The Institutionalization of public-school system carries the mandates of providing quality, accessible, relevant and liberating education. Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine constitution states that the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. To make the mandates come to life DepED-Division of Malaybalay City continue to extend the educational services in different strategic areas where basic education is most needed by the learners. Provision of free and compulsory education for all Filipino children in the elementary and secondary levels as specified in Republic Act 9155 the Basic Education Act of 2001 is the heart of this initiative.
To operationalize Goal 1 of the Division Education Development Plan (DEDP) that is to achieve Universal participation and furtherly stated in strategy 1.2 that seeks to strengthen the inclusive education program by bringing all school age learners to school through SPED, IPEd, Muslim Education and non-school age learners to community learning centers were done through identification of strategic areas to come up with an intervention of establishing new schools in remote areas. In 2018 four (4) Integrated schools was opened to accommodate the secondary learners in these areas namely Magsaysay Integrated School, Kapitan Anghel Integrated School, Candiisan Integrated school and Kibalabag Integrated School. Currently, 5 schools are preparing documents for integration and one area is being proposed for a school establishment. School establishment and Integration is an initiative to increase access to basic education among the learners in far flung areas where separate secondary school is not feasible to operate. Integrated School (IS) refers to “a public school that offers kindergarten, elementary, junior high school and senior high school education.
DepED-Division of Malaybalay City also intensifies its program on alternative learning system for out-of-school youth and adult learners, whose end-goal in to provide basic education along with skills development, knowledge expansion and with values formation for the learners to become caring, self- reliant, productive and patriotic citizens. With these efforts along with support of the local government Unit in the City of Malaybalay learners can now have better access to education. The concerted efforts of Local government unit and the Division Office makes the governance of basic education feasible as it is translated into programs, projects and services developed, adapted and offered to fit local needs thereby no children in Malaybalay City will be left behind.
VICENTE G. SAN MIGUEL
Senior Education Program Specialist
Division of Malaybalay City