THE Department of Education has sought the assistance of the United Nations Children’s Fund on the transition of Sulu from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao back to the department’s supervision after the Supreme Court ruling declaring the province is no longer part of the autonomous region in Mindanao.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said he met with UNICEF officials last November 13 to request their assistance in supporting the seamless transition of Sulu from BARMM back to DepEd supervision.
A statement issued by Angara’s office said both agencies also discussed the joint education interventions and efforts under DepEd’s strategic plans: the Five-Point Agenda and the Basic Education Development Plan 2030, which will focus on improving early childhood education, foundational academic skills, and out-of-school youth support.
“Secretary Angara also enjoined UNICEF to roll out new technologies and digital solutions to schools and field offices, specifically on teacher assessments and data-driven analytics,” it said, adding they also discussed how to connect schools in Sulu that do not have internet connectivity yet to the Net.
“UNICEF underscored that connectivity is essential for DepEd to ensure learning continuity in the context of calamities and emergencies,” it added.
The High Court earlier said that its ruling removing Sulu from the BARMM should be fully implemented despite the pending appeal on the controversial decision.
Last September, the SC unanimously declared Sulu province not part of the BARMM after it rejected the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
