DO - s2022 - 024 - BEDP

(Enclosure to DepEd Order No. , s.
2022)
January 2022
This plan was written by the Department of Education of the Philippines with UNICEF technical assistance as grant
agent of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Education Sector Plan Development, Philippine Business for
Education (PBEd) as Coordinating Agency and contributions of Education Forum members.
DepEd is the primary administrative agency of the Executive Branch of government,

vested with authority, accountability, and responsibility for ensuring access
to, promoting equity in, and improving the quality of basic education, which
encompasses kindergarten, elementary and secondary education as well as
alternative learning systems for out-of-school learners and those with special
needs. DepEd formulated the Basic Education Development Plan 2030 to address
pressing and emerging education issues and challenges
UNICEF is an agency of the United Nations devoted to serving the world’s children.
UNICEF began providing assistance to the Philippines in November 1948. Since
then, UNICEF and the Philippine Government have been partners in protecting
Filipino children. UNICEF Philippines works to promote and protect the rights of
children and aims to provide the best quality of life for every Filipino child through
programmes that help them survive and flourish. UNICEF served as Grant Agent for
the GPE Education Sector Plan Development Grant (ESPG) for the formulation of
the Basic Education Development Plan 2030.
Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) is an advocacy group founded and led by
the Philippines’ business leaders. PBEd drives conversations on key and systemic
education reforms through innovative interventions and policy research to support
building an education system that will enable every Filipino to lead a productive and
meaningful life, and to contribute to national development. PBED served as the
Coordinating Agent that led the coordination and communication between the GPE
Secretariat, the Education Forum and the Department of Education.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i List of Tables i
II List of Figures iii
III List of Acronyms and Abbreviations v
IV Foreword xviii
V Executive Summary 2
1 INTRODUCTION 10
2 THE CONTEXT OF THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATION SECTOR 14
2.1. National Development Context 15
2.2. Legal Framework 19
2.3. Overview of the Structure of the Education Sector in the Philippines 22
3 KEY FEATURES OF THE EDUCATION SITUATION ANALYSIS 30
3.1. Equitable Access and Participation 31
3.1.1. Participation by Education Level in Basic Education 32
3.1.2. The Education of Groups in Situations of Disadvantage and

49
Vulnerability in the Philippines
3.1.3. A Rights-Based Education Through Inclusion Programs 55
3.1.4. Private Education 66
3.1.5. Health; Nutrition; and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene 68
3.2. Quality of Education Provision and Learning Outcomes 72
3.2.1. Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes 72
3.2.2. Key Challenges Impacting the Quality of Teaching and Learning 81
3.3. Education Budget and Financing 87
3.4. System Management 93
3.5. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 99

3.5.1. Natural and Human-Induced Hazards Over the Last Years 99
3.5.2 Impact of Natural and Human-Induced Hazards in Basic Education 102
3.5.3. The DepEd DRRM Responses 104
3.5.4. The Impact of COVID-19 to the Education Sector 106
4 POLICY FRAMEWORKS OF THE BEDP 111
5 STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK OF THE BEDP 121
5.1. Access to Quality Basic Education for All 130
5.2. Equity for Children, Youth, and Adults in Situations of Disadvantage 136
5.3. Quality of Education Provision and Learning Outcomes 142
5.4. Learners’ Resiliency and Well-Being 147
6 ENABLING MECHANISMS: GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT 159
7 BEDP IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION 167
7.1. BEDP Implementation Plan 168
7.1.1. Implementation Strategy 168
7.1.2. Operationalizing BEDP 169
7.1.3. BEDP IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS 172
7.1.4. Capacity Building Plan 172
7.2. BEDP Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adjustment Strategies 174
7.2.1. Objectives of the BEDP MEA 174
7.2.2. Guiding Principles 175
7.2.3. BEDP MEA Framework 177
7.2.4. Operationalizing the BEDP MEA Framework 194
7.2.5. Decentralized M&E System 198
7.2.6. BEDP MEA Scope and Responsibilities 202

7.2.7. Capacity Building on M&E 203
7.2.8. Information Systems and Databases 205
7.3. Policy and Research Agenda 210
7.4. Education Futures 213
7.5. Communication Strategy 215
8 FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK 216
8.1. Funding Education in the Philippines 217
8.2. Forward Estimates of Resource Requirements and Budgetary Impact 220
8.3. Funding the BEDP and Calculating the Funding Gap 235
9 COSTED OPERATIONAL PLAN 2022-2026 234
10 RISK MANAGEMENT 237
11 ANNEXES 242
11.1. Results Framework 243
11.2. Linakages of DepEd and BEDP to Other Education Agencies 249
11.3. Operational Plan 255
11.4. Steering Committee and Thematic Working Group Members 265
11.5. References 268

LIST OF TABLES,
FIGURES AND ACRONYMS
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 1 Classification of Schools in the Philippines 28
TABLE 2 Teaching and Non-Teaching Personnel in DepEd 28
Gross Enrollment Rate and Net Enrollment Rate by Educational Level,

TABLE 3 31
SY 2017–2020
TABLE 4 GER and NER for All Basic Education Levels, by Gender 2019–2020 38
NET Enrollment Rate Per Key Stage by Region and Gender

TABLE 5 41
(SY 2019–2020)
TABLE 6 Cohort Survival Rate and Completion Rate- SY 2009 to 2019 46
TABLE 7 Reasons for Not Attending School by Gender and Age, 2017 50
TABLE 8 Proportion of Index Children with Vulnerabilities by Marginalized Sector 56
Types of Reported Violence on Children by Friends or Classmates by Island

TABLE 9 65
Group
TABLE 10 Measures of Student Learning Outcomes for Basic Education 74
TABLE 11 Assessment Scale 76
Selected Official Development Assistance (ODA) Information for the Philippines,

TABLE 12 87
2010–2019
TABLE 13 Total Basic Education Spending 2010–2019 90
TABLE 14 Obligation and Disbursement Rates, 2016–2020 92
Enrollment for SY 2020–2021, Kindergarten to Grade 12 Including ALS (as of

TABLE 15 106
January 18 2021)
TABLE 16 MEA Framework for Pillar 1– Access 178
TABLE 17 MEA Framework for Pillar 2–Equity

182
TABLE 18 MEA Framework for Pillar 3–Quality of Learning 184
i
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 19 MEA Framework for Pillar 4–Learners’ Resiliency and Well-Being 187
TABLE 20 MEA Framework for Enabling Mechanisms–Governance and Management 189
TABLE 21 Existing DepEd Information Systems 207
TABLE 22 Information Systems for Development 209
TABLE 23 Appropriations to the Education Sector 219
TABLE 24 Projected Cost Estimates by Cost Type in Php Millions, Steady-State Scenario 222
Projected Spending in Education and Basic Education as a Percentage of GDP

TABLE 25 223
and Total Government Spending, Steady-State Scenario
TABLE 26 Projected Cost Estimates by Cost Type, BEDP 224
TABLE 27 Projected Cost Estimates by Key Level and Cost Type, BEDP 226
Projected Cost Estimates by Key Level and Cost Type as a Percentage

TABLE 28 227
of Total for Each Key Level
TABLE 29 Incremental Quantities and Costs of Major Cost Drivers, BEDP 229
Projected Spending in Education and Basic Education as a Percentage

TABLE 30 231
of GDP and Total Government Spending, BEDP
TABLE 31 Projected Estimates of the Funding Gap, BEDP 232
TABLE 32 Costed Operational Plan, Pillar Level 235
TABLE 33 Risk Analysis Matrix on Risk Severity 239
ii
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1 Philippines Human Development Index 17
FIGURE 2 Levels of Philippine Education 23
FIGURE 3 The K to 12 Reform 23
FIGURE 4 Department of Education Organizational Structure 26
Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates in Kindergarten,

FIGURE 5 33
SY 2010–2011 to SY 2019–2020
FIGURE 6 GER and NER for Elementary, SY 2009–2010 to SY 2019–2020 34
FIGURE 7 GER and NER for JHS, SY 2009–2010 to SY 2016–2017 35
FIGURE 8 GER and NER in SHS, 2016–2020 36
FIGURE 9 Gender Ratios in Secondary Education, SY 2019–2020 38
GER and NER for JHS, Disaggregated by Gender, SY 2009–2010 to

FIGURE 10 39
SY 2019–2020
FIGURE 11 Proportion of Cohort Enrolled in School 44
FIGURE 12 Grade Level Progression 44
FIGURE 13 Dropouts-Kindergarten to Grade 12, SY 2019–2020 47
Cohort Survival of Grade 1 Learners in SY 2008–2009 to Grade 12 Graduates

FIGURE 14 48
in SY 2019–2020, Public and Private
Out of School Children and Youth (% Distribution) by Per Capita Income Decile
FIGURE 15 49
and Gender, 2017
Children and Learners with Disabilities in Special Education Program,

FIGURE 16 55
SY 2019–2020
FIGURE 17 Indigenous Peoples Learners, Public School Enrollment, 2008–2020 58
FIGURE 18 Muslim Learners Nationwide, by Gender and Level, 2015–2019 59
FIGURE 19 Percentage of Students Going to Private Schools Over Time 66
FIGURE 20 Nutritional Status of Children, SY 2018–2019 68
iii
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE 21 School-Related Outcomes and Forms of Undernutrition 70
FIGURE 22 Increasing Trend of Non-Textbook Reading After Age 10 83
Percentage of Grade 5 Children, by Language of Instruction (and Testing) Spoken

FIGURE 23 84
at Home
FIGURE 24 Education Sector Appropriations FY 2010–2020 88
FIGURE 25 DepEd Allotment, Obligation, and Disbursement, FY 2012–2019 89
FIGURE 26 Cumulative Spending per Student and Learning Outcomes from PISA 91
FIGURE 27 Sulong Edukalidad Framework 115
FIGURE 28 Competencies and Aspirations for Filipino Learners 123
FIGURE 29 Mainstreaming BEDP Strategies in DepEd 129
FIGURE 30 Mainstreaming BEDP Strategies in DepEd 169
FIGURE 31 Upper Levels of the Results Framework 177
FIGURE 32 BEDP MEA Strategies 194
FIGURE 33 Structure of the Philippine Education Simulation Model 221
FIGURE 34 Projected Cost Estimates by Cost Type, BEDP 225
FIGURE 35 Projected Costs by Key Level, BEDP 228
Percentage of a Pillar’s Incremental Cost to Total Incremental Cost,

