Batangas, Philippines – Educators play a pivotal role in shaping young minds for the challenges in the future. Recognizing this, the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) held its 2024 In-Service Training for Junior High School Teachers, a testimony to their determination for educational excellence and innovation.
The meticulously-designed PEAC Training of Trainers program aimed to equip educators across the Philippines with various arrays of tools and strategies designed to foster student fulfillment in the 21st century.
Spanning two phases, the initial section, conducted digitally from 9-11 February 2024, allowed teacher trainers from the different regions to interact in immersive learning experiences via Zoom. The next segment, held from 1-4 March 2024 at the Lima Park Hotel in Malvar, Batangas, furnished the teacher trainers with hands-on exploration, demonstration, and collaboration possibilities.
The program brought together a diverse group of PEAC Trainers from numerous private schools nationwide. Among them were esteemed teachers from Saint Louis University (SLU) – Basic Education – Junior High in Baguio City. Karen Joy A. Viernes (English), Marivic B. Macadaeg (Music), Allan R. Abuan (TLE-ICT), and Leana B. Matbagan (Filipino) joined the program, showcasing SLU’s unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality education throughout the Philippines.
SLU’s participation aligns undoubtedly with the vision of the University President, Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, who emphasizes the importance of educational excellence at the grassroots level, and the university’s guiding precept, Missio et Excellentia (Mission and Excellence), guarantees this philosophy permeates in every department, including the Basic Education School.
SLU’s involvement additionally displays the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary’s (CICM) dedication to social justice and community development. It also contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 which guarantees all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, together with education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyle, human rights, gender equality, and global citizenship.
The training centered on the overarching theme of “Teaching Students to be Future Ready in a VUCAD World with 21st Century Skills and Mastery of MATATAG Learning Competencies”; the education underscored the urgency of making ready college students for a world marked by means of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity (VUCAD), and virtual transformation. Dr. Mike Rapatan, a distinguished PEAC Consultant, supplied invaluable insights into the evolving educational panorama.
The Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) established its unwavering commitment to raising educational standards in the Philippines. Through steadfast guidance, PEAC has grown to be a catalyst for transformative education, bridging the space between private and public colleges and ensuring equitable admission to high-quality education for all. The INSET program, a testament to PEAC’s dedication and foresight, has empowered educators and administrators to navigate the complexities of the K-12 reforms efficiently and at the same time as fostering collaboration and leveraging the rich pool of expertise within the private training zone.
By fostering collaboration and leveraging the wealthy pool of talents in the private training zone, PEAC has not only promoted complementarity between private and public school, but has also performed an essential function in co-imposing country wide subsidy programs for students and teachers. As the reverberations of the training resonate in schools nationwide, it turns into obtrusive that PEAC’s steadfast commitment to instructional excellence continues to shape the future of education in the Philippines.
The involvement of Saint Louis University in this endeavor captures the CICM Advocacy on Justice and Peace and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). (Karen Joy A. Viernes)
