skills and education-related activities such as its active representation in TESDA, its nomination in the different technical panels of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), its membership in the National Industry Academe Council as well as in the EducForum. ECOP also expressed its support to the efforts of E-Net Philippines to promote “Education for All”.
The actions being undertaken by tripartite partners is important in achieving the goal of inclusive and quality education. These will ensure that the efforts of one organization is not thrown into waste for it is complemented by the efforts of other organizations. The vision “Education for All” truly calls for the strengthened collaboration and close partnership among concerned government bodies and non-government organizations.
The Civil Society Network for Education Reforms or E-Net Philippines is a national coalition of civil society organizations engaged in policy advocacy and partnerships for education reforms. E-Net advocates for equitable access to quality formal education, lifelong learning, and child protection and positive discipline. The coalition has continually raised issues of equity and inclusion of the marginalized, excluded, and vulnerable sectors (MEVS) – out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities, indigenous learners, Muslims, children, and youth in conflict and disaster situations, among others.
The speakers include DepEd-Literacy Coordinating Council Head Enrico Mendoza, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, DOLE Assistant Secretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay, TESDA Director Florante Herrera, and Partido ng Manggagawa National Chairperson Rene Magtubo. ECOP Advocacy, Research, and Communications Manager Ms. Jelermina Abigail Roxas-Gorospe was also invited as one of the resource speakers, who discussed the advocacies of ECOP on education, training, capacity building, and skills development.
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