FIGURE 36 236
2022–2026
FIGURE 37 Risk Analysis Matrix on Impact and Probability 238
FIGURE 38 Philippines Qualifications Framework 252
iv
LIST OF ACRONYMS
4Ps Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
A&E Accreditation and Equivalency
ACTRC Assessment, Curriculum, and Technology Research Centre
ADM Alternative Delivery Mode
AI Artificial Intelligence
AIP Annual Implementation Plan
AIR Annual Implementation Review
ALIVE Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education
ALS Alternative Learning System
APIS Annual Poverty Indicators Survey
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations
BAEd Bureau of Alternative Education
BARMM Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
BEA Bureau of Education Assessment
BEDP Basic Education Development Plan
BEEA Basic Education Exit Assessment
BEFF Basic Education Facilities Fund
BEIS Basic Education Information System
BE-LCP Basic Education - Learning Continuity Plan
BERA Basic Education Research Agenda
BERDP Bangsamoro Education Reform and Development Plan
BERF Basic Education Research Fund
v
BESA Basic Education Sector Analysis
BESRA Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda
BHROD Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development
BLEPT Board Licensure Exam for Professional Teachers
BLGU Barangay Local Government Unit
BLR Bureau of Learning Resources
BLSS-SHD Bureau of Learner Support Services - School Health Division
BMI Body Mass Index
CAR Cordillera Administrative Region
CBS Cash-based Budgeting System
CCAM Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
CHED Commission on Higher Education
CID Curriculum Implementation Division
CLC Community Learning Center
CLMD Curriculum and Learning Management Division
CO Central Office
COA Commission on Audit
CPD Continuing Professional Development
CPU Child Protection Unit
CR Completion Rate
CRE Child Rights Education
CREDe Child Rights in Education Desk
vi
CRRP Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan
CSO Civil Society Organizations
CSR Cohort Survival Rate
CWC Council for the Welfare of Children
CWD Children with Disabilities
DAT Division Achievement Tests
DBM Department of Budget and Management
DECS Department of Education, Culture, and Sports
DEDP Division Education Development Plan
DepEd Department of Education
DERPS DepEd Enterprise Resource Planning System
DILG Department of Interior and Local Government
DMS Document Management System
DO DepEd Order
DO Division Office
DOF-BLGF Department of Finance - Bureau of Local Government Finance
DOH Department of Health
DOLE Department of Labor and Employment
DOST Department of Science and Technology
DPRP Disaster Preparedness and Response Program
DPWH Department of Public Works and Highways
vii
DR Dropout Rate
DRRM Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
DRRMO Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
DRRMS Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service
DSWD Department of Social Welfare and Development
DTFC-19 DepEd Task Force COVID-19
EBEIS Enhanced Basic Education Information System
ECCD Early Childhood Care and Development
ECE Early Childhood Education
EiE Education in Emergencies
ELLNA Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment
EMIS Education Management and Information System
EOSY End of School Year
ESC Education Service Contracting
ESSD Education Support Services Division
EWS Early Warning Systems
ExeCom Executive Committee
FLEMMS Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey
FLT Functional Literacy Test
FTAD Field Technical Assistance Division
FY Fiscal Year
GAA General Appropriations Act
viii
GASTPE Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education
GCRV Grave Child Rights Violations
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GER Gross Enrollment Rate
GIDA Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas
GIS Geographic Information System
GPS Global Positioning System
HDI Human Development Index
HDPRC Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster
HEI Higher Education Institution
HRDD Human Resources Development Division
HRIS Human Resource Information System
IATF-EID Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases
ICT Information and Communications Technologies
IEC Information, Education, and Communication
IIEP International Institute for Educational Planning (UNESCO)
ILSA International Large-scale Assessment
IMF International Monetary Fund
IP Indigenous Peoples
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IPEd Indigenous Peoples Education
IPRA Indigenous Peoples Rights’ Act
ix
IQR Interquartile Ratio
IRR Implementing Rules and Regulations
JHS Junior High School
KPI Key Performance Indicator
KSAV Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, and Values
LAC Learning Action Cell
LAS Learning Activity Sheets
LC Learning Competency
LCSFC Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child
LDF Local Development Fund
LGBT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
LGU Local Government Unit
LIS Learner Information System
LMS Last Mile Schools
LMS Learning Management System
LR Learning Resources
LRA Land Registration Authority
LRN Learner Reference Number
LRPC Learning Resources and Platforms Committee
LSB Local School Board
LTE Learning Tools and Equipment
LUCs Local Universities and Colleges
x
LWD Learner with Disabilities
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
ManCom Management Committee
MBHTE Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education
MEA Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adjustment
MELCs Most Essential Learning Competencies
MEP Madrasah Education Program
MFAT Multi-factored Assessment Tool
MHPSS Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services
MOOE Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses
MOA Memorandum of Agreement
MOV Means of Verification
MPPE Multigrade Program in Philippine Education
MPS Mean Percentage Score
MT Mother Tongue
MTB-MLE Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education
MTR Mid-term Review
NAT National Achievement Test
NBDB National Book Development Board
NC National Certificate
NCAE National Career Assessment Examination
NCCA National Commission for Culture and the Arts
xi
NCCT National Council for Children’s Television
NCIP National Commission on Indigenous People
NCR National Capital Region
NCS National Competency Standards
NDRRMC National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
NDRRMF National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund
NEAP National Educators Academy of the Philippines
NEDA National Economic and Development Authority
NER Net Enrollment Rate
NGO Non-governmental Organization
NIR Net Intake Rate
NNC National Nutritional Council
NSA National Sports Association
NSBI National School Building Inventory
ODA Official Development Assistance
OE Outcome Evaluation
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OPCRF Office Performance Commitment and Review Form
OSA Out-of-School Adults
OSC Out-of-School Children
OSCY Out-of-School Children and Youth
OSY Out-of-School Youth
xii
PAP Programs, Activities, and Projects
PBEd Philippine Business for Education
PBSP Philippine Business for Social Progress
PCNA Post-conflict Needs Assessment
PDNA Post-disaster Needs Assessment
PDP Philippine Development Plan
PEAC Private Education Assistance Committee
PESM Philippine Education Simulation Model
PHIVOLCS Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
PHSA Philippine High School for the Arts
PIDS Philippine Institute for Development Studies
PIR Program Implementation Review
PISA Program for International Student Assessment
PMIS Program Management Information System
POC Persons of Concern
PPAs Programs, Projects, and Activities
PPRD Policy, Planning, and Research Division
PPSSH Philippines Professional Standards for School Heads
PPST Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers
PQF Philippine Qualifications Framework
PRC Professional Regulations Commission
PSA Philippine Statistics Authority
xiii
PSC Philippine Sports Commission
QAD Quality Assurance Division
QPIR Quarterly Program Implementation Review
QRF Quick Response Fund
RA Republic Act
RADaR Rapid Assessment of Damages Report
RAT Regional Achievement Tests
RBE-DepEd Rights-based Education in DepEd
RBEP Regional Basic Education Plan
RCTQ Research Center for Teacher Quality
RDC Regional Development Council
RO Regional Office
RRS Rights-Respecting Schools
SAAODB Status of Appropriations, Allotments, Obligations, Disbursements, and Balances
SBFP School-based Feeding Program
SBM School-based Management
SDG Sustainable Development Goal
SDO Schools Division Office
SDS Schools Division Superintendent
SEAMEO- Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization - Regional Center

Innotech for Educational Innovation and Technology
SEAMEO- Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization - Southeast
SEARCA Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture
SEA-PLM Southeast Asia - Primary Learning Metrics
xiv
SEF Special Education Fund
SGC School Governing Council
SGOD Schools Governance and Operations Division
SHS Senior High School
SIP School Improvement Plan
SLM Self-learning Module
SLR Supplementary Learning Resources
SPED Special Education
STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
SUCs State Universities and Colleges
SY School Year
TA Technical Assistance
TALIS Teaching and Learning International Survey
TEIs Teacher Education Institutions
TESDA Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
TIMSS Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study
TLS Temporary Learning Spaces
TM Teachers’ Manuals
TSS Teacher Salary Subsidy
TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training
TVL Technical-Vocational Laboratory
TVL Technical-Vocational-Livelihood
xv
TWG Thematic Working Groups
TX Textbook
TXPr Textbook-to-Pupil Ratio
UN United Nations
UNCRPD United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNDRR United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
USAID United States Agency for International Development
VP Voucher Program
WFP Work and Financial Plan
WHO World Health Organization
WinS WASH in Schools
WinS-OMS WASH in Schools - Online Monitoring System
xvi
xvii
FOREWORD
The last decade for basic education has been a mix of immense structural and curricular reforms, expansion
of access to education, challenges in education quality, and immediate impacts of COVID-19 on learning and
participation.
The road towards achieving the global agenda for education in 2030 is expectedly rough, characterized by
disruptions and uncertainties. As we aim to achieve our Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030
commitments as well as the targets in the Philippine Development Plan and the country’s national aspirations in
the Ambisyon Natin 2040, we need to confront the bottom line and set a clear trajectory towards 2030. There is
also a need for consistent enabling policies, relevant programs and projects, and clear targets.
This administration had ventured into developing a long-term plan for basic education to strategically address the
immediate impact of the pandemic on learning and confront the challenge of education quality. After extensive
iterative consultations with various education stakeholders, a new long-term plan for basic education dubbed as
the Basic Education Development Plan 2030 (BEDP 2030) has been formulated. This will be the country’s first-
ever long-term plan for basic education and will be the first time that an outgoing administration will hand over a
well-crafted education plan to the incoming administration.
The long-term plan has been designed to be transformative and seeks to address the root cause of the problems
on quality, close the access gaps, sustain and enhance relevant programs, and introduce innovations in fostering
resiliency and embedding the rights of children and the youth in education. The co-creation of new learning
spaces will allow the system to be responsive to the needs of the new generation and the future, and cope with
the fast-changing global education imperatives.
We believe our mission in basic education is to better prepare our youth to be globally competitive and resilient
and become productive nation-loving citizens, and to provide a nurturing and joyful experience of basic education
to children and youth. We have clearly defined in the plan the competencies that we want our learners to acquire
and apply in real-life situations, the joy and fulfillment in education that we want our learners to experience, and
the aspirations that we want our learners to reach for, achieve and apply in real-life situations.
We take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed to the various stages
of the formulation of this BEDP 2030. We offer this education plan to every Filipino who shares the same hope of
having a quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating basic education for all.
We call on the continued support of the entire DepEd family and our partners to make this long-term plan a
success.
Mabuhay!
LEONOR MAGTOLIS BRIONES

Secretary of Education
xviii
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Executive
SUMMARY
2
Introduction
The Department of Education (DepEd) will be implementing the 2022–2030 Basic Education Development Plan
(BEDP) to continue the goal of the Department that all Filipinos can realize their full potential and contribute
meaningfully to a cohesive nation through the protection and promotion of the right to quality education. The
BEDP anchors on the Sulong Edukalidad Framework, the Philippine Development Plan and Ambisyon 2040, and
the commitments in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030, and provides a strategic roadmap for the
Department to follow to improve the delivery and quality of basic education and the experience of learners in the
basic education learning environment.
Challenges Confronting Basic Education
The challenges that were identified in the Basic Education Sector Analysis (BESA) can be classified as issues
in access and efficiency, quality, and governance. For access and efficiency, the issues were the incremental
increase in participation that is yet to reach universal access, the prevalence of out-of-school children and youth,
and the lack of data on the universe of groups in situations of disadvantage. Issues that involve the quality
of education are highlighted by the tests conducted at various stages of K to 12, particularly on the results on
reading and numeracy, the inadequate coverage of 21st century skills in teaching affecting test performance
results, and girls outperforming boys in attendance and learning proficiency. Both access to education and quality
of education are also affected by the learning environment and the learners’ experience of joy in this environment.
In the governance aspect, vertical and horizontal integration in program management at the different levels of
DepEd (Central Office, Regional Office, Schools Division Office, Schools) need to be strengthened, including
the need to build the capacity of DepEd field units on contextualization of program implementation and strategy
execution involving quality assurance, technical assistance provision, education planning, monitoring and
evaluation, and program management. There is also a need to strengthen the complementarity between public
and private schools and strengthen support to the private sector.
Priority Development Areas
In response to the challenges and issues identified in the BESA, the BEDP puts forward four priority development
areas:
1. Pivoting to quality, ensuring that all learners attain learning standards in every key stage in the K to 12
program;
2. Expanding access to education for groups in situations of disadvantage to ensure inclusive and
equitable quality service delivery;
3. Empowering learners to be resilient and to acquire life skills; and
4. Strengthening the promotion of the overall well-being of learners in a positive learning environment
where learners exercise their rights and experience joy, while being aware of their responsibilities as
individuals and as members of society.
The Filipino Learner: Competencies and Aspirations
Defining what a Filipino learner is in terms of capabilities and aspirations was an integral part of the BEDP
formulation process. The competencies of Filipino learners embody the qualities and capabilities that need to
be developed to enable them to achieve their aspirations and contribute to building a progressive and cohesive
nation.
3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I R AT I O N
ASP S
t Century Sk
s ill
21 s
Un
it y
an
d
ve
Di
r s it
y
4
Filipino learners are envisioned to be holistically developed in basic education, acquiring 21st century skills that will
enable them to manage oneself, build connections, inquire, innovate, stay nimble, and serve beyond self. They
must take pride in Filipino national identity and nationhood and aspire to flourish and have life skills, economic
prosperity, socio-political stability, unity in diversity; be responsive, competitive; and live in a sustainable world by
upholding the above-mentioned core values: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa.
Results Framework
The sector outcome is “Basic Education Filipino learners have the physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, and moral
preparation for civic participation and engagement in post-secondary opportunities in their local, national, and
global communities.” The BEDP includes the four pillars of access, equity, quality, and resiliency, and enabling
mechanisms for governance and management.
The intermediate outcomes for each pillar and enabling mechanisms are as follows:
GOAL
All Filipinos are able to realize their full potential and contribute
meaningfully to a cohesive nation
SECTOR OUTCOME
Basic education Filipino learners have the physical, cognitive,

socio-emotional, and moral preparation for civic participation and
engagement in post-secondary opportunities in their local, national,
and global communities.
INTERMEDIATE OUTCOMES
1. ACCESS 3. QUALITY 4. RESILIENCY &

