To empower the youth to take personal and civic responsibility, topics such as the Philippine Constitution, Agrarian Reform, Family Planning, Climate Change, among others, will be included in relevant subjects under the new General Education Curriculum (GEC). This was reported by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Director Dr Emmylou Yanga who talked on the major revisions in the implementation of the GEC in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), during the Zamboanga Basilan Sulu Tawi-Tawi Association of Private Schools (ZAMBASULTAPS) and Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) annual General Assembly, held August 29-30, 2018.
HEIs are encouraged to integrate topics, including how to develop sensitivity to the common good, utilize art for promoting advocacies, adopt cultural awareness and sensitivity, and articulate
personal positions on various global issues, in order to allow students take on personal and civic responsibilities. The subjects under the new GEC comprise the courses required of all college students, regardless of the program they are enrolled in, Yanga explained.
The ZAMBASULTAPS and CEAP General assembly, attended by school directors and administrators from Region IX and Western ARMM, was loaded with reports, sessions, and updates on the current developments in Philippine Education. Among the reports was Dr Yanga’s talk on CHED Updates.
Another highlight of the event was the update on the Department of Education (DepEd)’s
Educational Service Contracting (ESC) by Philippine Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) Executive Director Rhodora Angela Ferrer. Ferrer announced that for the ESC, the DepEd program managed by PEAC that offers financial assistance to students from private schools, a revised instrument on its certification will be implemented effective next school year 2019-2020. She also reported a notable increase in the number of ESC grantees from 22,659 in 2015 to 24,184 in
2017. For teachers, on the other hand, PEAC continues to offer 15-unit credits for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for every in-service training attended. CPD units are required for the renewal of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) licenses.
Other speakers at the assembly discussed significant issues related to the improvement of instruction and learning inside the classroom, including AdZU School of Education’s Dr Dorothy Joan Lei Labrador who shared Bridging Program Experiences. Philippine Survey and Research Center Qualitative Research Director Emil Avenido talked about Understanding the Millennials, while CEAP Legal Counsel Atty Noel Joseph Estrada gave Education Law updates.
ZAMBASULATAPS welcomed two new member-schools during the assembly, namely, the Sarang Bangun Learning Center in Zamboanga City, and the Bongao Advent Academy in Tawi-Tawi, adding them to its roster of over 100 member-schools.
ZAMBASULTAPS traces its roots to AdZU. It was founded by former AdZU President Fr Ernesto
Carretero SJ in the late 80s. His successor, Fr William Kreutz SJ, continued the mission of the organization in bridging the gap between private schools and government agencies. Since its inception, the organization has provided seminars and trainings on peace and the ministry of teaching to its member-schools. Through ZAMBASULTAPS and CEAP, AdZU is able to establish
connections around region, thus expanding its reach to other schools. At present, ZAMBASULTAPS is under the leadership of Fr Karel S San Juan SJ, AdZU University President, who also serves as CEAP IX Regional Trustee. ZAMBASULTAPS/CEAP Regional Program Coordinator is Annie Ebreo.
CEAP, on the other hand, was created in 1941 to advance and promote the teaching function of the Catholic Church. This year the 77th CEAP National Convention will be held from October 2 to 5, 2018 at the SMX Convention.
