Ilocos Norte schools’ division hosts regional IPEd training

DEPED officials and participants during the Indigenous Peoples Education Training hosted by the Ilocos Norte schools division. (Photo courtesy of John Rhey Abaga)

By Jhon Rey Andrada Abaga

Contributor

Pursuant to DepEd order No. 62, s. 2011 entitled Adopting the National Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) Policy Framework and DepEd Order No. 43, s. 2013 entitled Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10533 Otherwise Known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, the Department of Education (DepEd) is adopting the Indigenous Peoples Education Curriculum Framework.

Recognizing the right of indigenous peoples to basic education that is culturally rooted and responsive, the IPEd Curriculum Framework which seeks to provide guidance to schools and other education programs, both public and private, as they engage in communities in localizing, indigenizing, and enhancing the K to 12 Curriculum based on their respective educational and social contexts.

In response to this mandate, the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte (SDO) hosted the five-day regional training/retooling of teachers, school heads and supervisors on Indigenous People’s Education (IPEd) Implementation at the River Mount Hotel and Resort in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte from January 18-22, 2016.

This training was participated by the identified schools with Indigenous People (IP) learners and from diverse communities of Region I.  A total of 110 participants comprises of teachers, school heads and supervisors came from the six participating Divisions in Region I: Ilocos Norte—17 participants headed by Milagros Sandra G. Malvar, education program specialist (EPS) and the IPEd focal person; Ilocos Sur—20 participants headed by Digna C. Natura, EPS and the IPEd focal person; Candon City—20 participants headed by Arthur Michael Lumiten, EPS and the IPEd focal person; La Union—16 participants headed by. Arthur Ligaten, EPS and IPEd focal person; Pangasinan I—19 participants headed by Ceilito C. Angeles, Ed.D., EPS and the IPEd focal person; and Pangasinan II—18 participants headed by Neil Gavina, PSDS and the IP coordinator.

DepEd Region I officials headed by regional director Dr. Alma Ruby C. Torio graced the opening of the event the first day where she served as the keynote speaker during the opening program at the hotel Conference Hall. She pointed out the importance of education to the IP learners. She also stressed out that despite technological changes, culture should be preserved, integrated and taught inside every classroom. In her speech, she also emphasizes that as an IPEd teacher and administrator of the school, “you should have a very strong foundation and you need to multiply your efforts to work with the parents and the community. That as we implement the Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) we have to work hand in hand and begin in a single step.”

Meanwhile, Araceli C. Pastor, the Ilocos Norte schools division superintendent of warmly welcomed the delegates. She mentioned that the venue of the training is very unique since it is a combination of a river and a mountain.

Participants of the training had also the chance to visit Nueva Era Eco and Cultural Park as one of the IP town of the province.

Nueva Era Vice Mayor Carolyn A. Garvida gladly welcomed the delegates. In her talk, she mentioned about their programs and services offered to community folks. She presented their unique way of living especially their cultures, beliefs and best practices of preserving their Tinguian culture.