2. EQUITY WELL-BEING
All school-age children, Disadvantaged school- Learners complete K-12 Learners are resilient and
out-of-school youth age children and youth, basic education, having know their rights, and have
and adults accessed and adults benefited successfully attained the life skills to protect
relevant basic learning from appropriate equity all learning standards themselves and exercise
opportunities initiatives that equip them with their education related
the necessary skills and rights, while being aware
attributes to pursue their of their responsibilities
chosen paths as individuals and as
members of society
ENABLING MECHANISMS-GOVERNANCE
Modern, efficient, nimble, and resilient

governance and management processes
5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The results framework outlines the priorities of DepEd in terms of addressing the immediate and long-term
challenges confronting basic education. Pillar 1 on Access intends to address the remaining gaps in participation
by expanding learning opportunities of school-age children and out-of-school youth and adults. Pillar 2 on Equity
will focus on addressing the needs of learners in situations of disadvantage. Pillar 3 on Quality is designed
to address the quality of education through various strategic means, particularly on curriculum, assessment,
learning environment, and upskilling and reskilling of teachers and school leaders. Pillar 4 on Resiliency will
focus on building resilience among learners and capacitating them to exercise their rights in a positive learning
environment, while being aware of their responsibilities as individuals and as members of society. The Enabling
Mechanisms will allow the agency to achieve the results through the right policies and standards, systems and
processes, human resource professional development, and partnerships.
Implementation Strategy
The BEDP 2030 will be implemented from 2020 to 2030, fully aligned with the SDG 2030. It will have two major
phases: Phase 1 from 2022 to 2026 and Phase 2 from 2026 to 2030.
Phase 1 – 2022–2026
Phase 1 includes the response to the immediate impacts of COVID-19 on learning and participation. Specifically,
Phase 1 will primarily cover the following major areas: (i) post-COVID-19 recovery and transition: DepEd will
focus on mitigating the negative impacts of the sudden shift from face-to-face to pure distance learning and
bridging the learning gaps caused by the COVID-19 lockdown, while deepening the innovations and learning
gains compelled by COVID-19; (ii) addressing the remaining access gaps, in particular for groups in situations of
disadvantage; (iii) focus on quality with three focus areas: (a) strengthen programs on reading, numeracy, socio-
emotional learning, 21st century skills, and reskilling teachers; (b) sharpen skillsets of teachers in contextualization
to address the concerns of diverse learners; and (c) strengthen instructional leadership and supervision to
improve teaching quality; and (iv) system-wide capacity development.
Phase 2 – 2026–2030
Phase 2 focuses on sustaining the gains and evaluating programs. The following are the priorities for Phase 2: (i)
continuation of programs and projects on access, quality, equity, and learner’s rights and resilience; (ii)
operationalization of the innovations initiated under the Education Futures Programme; (iii) program and impact
evaluation; (iv) development of new programs to address emerging education issues and opportunities; and (v)
end of plan assessment.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adjustment Mechanisms
The BEDP Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adjustment (MEA) Framework outlines the scope (outcomes, intermediate
outcomes, strategies, and enabling mechanisms) of monitoring and evaluation from 2022 to 2030. It also
defines the indicators that will be used to measure performance and the processes that will be used to validate
the achievements and accomplishments of DepEd. The strategies and outputs will be mainstreamed through
the Regional Basic Education Development Plan, the Division Education Development Plan, and the School
Improvement Plan.
6
All indicators of the BEDP will be disaggregated by sex, learners in situations of disadvantage, regions and
provinces, and types of schools, whenever possible. The access indicators are expanded to cover school-age
children, learners in school, out-of-school children (OSC), and out-of-school youth (OSY). For quality, the overall
target is set at “learners attaining nearly proficient level or better.” The indicators for learner’s rights and resilience
highlight the commitment of DepEd to advance the rights and well-being of learners through a rights-based
approach to education, which recognizes learners as rights-holders and DepEd as duty-bearer. As for the enabling
mechanism or governance, the criteria for measuring the success of the strategies will verify the six enabling
mechanisms, which are: (i) participative and inclusive management processes; (ii) strategic human resource
management; (iii) investments in basic education; (iv) internal systems and process; (v) stakeholders’ participation,
including the learners themselves as stakeholders; and (vi) public and private education complementarity.
The MEA Framework will be operationalized into six integrated strategies that were designed to validate the
different levels of results and support the decision-making needs of the different levels of governance. The
six strategies include: (i) establishment of baselines, (ii) quarterly program implementation review, (iii) annual
implementation review, (iv) mid-term review, (v) results monitoring and evaluation, and (vi) impact evaluation.
These strategies are designed to ensure a more systemic and systematic approach to monitoring and tracking,
evaluating, and enhancing the BEDP implementation.
Policy and Research Agenda
The BEDP 2030 does not confine its reach within the 2030 timeframe—it looks at the future to anticipate future
shocks and opportunities to better prepare the system. It laid down a two-pronged policy and research agenda: 1)
looking at the future, and 2) evidence building.
Looking at the Future (1)
The Department of Education, through the Education Futures Programme, will initiate the thinking process
that will allow it to undertake the following: (i) maximizing technologies for remote learning; (ii) reframing the
curriculum to prioritize essential/cross-cutting knowledge, skills, and mindsets; (iii) anticipating educational
opportunities from innovations; (iv) reinforcing learning sciences, assessments, analytics, and knowledge
mobilization; and (v) co-creating learning spaces for the future.
Evidence Building (2)
There are many areas of research and studies that will allow the Department to build evidence to inform its
policy decisions, both in the short-term and in the long-term. The following are the emerging research themes: (i)
impacts of COVID-19 on learning, participation, and completion; (ii) supply and demand of human resources; (iii)
language of instruction; (iv) academic achievement; (v) public finance; (vi) continuity and resiliency; (vii) teacher
quality; and (viii) technology in education.
Financial Framework
All government agencies, including the Department of Education, follow a budget cycle in four stages—
preparation, legislation, execution, and accountability. The budget is executed in a multi-step process that starts
with the budget call, which sets the parameters to guide agencies in preparing their budgets in two tiers: Tier
1 for the forward estimates of existing programs and projects and Tier 2 for new programs and projects or the
7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
expansion of existing ones. The proposed budgets of the agencies are consolidated into a national budget that
is deliberated in Congress and in the Senate. Budget legislation ends when the President signs the General
Appropriations Act (GAA) into law, and the law is published to take effect.
DepEd’s budget for the construction and renovation of school facilities is transferred to the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH). This recognizes DPWH’s expertise in construction projects. Likewise,
DepEd provides assistance and subsidies to the private sector in the delivery of educational services through its
Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or GASTPE; in particular, the Education
Service Contracting (ESC), the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP), and the Teacher Salary Subsidy.
The basic education sector has revenue sources other than the DepEd budget. Local government units collect
the Special Education Fund (SEF), a 1% tax on the assessed value of real properties in addition to the basic real
property tax. This dedicated revenue source, while not transferred to DepEd, is nonetheless used to support
certain expenditures in education according to the allocation made by the local school board where a DepEd
official is co-chairperson. External partners and the private sector also provide material and financial support to
strengthen the development of public education in the Philippines.
The appropriations for the Education sector increased from 2010 to 2018 because of the K to 12 reforms.
However, its share of the total government appropriations for most years has been below the recommended
benchmark of 15–20%. By constitutional fiat, education will get the highest budgetary priority.1
The cost of implementing the BEDP is a significant increase from current appropriations. By far, the major
source of funding for education is the tax take on the economy and the subsequent national budget that may be
developed in conjunction with macroeconomic forces.
The BEDP represents a material rise from historical spending patterns in education. Between 2010 and 2020, the
Philippines has underspent on education. Devoting more of the national budget to education is a major challenge
for the Philippine Government, yet also demonstrates its commitment to investing in education and future
generations.
Apart from DepEd’s appropriated budget, the following can help fund the BEDP: (a) the Special Education Fund
(SEF) from local government units, (b) support from external partners and the private sector, and (c) community
contributions. Adding the funds from these sources to the budget appropriated for basic education lessens the
funding gap.
DepEd recommends that the Philippine Government commit to appropriate around 20% of its national budget to
education, with 80% going to basic education. With this, the projected funding gap can be estimated.
1
The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Article XIV, Section 5(5).
8
1.0
INTRODUCTION
BASIC EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2030
The Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) 2030 is the Philippines’ first long-term plan for basic education,
covering all formal education from Kindergarten (K), Elementary, Junior High School (JHS), to Senior High School
(SHS), and non-formal education through the Alternative Learning System (ALS). Basic Education is one part of
an education system that includes early childhood, higher, and technical and vocational education, so the BEDP
also describes linkages to the relevant agencies in these sectors (Early Childhood Care and Development Council
[ECCD Council], Technical Education Skills and Development Authority [TESDA], and the Commission on Higher
Education [CHED]).
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was formally adopted by member states at the United Nations
Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015. The Philippines was a signatory to the agenda, which
contained a global education goal (SDG 4) requiring signatories to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education
and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. In order to meet this agreement, a blueprint for DepEd in the
next decade is an imperative, with a clear plan to formulate, implement, coordinate, and supervise policies, plans,
programs, and projects in the areas of formal and non-formal basic education and for both public and private
schools.
The Philippine “AmBisyon Natin 2040” dreams of educated Filipinos. An education sector plan must outline the
strategies to achieve that dream. A long-term education sector plan at the national level has not been formulated
since the elaboration of the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA) in 2015. Under BESRA, each level
of governance (regions, schools divisions, and schools) formulates strategic directions that guide all operating
units in crafting their respective plans. A national plan2 will provide the overall goals, objectives, and strategies for
improving education across the whole country with the regional, schools division, and school plans aligned with
the BEDP while indicating their own contextualized strategies to address local challenges and opportunities.
This BEDP has been developed through a highly participatory and consultative process that considered the views
and priorities of all stakeholders in the education sector.
The development process was overseen by a Steering Committee3 to provide overall direction and high-level
advice on the scope and formulation of the essential components of the BEDP. UNICEF and PROMAN, a
consulting company, provided technical assistance to DepEd in the preparation of the plan.
Five thematic working groups (TWG) were established to deal with each key pillar around which the BEDP was
to be developed. These were 1) Education Governance, Management, and Operations; 2) Quality of Student
Learning Outcomes; 3) Equity in Education; 4) Education Finance; and 5) Cross-cutting and Support Services.
Each TWG was led by a high-ranking DepEd officer at Assistant Secretary or Director level with the membership
selected from different relevant strands and including various Directors, technical staff, and facilitated by UNICEF
and PROMAN.Consultants from the Education Futures program also participated in the TWG. In addition to
regular TWG meetings, at least 10 separate plenary and consultative meetings were held over a three- month
period to prepare both the Results and the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
2
The analysis presented in the BEDP includes data from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); the BEDP
will not be implemented in BARMM since there is a Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education in charge of delivering basic
education in the region.
3
DepEd Steering Committee composed of the Secretary of Education, Undersecretaries, and Assistant Secretaries for Education, and the
Education Forum’s Grant and Coordinating Agency.
11
Separate visioning exercises were conducted with the DepEd Executive Committee (ExeCom)4, the DepEd
Management Committee (ManCom) at the Central Office, as well as with Regional Directors, Schools Division
Superintendents, and Development Partners. Two focus group discussions were conducted with children and
youth to elicit learners’ views about the future planning and direction for education.
The Planning Service of DepEd provided the Secretariat that supported the process by coordinating and preparing
records of all meetings as well as providing inputs and obtaining a broad consensus among all the services and
bureaus in DepEd at central, regional, and schools division offices.
All consultative work undertaken by UNICEF and PROMAN used Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams
technology because face-to-face meetings during the term of the BEDP preparation were not permitted by the
Government of the Philippines because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This consultation created its own set of
difficulties due to periodic erratic connectivity both within the Philippines and across international time zones but
nevertheless, meetings proceeded mostly as planned and all views were able to be accommodated in the final
document.
4
The Executive Committee is composed of the Secretary of Education, the Undersecretaries, and the Assistant Secretaries.
12
13
2.0
THE CONTEXT OF
THE PHILIPPINE
EDUCATION SECTOR
2.1. National Development Context
2.2. Legal Framework
2.3. Overview of the Structure of the Education Sector

