San Jose de Buenavista, Antique – The provincial board of Antique approved an ordinance on Monday to establish a multi-stakeholder education sector mechanism (ESM) that will serve as an advisory committee for early grade learning (EGL) from kindergarten to Grade 3. The initiative aims to support the priorities of the Department of Education (DepEd) by enhancing access to quality education and basic life skills for young children.
According to Philippines News Agency, who sponsored the ordinance, the 'ESM in the Province of Antique' was approved during the board's regular session. Niquia explained that the ESM will advise the provincial school board (PSB) on matters related to EGL, providing a structured platform and framework for multi-sectoral partnership and engagement in planning and implementing relevant educational programs, projects, and activities.
One significant challenge identified is the difficulty children in Antique face in learning their mother tongue, Kinaray-a, due to their exposure to the English language through television programs. The ESM aims to address these and other educational challenges through collaborative efforts.
The newly formed advisory committee will be chaired by the Antique provincial administrator, with the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent serving as co-chair. Additional members will include the presidents of the Provincial Federation of Child Development Workers and the Provincial Federation of Parents and Teachers Association, alongside two representatives from the private sector with interests in education.
Dr. Evelyn Remo, DepEd Schools Division of Antique's Chief of Schools Governance and Operations, highlighted the significance of the ESM in supporting the department's Advancing Basic Education (ABC+) project. This project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), focuses on early literacy development and has already resulted in the distribution of reading books published in Kinaray-a across local schools.