in the Philippines
14
2.1. National Development Context

Geography and Population
The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,641 islands with a total land area of 300,000 km2. Its archipelagic nature
highlights some of the issues on access to education, particularly the challenge of reaching small islands.
Moreover, within the major land masses are terrains that also pose barriers to education provision. Though road
networks are improving, there are still many areas that are difficult to reach. The country is also prone to natural
disasters such as typhoons, volcanic eruptions, floods, and earthquakes.
The country had a population of 100.98 million in 2015 (with a sex ratio of 104 males to 100 females) and its
population was estimated to reach 108.77 million in 2020,5 making the Philippines the 13th most populous
country in the world. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) estimates an average annual population growth of
1.16% until 2030.6
Filipino and English are both used as official languages. There are more than 170 indigenous languages in the
Philippines, most of which have various dialects. The population of the Philippines is ethnically diverse, and there
are estimated to be 14–17 million indigenous peoples (IP) across the Philippines, belonging to 110 ethno-linguistic
groups.
Political, Administrative, and Institutional Context
The Philippines is a unitary presidential constitutional republic, with the President of the Philippines acting as both
the head of state and the head of government. The country is run by three co-equal branches of government:
Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. In addition to this, there is a hierarchy of local government units (LGUs)
that exercises jurisdiction over specified territory. While administrative power is generally centralized, close
coordination with LGUs exists as the result of the devolution process of 1991 brought about by the Local
Government Code (Republic Act No. 7160). This affected all sectors, including some aspects of education.7
The country has 17 regions,8 81 provinces, 146 cities, 1,488 municipalities,9 and 42,036 barangays, of which 7,437
are classified as urban barangays and 34,599 as rural barangays as of 2015. The Philippines is experiencing one of
the fastest urbanization processes among the East Asia countries, with an overall 51.2% of the population living in
urban areas (compared to 45.3% in 2010).10
5
Updated projected mid-year population for the Philippines based on the 2015 POPCEN Results: 2020–2025.
6
Philippine Statistics Authority.
7
Section 17 of Republic Act No. 7160.
8
There are 16 administrative regions and one autonomous region, which is Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(BARMM).
9
Department of the Interior and Local Government. Regional and Provincial Summary - Number of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities and

Barangays as of 30 September 2020. https://www.dilg.gov.ph/facts-and-figures/Regional-and-Provincial-Summary-Number-of-Provinces

Cities-Municipalities-and-Barangays-as-of-30-September-2020/32
10
Philippine Statistics Authority. Urban Population in the Philippines. https://psa.gov.ph/population-and-housing/node/138311
15
Economy and Labor Market
The Philippines is a lower middle-income country11 with a fast-growing economy before COVID-19. . Sound
economic fundamentals and a globally recognized competitive workforce reinforced the growth momentum.
Having sustained an average annual growth of 6.4% between 2010–2019 from an average of 4.6% between
2001–2009, the country was on its way from being a lower middle-income country with a gross national income
per capita of USD3,830 in 2018 to an upper middle-income country in the near term.12
The Philippine economy is consumption-driven, fueled in part by the large domestic market and remittances.
From 2000–2018, private consumption represented 73.7% of the total economy and contributed three-fourths of
economic growth. Remittances from overseas Filipinos accounted for an average of 11% of the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) from 2000–2016, far outstripping other East Asia Pacific countries (0.4% over the same period) and
other lower middle-income countries (4.4%).
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the economy are evident: the employment rate fell from 94.6% in July
2019 to 91.3% in October 2020, while underemployment worsened from 13.6% to 14.4% over the same period.13
In December 2020, the Government of the Philippines forecast an 8.5%–9.5% contraction of the GDP in 2020.14
The regional disparities in underemployment are significant, with rates in October 2020 from 8% in Central
Luzon, 9.1% in CAR, and 11.1% in NCR, to 22.2% in Region IV-B and 29.1% in Bicol Region.15 The disparity by
gender is very significant for the Labor Force Participation Rate: 73% for males and 49% for females in 2019
and 2020. This points to the persisting traditional gender roles in Philippine society, despite being shown later in
this plan that females have better education outcomes than males. The country, it seems, is not maximizing the
potential of a significant portion of its human resources.
According to UNDP, the mean years of schooling completed was 9.4 in 2019.16 According to UNESCO, the
school life expectancy17 in 2018 was 6.13 in elementary education (6.01 for females, 6.25 for males) and 5.06 in
secondary education (5.33 females, 4.80 males).18
The access to communication technologies has proven to be a key element in the education system’s ability to
respond to crises such as that caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, there already was a high
nationwide coverage of cell phones (87% of households) but despite a rapid increase in recent years, only 17% of
Filipino adults have access to broadband internet.
11
World Bank. World Development Indicators. http://data.un.org/CountryProfile.aspx?crName=PHILIPPINES
12
World Bank. The World Bank in the Philippines Overview. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/overview#1
13
Philippine Statistics Authority. Employment Situation in July 2020. https://psa.gov.ph/content/employment-situation-july-2020
14
Lema, K. and Morales, N.J. 2020. UPDATE 1-Philippines sees deeper-than-expected economic contraction in 2020. Reuters. https://www.
reuters.com/article/philippines-economy/update-1-philippines-sees-deeper-than-expected-economic-contraction-in-2020-idUSL1N2IJ0M8
15
Philippine Statistics Authority. Philippine Labor and Employment Indicators. https://psa.gov.ph/system/files/LFS%20Oct%202020%20
key%20employment%20rates%20by%20region_02Dec2020_final1.pdf?width=950& height=700&iframe=true
16
UNDP. Human Development Report 2020. http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/Country-Profiles/PHL.pdf
17
UNESCO defines school life expectancy as the “Number of years a person of school entrance age can expect to spend within the specified
level of education.” http://uis.unesco.org/en/glossary-term/school-life-expectancy
18
UNESCO. Other policy relevant indicators: Mean years of schooling. http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=3803
16
Social Development
The Human Development Index (HDI), for 2020, ranked the Philippines 107th out of 189 countries;19 it is included
in the group categorized as High Human Development. Over a span of 29 years, the country’s index improved
gradually by 0.125 points.
Figure 1: Philippines Human Development Index
0.8 0.702 0.704 0.709 0.712 0.718

0.692
0.672
0.7 0.631
0.59
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
1990 2000 2010 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Source: United Nations Development Program
The nationwide poverty incidence fell to 16.6% in 2018 compared to 23.3% in 2015.20 The nationwide poverty
incidence fell to 16.6% in 2018 compared to 23.3% in 2015.20 However, an analysis of child poverty indicated that
31.4% of children are living below the poverty line.21
The World Bank’s 2018 Poverty Assessment found a strong negative correlation between poverty risk and the
level of education of the household head. Notably, high school education was cited as the key threshold:
graduation reduces the risk of poverty to two-thirds of the average. Some three-quarters of poor Filipinos live in
rural areas, and the rural poverty rate is three times higher than that of urban areas. Roughly two-fifths of the
poor live in Mindanao, and over 50% of the population in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (now
subsumed in the BARMM) are poor. Urban poverty is also significant, with more than 1.5 million informal settler
families, nearly 600,000 of whom live in Metro Manila.22
19
UNDP. Human Development Report 2020. http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/Country-Profiles/PHL.pdf
20
National Economic and Development Authority. As Delivered Statement on the Official Poverty Statistics of the Philippines for the Full-Year
2018. https://neda.gov.ph/as-delivered-statement-on-the-official-poverty-statistics-of-the-philippines-for-the-full-year-2018/
21
UNICEF. 2018. Situational Analysis of Children.
22
World Bank. Country Partnership Framework for the Republic of the Philippines for the Period July 2019 - December 2023. http://
documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/891661574699296055/text/Philippines-Country-Partnership-Framework-for-the-Period-July-2019-
December-2023.txt
17
COVID-19 is putting additional pressure on the country’s anti-poverty efforts. A survey showed that 30.7% of the
population experienced severe or moderate hunger in September 2020, the highest level in 22 years. Household
consumption and private sector investment, which drove growth in the past, have significantly declined given the
closure of businesses and the loss of income during the quarantine period.23

With the help of other government agencies, partners, and stakeholders, the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), which is one of the
flagship programs of Oplan Kalusugan sa Department of Education (OK sa DepEd), continues to ensure the improvement in nutritional status
and reduce micronutrient deficiencies of learners for the enhancement of their school participation and learning outcomes in spite of school
closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
23
National Economic and Development Authority. Statement of NEDA Acting Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua on the 2020 Q2 Performance
of the Philippine Economy. https://neda.gov.ph/statement-of-neda-acting-secretary-karl-kendrick-t-chua-on-the-2020-q2-performance-of-the-
philippine-economy/
18
2.2. Legal Framework
The 1987 Philippine Constitution lays down the foundation of the current Philippine education system and
protects and promotes the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels. Since then, the country has shaped
and reshaped the education sector through a series of laws and policies depicting the most pressing issues
during each period. Most notable in the early years post-Martial Law was the “tri-focalization” of the education
sector in the early ’90s. This led to the creation of three agencies managing the sector: Department of Education,
Culture, and Sports (DECS) for basic education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for tertiary
education. The period of the ‘90s saw the gradual maturing of these agencies, especially CHED and TESDA,
which slowly built their capacity after being separated from DECS.
DepEd has also been cognizant of the country’s international obligations and commitments, particularly regarding
the rights of children in the context of basic education, and considers in its policies and programs the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights; United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; International Covenant on
Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities; among others.
At the turn of the millennium, Republic Act No. 9155 or the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001 was
passed to strengthen the governance of basic education. The law renamed the Department of Education, Culture,
and Sports as simply the Department of Education (DepEd). It vests DepEd with authority, accountability, and
responsibility for ensuring access to, promoting equity in, and improving the quality of basic education. The
cultural agencies were no longer attached to DepEd; the functions, programs, and activities of DepEd related to
sports competition were transferred to the Philippine Sports Commission, and the Bureau of Physical Education
and School Sports was abolished. Nonetheless, the program for school arts and culture and the program for
school sports and physical fitness remained part of the basic education curriculum. Subsequently, however,
Republic Act No. 10588 or the Palarong Pambansa Act of 2013 institutionalized Palarong Pambansa as a national
sporting event under DepEd. The law also aims to improve the national sports program of DepEd and encourage
the proactive role of the LGUs in the promotion of the Palarong Pambansa. Further, RA 9155 enshrined the
principles of shared governance. The governance of basic education consists of the national level and the field
offices, which are comprised of the regions, divisions, and schools and learning centers. DepEd started to
strengthen responsibilities and capacities at the regional and division offices, as well as empower the schools and
learning centers, to improve decision making and problem solving at the field level.
After another decade, two additional Republic Acts (RA) were passed one year apart. Republic Act No. 10157 or
the Kindergarten Education Act of 2012, which made Kindergarten mandatory for all 5-year-old children, was
enacted in consonance with the Millennium Development Goals on achieving Education for All by the year
2015. Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 further restructured the sector to
what it is today. The K to 12 programs embedded in this law not only further strengthened Kindergarten but
also reorganized the secondary level of education into Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) by
adding two years. This transformed basic education into 13 years of compulsory schooling: seven for Kindergarten
to Grade 6, four for JHS (Grades 7 to 10), and two for SHS (Grades 11 and 12). Under RA 10533, basic education
also encompasses the Alternative Learning System.
19
After almost another decade, Republic Act No. 11510 or the Alternative Learning System Act of 2020 was passed
to highlight the need to support out-of-school children in special cases, as well as adults who were not able to
complete their basic education. They were to be provided with opportunities to improve their knowledge, values,
life skills, and readiness for higher education, work, or self-employment through a system of non-formal or
indigenous education or both, which are tailored to respond to their learning needs and life circumstances. This
is the natural continuation of the global and national push for Education for All, wherein most school-age children
were able to attend school. Unfortunately, there still remain segments of society that face multiple barriers to
education that need focused attention, including out-of-school youth and adults.
Some of the national laws warrant discussions here. Republic Act No. 11054 or the Organic Law for the
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was enacted in 2018. It established the Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Education and skills training are under the authority of the
Bangsamoro Government, without prejudice to the general supervision of the President. The Bangsamoro
Government is mandated to prioritize the establishment, maintenance, and support of a complete and integrated
system of quality education, which is a subsystem of the national education system. The supervision and
regulation of private schools in any level are also under the Bangsamoro Government. The vocational, technical,
non-formal, and special education programs should conform to the minimum standards set by the National
Government. The Bangsamoro Government is also directed to establish, maintain, and supervise Madaris
education and to ensure the integration in basic education curricula of the teaching of Islamic and Arabic studies
for Muslim pupils and students in public schools.
In addition, the country has long been advancing the rights and protection of vulnerable groups. Republic Act No.
7277, as amended, provides for the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, while Republic Act No. 7610 and
Republic Act No. 9262 aim to protect women and children against abuse. Additionally, Republic Act No. 9710 or
the Magna Carta of Women, Rule IV, Section 16 seeks equal access and elimination of discrimination in education,
scholarships, and training. Republic Act No. 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 was also enacted, requiring
all elementary and secondary schools to adopt policies to prevent and address the acts of bullying in their
institutions. DepEd has also issued child protection policies. DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012, entitled “DepEd Child
Protection Policy,” enunciates the Department’s zero tolerance against all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation,
neglect, discrimination, and all other forms of maltreatment against learners. Other issuances include DepEd
Order No. 55, s. 2013 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of
2013; DepEd Order No. 18, s. 2015, entitled “DepEd Guidelines and Procedures on the Management of Children-
at-Risk (CAR) and Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL)”; DepEd Order No. 57, s. 2017, entitled “DepEd Policy
on the Protection of Children in Armed Conflict”; and DepEd Order No. 32, s. 2019, entitled “DepEd National
Policy Framework on Learners and Schools as Zones of Peace,” which was also issued pursuant to Republic
Act No. 11188 or the Act Providing for the Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict and
Providing Penalties For Violations Thereof. Most recently, DepEd issued DepEd Order No. 3, s. 2021 in January
2021 creating the Child Rights in Education Desk (CREDe) and the Child Protection Unit (CPU). The CPU is the
mechanism that will fully operationalize, implement, and coordinate programs, projects, and activities pertaining
to child protection in DepEd. CREDe, on the other hand, was created to ensure that all basic education schools,
learning centers, and offices of DepEd are child-centered and child-caring, and respect, protect, fulfill, and
promote the dignity and rights of the child in the context of basic education.
The changes in the basic education subsector are not confined only to laws pertaining to DepEd operations. Over
the past 30 years, numerous laws have been passed that both directly and indirectly affect the character of the
education sector. These laws range in scope, including but not limited to the following: Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (TVET), higher education, private sector development, child protection,
20
qualifications frameworks, sports, rights of persons with disabilities, young women and girls, data privacy, youth
entrepreneurship, conditional cash transfers, and employment.
Republic Act No. 11310 institutionalized the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps conditional cash transfer)
while Republic Act No. 11037 established a national feeding program, further providing support to the poorest
of the poor in the country. The legal environment also provides various groups the opportunities to improve
their stations in life through their own efforts. Republic Act No. 10679 or the Youth Entrepreneurship Act and
Republic Act No. 11230 or the Tulong Trabaho Act are laws that provide support for better employment and
entrepreneurship through capacity building and administrative assistance.
A recent development that potentially affects national and local revenue generation, planning, budgeting, and
coordination is the Supreme Court decision on the Mandanas et al. v. Executive Secretary et al. (G.R. Nos. 199802
and 208488) or the “Mandanas Ruling.” Traditionally, the bulk of resources of LGUs for education is drawn from
a Special Education Fund (SEF), which is an additional 1% of the real estate tax based on the Local Government
Code of 1991. As the Supreme Court held that all collections of national taxes, except those accruing to special
purpose funds and special allotments for the utilization and development of national wealth, must be included in
the computation of the just share of LGUs, the new ruling meant that LGUs would have a significantly
bigger stake in the national budget, which they could use to increase the provision of educational inputs and
implementation of programs, projects, and activities consistent with their mandate under the Code.
21
2.3. Overview of the Structure of the
Education Sector in the Philippines
The Philippine education system is organized into four levels under the following leadership:
• Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) under the Early Childhood Care and Development
Council; 24
• Basic Education under the Department of Education (DepEd);
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) under the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA); and
• Higher Education under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
Early Childhood Care and Development: The Early Years Act of 2013 mandated the ECCD Council to act as
the primary agency supporting the government’s programs on health, nutrition, early education, and social
services for children aged 0–4 years. The ECCD system is designed to facilitate a smooth transition from early
care and education provided at home to community- and school-based learning in Kindergarten. Within ECCD is
ECE (Early Childhood Education), which covers pre-school education for children aged 3–4 years. Under the
orientation of the ECCD Council, LGUs directly provide ECCD services, particularly on pre-school education for 3-
to 4-year-old children to ensure they are ready for school.
Basic Education: Basic Education public and private schools are supervised by DepEd. They include
Kindergarten, Elementary and Secondary Education (including technical-vocational high schools run by DepEd), as
well as the Alternative Learning Systems (ALS).
Technical-Vocational Education: Technical-vocational schools not run by DepEd and offering certification are
governed by TESDA.25 TESDA was established through the enactment of Republic Act No. 7796 or the Technical
Education and Skills Development Act of 1994. TESDA formulates human resources and skills plans, sets
appropriate skills standards and tests, and coordinates and monitors human resources policies and programs.
Higher Education: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) promotes relevant and quality higher education
(tertiary level). CHED’s mandate is ensuring access to quality higher education, guaranteeing and protecting
academic freedom for continuing intellectual growth, the advancement of learning and research, the development
of responsible and effective leadership, and the education of high-level professionals.
The heads of the three agencies are represented in the NEDA Social Development Committee, in the National
Coordination Council of Philippine Qualification Framework, and in the Human Development and Poverty
Reduction Cluster (HDPRC). Collaboration among all three is ad hoc.
Other Agencies Created: Two other agencies that focus on culture and sports are the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), respectively.
24
The ECCD Council is an attached agency to DepEd. The Secretary of Education is the Chair of the ECCD Council.
DepEd, which operates technical-vocational programs, does not award certificates at the moment, unlike TESDA-run courses.
25
22
Figure 2: Levels of Philippine Education
ECCD Council DepEd TESDA CHED

• Associate Degree /
• Health, Nutrition, • Kindergarten • Post-Secondary Short-Cycle Tertiary
Early Education, • Elementary Non Tertiary Education
and Social Services • Junior High School Education • Bachelor level
for children ages • Senior High School • Associate Degree / education
0-4 years • Alternative Learning Short-Cycle Tertiary • Advanced / Post
System Education Graduate level
• Post-Baccalaureate
• Master
• Doctorate
CHED - Commission on Higher Education, DepEd - Department of Education,

ECCD - Early Childhood Care and Development, TESDA - Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority
The K to 12 Basic Education Program
Formal Education
The Basic Education program covers compulsory education consisting of one year of Kindergarten, six years of
elementary education, four years of Junior High School (JHS), and two years of Senior High School (SHS). The
government provides free public kindergarten, elementary, and secondary education.
Figure 3: The K to 12 reform

Senior High School
(2 years)
Junior High School
Primary Education (4 years)
(6 years)
Kindergarten
K G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G7 G8 G9 G10 G11 G12
BASIC EDUCATION
23
Kindergarten to Grades 1–3 (Stage 1)
Kindergarten was made mandatory and added to the Basic Education curriculum in 2012. Children can start
entering Kindergarten at age 5. Pursuant to RA 10533, mother tongue-based instruction is used in Kindergarten
and elementary education levels so that children can learn in the language spoken at home. Grades 1–3 are lower
primary.
Grades 4–6 (Stage 2)
The Upper Primary level is the continuation of Lower Primary, expanding simple literacy and numeracy to
functional literacy and developing higher-order thinking. The basic learning areas include Filipino, English, Science,
Mathematics, Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies), Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (Work Education),
and Music and Art.
Junior High School, Grades 7–10 (Stage 3)
Junior High School is discipline-based. Subjects covered are Mathematics, Science and Technology, English,
and Filipino. Other subjects are Araling Panlipunan (History, Economics); Technology and Livelihood; Music, Art,
Physical Education, and Health; and Values Education.
Senior High School, Grades 11–12 (Stage 4)
Senior High School is two years of specialized upper secondary education during which learners master concepts
and skills to prepare for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, or employment. SHS offers four
tracks: Academic; Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL); Arts and Design; and Sports. The Academic track
includes three strands: Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM); Humanities andSocial Sciences
(HUMSS); and Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM). In the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood
track, graduates may obtain an appropriate National Certification (NC) level should they pass the competency-
based assessment of TESDA.
Alternative Learning System
The Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a parallel learning system to formal education that provides a viable
alternative and a second chance education option for out-of-school youth and adults to complete basic education
study. ALS learners are assessed through Functional Literacy Test (FLT), assessment of basic literacy (for basic
literacy ALS learners), recognition of prior learning, formative assessments, accreditation and equivalency (A&E),
readiness test, and portfolio assessment. The A&E Program provides an alternative pathway of learning for out-of-
school children in special cases and adults who have not completed basic education. This program allows school
dropouts and early school leavers to complete elementary and lower secondary education outside of the formal
system and obtain certification as elementary and JHS completers through A&E tests for each level.
24
Private Education
Private schools are legally registered institutions under the supervision of DepEd but not operated by the
government, offering education services to the public for a fee. Private schools offering education services are
regulated by the above three agencies depending on their coverage and level of operations (Basic, Higher, or
Technical-Vocational Education). DepEd issued the “Revised Manual of Regulations for Private Schools in
Basic Education” in 2010 and amended it in 2011.26 Private schools are funded by private sources (i.e., parents,
individuals, religious orders, and the like) and public funds. At the junior high school level, an education service
contracting (ESC) program was established and is being co-managed by the Private Education Assistance
Committee (PEAC) and DepEd. Through ESC, the resources of certified private junior high schools are maximized
through slots “contracted” for learners who choose to go to private schools and not to public schools. In addition,
an annual subsidy is provided to qualified teachers in ESC-participating junior high schools, with the aim to
improve the quality of junior high schools. At the senior high school level, learners may apply for and receive
SHS vouchers to attend private senior high schools under the Senior High School Voucher Program (VP).
The said programs are jointly managed by DepEd and the PEAC, as provided in the General Appropriations Act. In
technical-vocational education, DepEd has introduced the Joint Delivery Voucher Program for Senior High School
Technical Vocational and Livelihood Specializations that promotes partnerships between DepEd and qualified TVET
institutions that offer the TVL track.27
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 88, s. 2010, as amended by DepEd Order No. 11, s. 2011.
26
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 35, s. 2020. https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DO_s2020_035.pdf

27
25
Department of Education
The Department of Education (DepEd) has a Central Office, 16 Regional Offices (excluding BARMM, which
is an autonomous region),28 and 214 Schools Division Offices that comprise various school districts distributed
throughout the 81 provinces in the country. In accordance with RA 9155, the reformed organizational structure
of DepEd under DepEd Order No. 52, s. 2015 or the New Organizational Structures of the Central, Regional, and
Schools Division Offices of the Department is outlined as follows:
Figure 4: Department of Education Organizational Structure Central Office 29
ATTACHED AGENCIES:
• Early Childhood and Development Council
• National Book Development Board
• National Council for Children’s Television OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
• National Museum
• Philippine High School for the Arts Office of the Secretary Proper
Office of the Under Secretaries
Office of the Assistant Secretaries
COORDINATING COUNCILS:
• Teacher Education Council
• Literacy Coordinating Council
Internal Audit Services
• Adopt-a-School Program Coordinating Council
CURRICULUM GOVERNANCE LEGAL AND FINANCE AND STRATEGIC

AND INSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT
BUREAU OF BUREAU OF
CURRICULUM LEARNER SUPPORT LEGAL SERVICES FINANCE SERVICE PLANNING
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SERVICE
BUREAU OF
BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATIVE PUBLIC AFFAIRS
HUMAN RESOURCE
LEARNING SERVICE SERVICE
AND ORGANIZATIONAL
DELIVERY
DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU OF NATIONAL EDUCATORS INFORMATION AND

PROCUREMENT
EDUCATION ACADEMY OF THE COMMUNICATIONS
SERVICE
ASSESSMENT PHILIPPINES TECHNOLOGY OFFICE
BUREAU OF PROJECT EXTERNAL

LEARNING MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIPS
RESOURCES SERVICE SERVICE
BUREAU OF DISASTER RISK

ALTERNATIVE FIELD OPERATIONS REDUCTION AND
EDUCATION • Regional Offices MANAGEMENT SERVICE
• School Division Offices
• Schools and Learning Centers
Source: Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development, DepEd, March 2021.30
28
The BARMM Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBTHE) is responsible for the education sector in that autonomous region.
The MBTHE is elaborating the Bangsamoro Education Reform and Development Plan (BERDP) 2020–2035, which must be harmonized with
the Basic Education Development Plan 2030.
29
The new Alternative Learning System Act includes the creation of a Bureau of Alternative Learning System.
30
The Bureau of Alternative Learning System was recently created but it was not added to the organizational chart as yet.
26
The Central Office (CO) is responsible for setting standards and translating direction and policy in accordance
with these. The CO is organized into (a) Bureaus, which address education-related matters; and (b) Services (e.g.,
budget, accounting, administration, physical facilities, planning, legal, procurement, and others).
Regional Office (RO) roles and responsibilities include translating policy and standards for the operating units,
such as organizational structure and regional contextualization. Major challenges include contextualizing programs
given the differences from region to region.
Schools Division Office (SDO) roles and responsibilities include describing the accountabilities of the Curriculum
Implementation Division and the Schools Governance and Operations Division, as well as the critical role of the
School District Supervisors in providing technical assistance to schools.
Schools are the basic unit of governance in the system. Within schools are teachers and non-teaching staff.
Schools are classified as elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, and integrated schools.
Schools are led by school heads—either principals, head teachers, or teachers-in-charge (for schools not having
the minimum number of teachers to qualify for a principal). School heads are responsible for ensuring proper
school-based management (SBM), stakeholder engagement, and LGU support/partnership.
Community Learning Centers (CLCs) are physical spaces to house learning resources and facilities of a learning
program for out-of-school children in special cases and out-of-school adults. It is a venue for face-to-face learning
activities and other learning opportunities for community development and improvement of the people’s quality
of life.31 Major challenges include ensuring conducive learning environments for teaching and learning of K to 12
competencies in difficult areas with limited resources.
Number of Schools and Plantilla in DepEd (Public and Private, Formal Education)
There is a total of 47,421 schools in the public school system (37,496 elementary schools, 1,506 junior high
schools, and 231 senior high schools [2021]). In addition, there are 13,256 schools that are privately run, 247
operated by state universities and colleges (SUCs) or local universities and colleges (LUCs). There are also 25,291
CLCs.
Government of the Philippines. 2012. Republic Act No. 11510, Alternative Learning System Act. Page 4.
31
27
Table 1: Classification of Schools in the Philippines
Classification Public Private SUCs/LUCs PSO Total
Elementary School 37,496 6,263 6 - 43,765
Junior High School (JHS) 1,506 242 39 - 1,787
Senior High School (SHS) 231 1,099 73 - 1,403
JHS with SHS 6,491 906 93 - 7,400
Integrated School (Kindergarten to G10) 1,159 1,890 7 9 3,065
Integrated School (Kindergarten to G12) 538 2,856 29 24 3,447
Total Schools 47,421 13,256 247 33 60,957
LUCs - local universities and colleges, PSO - public schools overseas, SUCs - state universities and colleges
Source: Learner’s Information System (LIS) SY 2020-2021
As of January 2021, DepEd has a total of 965,660 regular employees, making it the largest bureaucracy in the
Philippine Government. Out of the total number of employees, 88% are teaching staff (46% occupy Teacher 1
positions in elementary and secondary schools) and 5% are teaching-related staff.
Table 2: Teaching and Non-teaching Personnel in DepEd
Teaching Personnel Teaching-related Non-teaching

(including ALS) Personnel Personnel
Central Office - - 1,297
Regional Offices - - 2,097
Division Offices - - 22,657
Senior High School 67,291 4,747 9,844
Junior High School 276,778 16,680 21,249
Elementary School 503,396 30,441 9,183
Subtotal 847,465 (88%) 51,868 (5%) 66,327 (7%)
Grand Total 965,660
ALS - Alternative Learning System

Source: Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (January 2021)
28
In the private sector, in SY 2019–2020 there were 72,141 teachers in elementary, 55,512 in JHS, and 45,558 in
SHS.
Education Stakeholders and Partners
The effective functioning of DepEd requires active participation from stakeholders and partners that can be
categorized by type. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Local government units (local school boards) and parent-teacher community associations;
• Education agencies (ECCD Council, TESDA, CHED);
• National government agencies (DPWH, DSWD, DOH, NEDA, DBM, National Nutrition Council,
National Commission for Indigenous People, Council for the Welfare of Children, Philippine Commission
for Women);
• Philippine colleges and universities;
• Teacher education institutes;
• Academic think tanks (RCTQ [Research Center for Teacher Quality, Philippine Normal University], ACT-
RC [Assessment Curriculum and Technology Research Center, University of the Philippines], SEAMEO-
INNOTECH [Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Regional Center for Educational Innovation and
Technology], SEAMEO-SEARCA [Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture], PIDS [Philippine Institute of Development Studies]);
• Development community (World Bank, Asian Development Bank, DFAT [Australia], USAID [USA], JICA
[Japan], GIZ [Germany], KOICA [Korea], UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA, other UN agencies, among others);
• nternational NGOs (Save the Children, World Vision, Oxfam, ChildFund, Innovations for Poverty Action,
others); and
• Civil society, including members of the Philippine Forum for Inclusive Quality Basic Education or Educ
Forum.
29
3.0
KEY FEATURES OF THE
EDUCATION SITUATION
ANALYSIS
3.1. Equitable Access and Participation
3.2. Quality of Education Provision and Learning Outcomes
3.3. Education Budget and Financing
3.4. System Management
3.5. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
30
3.1. Equitable Access and Participation
DepEd is responsible for the delivery of basic education through 60,957 schools across the country. In early
2020 and prior to COVID-19, it served nearly 28 million learners (out of 30 million school-age children and youth).
The number of public schools has been stable over the past decade until the Senior High School Level was
implemented in 2016.32 This resulted in a significant increase in the number of schools offering secondary-level
classes and particularly in private schools. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), as well as Local Universities
and Colleges (LUCs) were tapped to offer Senior High School (SHS). The increase in the size of the sector was
facilitated by the implementation of a government-funded Voucher Program, which allowed a more diversified
offer for all learners interested in SHS without putting undue pressure on the public school system.
Table 3: Gross Enrollment Rate and Net Enrollment Rate by Educational Level, SY 2017–2020
Gross Enrollment Rate (GER) Net Enrollment Rate (NER)

Level of Education
SY 2017-2018 SY 2018-2019 SY 2019-2020 SY 2017-2018 SY 2018-2019 SY 2019-2020
Kindergarten 102% 107% 90% 84% 76% 63%
Grade 1 to 6 105% 102% 101% 94% 94% 94%
Junior High School 95% 100% 102% 76% 81% 83%
Senior High School 67% 74% 78% 46% 51% 48%
Source: LIS/BEIS SY 2017–2018, SY 2018–2019 and SY 2019–2020.33
The analysis of enrollment rates shows that the Kindergarten and Elementary sectors experienced a declining
trend in recent years. While the Gross Enrollment Rate (GER) in Elementary declined by 4 percentage points (p.p.)
and the Net Enrollment Rate (NER) remained stable, in Kindergarten the downward trend was more accentuated,
with a reduction of 12 p.p. in the GER and 21 p.p. in the NER. This was in part because of the recent strict
enforcement of the age cut-off for Kindergarten. Enrollment in secondary education has consistently grown in
the last three years. In SHS, the GER rose by 11 p.p. in three years, while the NER rose by less than 2 p.p., which
indicates that more learners are accessing SHS but not at the right age. The analysis by key stages will shed
some light on the evolution of enrollment in basic education.
32
Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.
33
For SY 2019–2020 (with ALS and PSO), PSO data includes in all levels, while ALS data includes in Kindergarten to Grade 6 and JHS to
SHS only.
31
3.1.1. Participation by Education Level in Basic Education
Kindergarten
RA 10157 or The Kindergarten Act passed in 2012 established one year of compulsory Kindergarten for children
5 years of age. However, many parents are not sending their 5-year-old children to Kindergarten, and current
enrollment rates are actually lower than the figures obtained when the Act was approved. In SY 2012–2013, just
before the 2013 Act was implemented, the GER for Kindergarten was 102.7% and the NER 77%. In the following
three years, the GER fell by 25 p.p. and the NER by 10 p.p. The enrollment has been fluctuating greatly, with a
high GER of 107% in SY 2013–2014 and a low of 82.5% in SY 2016–2017. In SY 2019–2020, the GER was 90% and
the NER 63%.
The Kindergarten NER reflects the changes in the policy for eligible ages that can be enrolled in the level. This
policy was established to ensure that the learner is capable of meeting the expectations of the grade level.
In 2015, DepEd accepted children who will have turned 5 years old by June 1 but gave some allowance until
October 31. However, in 2016, this policy was drastically changed, and the cut-off became August 31, helping
to explain the drop in the indicator from 74% to 66% (see Figure 5). In 2017, the policy was retained and many
of those children who were ineligible to enroll in 2016 were accepted in 2017, resulting in a significant increase
in the indicator from 66% to 84%. In 2018, a new policy34 set the age cut-off to June 1, driving the indicator
downward. However, there was public pushback on this policy and DepEd amended it to account for different
starting months for private schools (i.e., some start in June, others in July, and the rest in August), and so there
was a more lenient implementation of the June cut-off. The net effect of this policy adjustment was a decline in
the indicator, but not as large as what it would have been had the June cut-off been strictly observed. In 2019,
the June cut-off was finally enforced, and the indicator decreased to 63%, as what had occurred in 2016 when
a similar policy was implemented. Other factors that affects kindergarten enrollment/participation are the
34
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 20.
32
Figure 5: Gross Enrollment Rates and Net Enrollment Rates in Kindergarten,

SY 2010–2011 to SY 2019–2020
107 107
103 102 102
99
97
90
82 84
79 77 79
76 76
74 74
66 63
PERCENT
57
Gross Enrollment Rate (GER)

Source: DepEd EBEIS Net Enrollment Rate (NER)
33
Elementary
The NER for Elementary shows DepEd’s efforts to bring children into school at the right age (between 6 and 12
years old). In the last two years, the NER has been around 95%, which means that 5% of elementary school-age
children are either not in school or not in the age-appropriate grade.
Figure 6: GER and NER for Elementary, SY 2009-2010 to SY 2019–2020
120
115 115
114
110 111
109 110
107
106
100
97
96 96
95
94
90 93
91
89
80
70
60
SY 2009 -10 SY 2010-11 SY 2011-12 SY 2012-13 SY 2013-14 SY 2014-15 SY 2015-16 SY 2016-17 SY 2017-18
SCHOOL YEAR

The GER and NER have changed from a difference of 18 p.p. in 2009 to 7 p.p. in 2020, which means that
more children are in school at the right age. However, the current GER is lower than what it was 10 years ago.
According to FLEMMS 2019, the reasons for children not attending elementary school are lack of personal
interest, disability, and insufficient family income.35
35
Philippine Statistics Authority. 2019. 2019 FLEMMS, Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey, Final report.
34
Junior High School
For Junior High School (JHS), after a five-year period of stagnation between 2010 and 2015, both the GER and
NER have been consistently growing in parallel in recent years, with a GER of 102% and a NER of 83% in SY
2019–2020. The variation in the NER for JHS between males and females is 8.4 p.p.
Figure 7: GER and NER for JHS, 2009–2020 to SY 2016–2017
105
92
86
90 85 85 84 84 84
82
74
75
ENROLLMENT RATE
68
65 64 64 65 63
60
60
45
30
SY 2009-10 SY 2010-11 SY 2011-12 SY 2012-13 SY 2013-14 SY 2014-15 SY 2015-16 SY 2016-17
SCHOOL YEAR

The United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child (LCSFC)36 started
in 2016 shows the significant effect of the early registration program on improving participation in JHS. About
71% of the households with incoming Grade 7 cohort reported to be aware of the program (significantly higher
in Luzon [74.6%] and Visayas [72.7%] compared to Mindanao [61.6%]). Of those who were aware of the early
registration, 59% actually availed of the program (Wave 3 data collection detailed in OPS, 2020).
36
LCSF is a 15-year study of the UNFPA that tracks the lives of a nationally representative sample (5,000) of Filipino children, along with their
households and communities, which started in 2016 when they were 10 years old and will continue to follow them every year till 2030.
35
Senior High School
By SY 2019–2020, there was a total of 18,306 Senior High Schools (SHS) nationwide serving almost 3.2 million
SHS learners. These figures have consistently grown since 2016 and this points to the gradual acceptance of
society of the importance of SHS. A significant reason for this increased number is the vouchers provided by
DepEd to SHS learners in private schools: 1,290,184 learners from private SHS and 58,808 learners from non-
DepEd public SHS based on DepEd’s budget report.37
Figure 8: GER and NER in SHS, 2016–2020
78
74
71
67
51
48
46
37

37
Cited in https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/09/17/campus-press/51-shs-schools-shut-down-despite-voucher-assistance/768848/
36
The continued increases in the SHS GER, even during a period when the corresponding NER is declining, can
be partially explained by increased employment prospects after graduation. However, as the majority of SHS
enrollment is in the Academic Track, one cannot discount the effect that the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary
Education Act has had on basic education. The law made TVET and college virtually free in public institutions
and provided substantial financial assistance for individuals wanting to gain TVET or college credentials in private
institutions. The law was passed in 2017 and took effect in SY 2018–19, coinciding with the increases in the SHS
GER while the NER was plateauing and eventually decreasing.
DepEd’s internal monitoring points to increasing acceptance of SHS by the general public and the willingness of
industry to hire SHS graduates.38 Moreover, there is a high passing rate (90%) of SHS graduates in the National
Certificate (NC) assessment administered by TESDA. The main driver of this improved reputation is the work
immersion program included in the SHS curriculum. However, many stakeholders have expressed concern
that the time allotment for work immersion is only enough for orientation/familiarization and not for actual skills
acquisition. Business groups such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry have been lobbying
DepEd for increased and better-quality work immersion hours to improve the learner’s employability immediately
after completing SHS. In any case, the general positive response to SHS should also be viewed in relation to the
labor surplus when considering college learners and graduates looking for work. It is important to ensure that
SHS graduates will be competitive in a labor market in surplus.
Gender Gaps
There is gender-balanced participation in numbers of males and females in Kindergarten up to the end of
Elementary (Grade 6). The gender gap becomes more evident in junior and senior high school wherein more
females stay in the system. Male numbers slightly outweigh females in the early years (which is reflective of the
population) but swing slightly in favor of females starting Grade 7, and the gap widens in senior education. DepEd
data39 show that there is a distinct shift of the gender ratio between Grades 8 to 9, from slightly favoring males to
significantly favoring females by Grade 12. Grade 9 learners are around age 14, and since it is unlikely that a large
number of female-majority enrollment occurs during high school, the shift in the gender ratio may mean the onset
of significant male-specific pressures to drop out of school once they become teenagers.40
38
Brillantes, Karen et al. 2019. Status of Senior High School Implementation: A Process Evaluation. PIDS Discussion Paper Series No. 2019-
13. p. 45.
39
DepEd Planning Service. Q&A for 2020 budget.
40
The Basic Education Sector Analysis 2021 explored some of the causes that could explain the lower number of males in basic education,
including reasons related to 1) the lower academic performance of males compared to females during the first grades, 2) higher
dependence of males on peer groups, and 3) frequent use of computer games during school hours by males.
37
Figure 9: Gender Ratios in Secondary Education, SY 2019–2020
52.49%
51.95% 51.81% 51.76%
50.97% 50.77%
48.05% 48.19% 48.24% 47.51%

49.03% 49.23%
Grade 12 (Ãge 17)
Grade 7 (Ãge 12) Grade 8 (Ãge 13) Grade 9 (Ãge 14) Grade 10 (Ãge 15) Grade 11 (Ãge 16) Grade 12 (Ãge 17)
Source: DepEd EBEIS Male Female
More males than females start secondary education but as they move to upper grades, the proportion is
reversed.
Table 4:GER and NER for All Basic Education Levels, by Gender, SY 2019–2020
GER Kindergarten Grades 1-6 Grades 7-10 (JHS) Grades 11-12 (SHS)
Male 92.04% 102.23% 100.03% 72.57%
Female 88.28% 99.98% 104.33% 84.16%
NER Kindergarten Grades 1-6 Grades 7-10 (JHS) Grades 11-12 (SHS)
Male 62.59% 93.79% 78.80% 40.65%
Female 64.31% 94.15% 87.20% 55.34%
Source: DepEd SY 2019-2020 Performance Indicators
The NER for females is higher than for males in all basic education levels. However, the population and the
enrollment in total amount is higher for males than females in all levels. As shown in Table 4, the GER is higher
for males in Kindergarten and Grades 1 to 6. This means that more females are in the right age in every education
level compared to males, who attend school in bigger numbers but less often at the right age.
When the figures are compared over time, Figure 10 shows that in JHS, the highest GER and NER for females is
a constant in the last 10 years, with a difference of around 5 p.p. in favor of females in the GER and around 10 p.p.
in the NER.
38
Figure 10: GER and NER for JHS, Disaggregated by Gender, SY 2009–2010 to SY 2019–2020
89
87
83
81 81
80
79
76 77
74
73
70 70 70 70 71
68 68 69
65 65 64 64 65
63 64
60
60 59 59 60 58
55
SY 2009 -10 SY 2010-11 SY 2011-12 SY 2012-13 SY 2013-14 SY 2014-15 SY 2015-16 SY 2016-17 SY 2017-18 SY 2018-19 SY 2019-20
The disparities are not only among regions but also within regions when the NER is disaggregated by gender.
The differences in elementary between the numbers of females and males go from almost none to around
10 p.p. in all regions. The national NER in SHS in SY 2019–2020 is 48%, but the disaggregated data show that
the disparities between males and females are significant (see Table 5), with a gap of almost 15 p.p. in favor
of females (NER is 40.65% for males, 55.34% for females). When the NER is disaggregated by region, the
difference between males and females in SHS is above 13 p.p. in almost all the regions. In CAR, the gap is
almost 19 p.p. (41.46% for males and 60.28% for females). In BARMM, the difference is just 6 p.p. but the NER
is extremely low for both males (7.49%) and females (13.73%).
39
Transition rates are high in basic education. The transition rate from Grade 4 to Grade 5 was 99% in SY 2019–
2020, and for Grade 6 to Grade 7 it was 95.5% (94% for males and 97% for females). It is high in all regions
except in BARMM where it is 80%. The transition rate from JHS to SHS is very high at 97%, with almost parity
for numbers of males and females. The majority of the regions have transition rates above 94%, except Regions
IV-A and IV-B with 92%, and BARMM with 85%.
40
Table 5: NET Enrollment Rate per Key Stage by Region and Gender (SY 2019–2020)
NET Enrollment Rate
SY 2019–2020
Region
Junior High Senior High
Kindergarten Grades 1 to 6 School School
Grades 7 to 10 Grades 11 to 12
Total (MF) 57.10% 89.99% 89.85% 61.54%
Region I- Ilocos Male (M) 57.08% 90.35% 87.06% 54.50%
Female (F) 57.13% 89.61% 92.83% 69.23%
Total (MF) 62.45% 97.17% 88.81% 56.46%
Region II- Cagayan Valley Male (M) 62.67% 97.31% 84.75% 48.45%
Female (F) 62.21% 97.02% 93.13% 65.20%
Total (MF) 67.06% 100.03% 87.69% 58.03%
Region III- Central Luzon Male (M) 66.76% 100.02% 84.04% 51.62%
Female (F) 67.38% 100.03% 91.57% 64.94%
Total (MF) 65.37% 98.23% 87.85% 54.79%
Region IV-A (Calabarzon) Male (M) 64.27% 97.87% 84.29% 48.16%
Female (F) 66.53% 98.61% 91.62% 61.84%
Total (MF) 58.61% 90.26% 81.12% 46.00%
Region IV-B (Mimaropa)) Male (M) 57.95% 89.79% 77.19% 39.02%
Female (F) 59.31% 90.75% 85.31% 53.52%
Total (MF) 63.58% 92.68% 82.27% 42.31%
Region V- Bicol) Male (M) 62.91% 93.09% 78.18% 34.35%
Female (F) 64.28% 92.25% 86.59% 50.91%
Total (MF) 66.82% 97.25% 85.68% 44.22%

Region VI-
Male (M) 66.78% 97.74% 81.63% 36.34%
Western Visayas
Female (F) 66.87% 96.75% 89.96% 52.66%
Total (MF) 69.50% 98.07% 88.52% 47.81%

Region VII-
Male (M) 68.85% 98.08% 83.37% 39.12%
Central Visayas
Female (F) 70.18% 98.05% 93.97% 57.12%
41
NET Enrollment Rate
SY 2019–2020
Region
Total (MF) 61.75% 91.60% 80.05% 42.08%

Region VII
Male (M) 61.20% 91.44% 75.50% 33.84%
Eastern Visayas
Female (F) 62.33% 91.76% 84.85% 50.92%
Total (MF) 65.24% 91.70% 74.24% 34.43%

Region IX-
Zamboanga Male (M) 63.92% 91.22% 69.13% 27.06%
Peninsula
Female (F) 66.63% 92.20% 79.54% 42.28%
Total (MF) 73.36% 99.23% 76.75% 38.05%

Region X-
Male (M) 72.73% 100.10% 72.47% 31.02%
Northern Mindanao
Female (F) 74.02% 98.33% 81.13% 45.48%
Total (MF) 60.45% 93.87% 85.44% 41.53%
Region XI- Davao Male (M) 59.19% 93.15% 80.15% 33.81%
Female (F) 61.79% 94.63% 90.98% 49.67%
Total (MF) 64.41% 92.24% 75.89% 37.45%

Region XII-
Male (M) 63.17% 91.82% 70.70% 30.88%
SOCCSKSARGEN
Female (F) 65.72% 92.68% 81.29% 44.41%
Total (MF) 64.31% 94.84% 82.20% 40.77%
Caraga Region Male (M) 64.30% 95.46% 78.54% 34.27%
Female (F) 64.31% 94.20% 85.99% 47.70%
Total (MF) 53.65% 71.51% 36.48% 10.59%

BARMM-Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region in Muslim Male (M) 49.38% 68.42% 31.07% 7.49%
Mindanao
Female (F) 58.16% 74.70% 41.96% 13.73%
Total (MF) 62.32% 91.40% 84.76% 50.53%

CAR- Cordillera
Male (M) 62.78% 92.25% 80.81% 41.46%
Administrative Region
Female (F) 61.83% 90.51% 88.90% 60.28%
42
NET Enrollment Rate
SY 2019–2020
Region
Total (MF) 57.17% 89.91% 89.68% 62.28%

NCR- National
Male (M) 56.11% 89.43% 86.06% 54.93%
Capital Region
Female (F) 58.28% 90.42% 93.47% 70.00%
Total (MF) 63.43% 93.96% 82.89% 47.76%
Total PHILIPPINES Male (M) 62.59% 93.79% 78.80% 40.65%
Female (F) 64.31% 94.15% 87.20% 55.34%
The gender gap in dropout rates over time, grade level progression (see graphs below), and school performance
is among the key findings in the LCSFC.41 There is a more pronounced decreasing trend in the percentage of
enrolled males compared to females, widening the gender gap over time as the cohort grew older. It seems that
the pandemic, with the consequent shift to remote learning and home confinement of children, has narrowed the
gap as an increase in the proportion of males enrolled is observed in SY 2020–2021 (W4a). However, the graph
following the grade level progression of Grade 5 students in SY 2016–2017 (W1) shows that the gender gap
continues to widen for appropriate grade level progression, indicating that males continue to lag behind and those
that came back to school during the pandemic are now in lower grade levels than their W1 peers.
41
United Nations Population Fund. Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child. 2019.
43
Figure 11: Proportion of Cohort Enrolled in School
99.8
99.2
99.0 98.9 98.7
98.5
98.1
96.7
96.2
94.3
W1 (2016 Q4) W2 (2018) W3 (2019) W4 (2020 Q1) W4a (2020 Q4)

mean age 10.5 mean age 11.8 mean age 12.8 mean age 13.7 mean age 14.4
Source: Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child Female Male
Figure 12: Grade Level Progression

Grade level progression among cohort in Grade 5 at W1 (Baseline)*
100 99.6 99.4

98.8
97.5 97.7
98.0 97.1
96.0
94.4
94.0
92.0 92.0
90.0
88.0
Gr 6 (W2) mean Gr 7 (W3) mean Gr 8 (W4) mean Gr 9 (W4A) mean
age 11.8 age 12.8 age 13.7 age 14.4
Source:UNFA- Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child Female Male
44
A Policy Note on the gender disparity in school outcomes42 showed that at ages 10 and 11, higher proportions
of males than females repeated a grade level, had lower grades, and reported more absences. Of equal concern
is the observation that, compared to the female cohort, a higher proportion of males did not aspire for college
education and this negative aspiration was similarly echoed by their mothers.
Study findings on school competency, cognitive ability, engagement in risky behaviors, and child work provide
possible underlying explanations to the gender disparity in school performance. Males scored lower than females
in the school competency scale and cognitive testing instruments administered in the LCSFC (OPS,2019a;
Alegado et al, 2020). Furthermore, between Waves 1 through 4 (OPS, 2021), at approximately ages 10 to 13,
males were also shown to have a greater propensity to potential risky behaviors such as smoking, consuming
alcoholic drinks, watching pornographic videos, having experienced more than kissing, chatting online with
strangers, and experiencing being physically hurt by friends. A Policy Note on child work and labor (Largo et
al, 2020) showed a significantly higher proportion of the male cohort being engaged in activities mostly (80%)
classified as child labor by the age of 10 (31.68% males vs. 22.95% females). Significant associations were
observed between engagement in child work/labor and school outcomes. For instance, at ages 10 and 11,
children who did not aspire for college education had lower school competency scores and persistently reported
school absences were most likely to be engaged in any form of child work/labor. Engagement in child work/labor
appears to involve social skills given that children who reported any form of work before age 10 had higher social
competency scores or were more involved in organizations and interact more with friends and family.
42
Alegado, J.L.G., Largo, F.M., Borja, J.B., Mayol, N.L., Bechayda, S.A.,Bautista, C.A.P., Herrin, A.N. 2020. Closing the gender gap in schooling
outcomes and cognitive ability among Filipino children. Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child. UNFPA-OPS Policy Notes Series_
No.5. USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.opsusc.org/paper_series.php.
45
Internal Efficiency
The internal efficiency of an education system is measured through the Cohort Survival Rate (CSR) and
Completion Rate (CR). The CSR indicates the percentage of pupils or learners in a given cohort who started Grade
1 or Grade 7 and reached Grade 6 and Grade 10, respectively. The CR indicates how many persons in a given
age group have completed the relevant level of education. Indicators on school leavers, dropouts, and repetition
may help explain the CSR and CR. It must be noted that in the Philippines, there is only information on internal
efficiency indicators for the formal basic education levels, not for non-formal education.
Table 6: Cohort Survival Rate and Completion Rate- SY 2009 to SY 2019
Cohort Survival Rate (%) Completion Rate (%)

School Year
Elementary JHS Elementary JHS
SY 2009–2010 74 78 72 74
SY 2010–2011 74 79 72 75
SY 2011–2012 74 79 71 74
SY 2012–2013 74 78 73 75
SY 2013–2014 79 79 78 76
SY 2014–2015 85 81 84 78
SY 2015–2016 88 82 84 74
SY 2016–2017 94 83 93 81
SY 2017–2018 94 86 92 84
SY 2018–2019 97 89 97 89
SY 2019–2020 97 87 97 86
Source: EMISD-EBEIS.
The CSR and CR reflect the success rates for DepEd to encourage learners to remain in the education system
and complete their education. With a 97% CSR and 97% CR rate at the elementary level, almost all pupils who
started Grade 1 reach Grade 6 and complete the elementary schooling requirements. Table 6 shows significant
improvements in DepEd’s ability to retain children in school in the last 10 years. The CSR increased from 74% to
97% in Elementary and from 78% to 87% in JHS. The CR improved from 72% to 97% in Elementary and from
74% to 86% in JHS.
46
Moving forward, elementary schools need to continue to address dropout issues at the primary level. Around
75% of dropouts in SY 2018–2019 and 2019–202043 are between Kindergarten and Grade 4, with Kindergarten and
Grade 1 accounting for almost 60% of the dropouts in the primary level.44 The readiness of kindergarten learners
for elementary schooling and reading competencies should be strengthened and prioritized.
While the ability to retain learners in school at the secondary level is improving, it still needs major improvements.
The CSR in JHS improved from 78% (SY 2009–2010) to 87% (SY 2019–2020) and the CR jumped from 74% CR
to 86%. Recent data on dropouts are highest in JHS. Figure 11 shows that the highest number of dropouts is in
Grades 7–9. The total number of dropouts for Grades 7–9 constitutes 45% of the total number of learners who
dropped out of schooling in SY 2019–2020. Based on the FLEMMS report 2019, children aged 12–15 do not go to
school because of lack of personal interest (41.9% of responses) and family income not being sufficient to send
the child to school (14.4% of responses).
Figure 13: Dropouts – Kindergarten to Grade 12, SY 2019–2020
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Source: DepEd-EBEIS
43
EMISD LIS SY 2018–2019, SY 2019–2020.
44
Table 7 below in this section offers data on the reasons for not attending school.
47
When a cohort from Grade 1 to Grade 12 is followed, the completion rate is low with only 50% of Grade 1
cohorts completing Grade 12. The largest attrition may be happening in JHS, possibly pointing to quality or
performance issues of learners. Only 5 out of 10 learners graduate from SHS, which may reflect both ineffective
back-to-school programs or possibly the changing mindsets in society about the long-term benefits of education.
Improving the completion rate is an important challenge for both DepEd and for society in general.
Figure 14: Cohort Survival of Grade 1 Learners in SY 2008–2009

to Grade 12 Graduates in SY 2019–2020, Public and Private
100 82.98 78.42 75.43 72.48 69.73 68.50 68.62 64.71 60.54 56.83 55.61 54.79 50.05
1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 12
Source: DepEd-EBEIS
48
3.1.2. The Education of Groups in Situations of Disadvantage and

Vulnerability in the Philippines
Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution and the governing law, every Filipino has a right to quality basic education and
free public basic education. However, while DepEd is steadfast in bridging the gaps in access to education, there
are still disadvantaged and vulnerable groups who are not in school or at risk of being left behind.
Out-of-School Children and Youth
The 2017 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority estimates that 9.1% of 39 million
population aged 6 to 24 years old were not attending school. However, this estimate covers children and youth in
both basic education and college ages. A DepEd estimation disaggregating the out-of-school children and youth
(OSCY) for the basic education age group of 6 to 17 years old places it at 1,430,000, of which 1,007,000 are males
and 425,000 are females.
The COVID-19 pandemic might be aggravating this issue. There is a shift in gender distribution among out-of-
school children and youth (OSCY), with more males than females (52%–48% for 6–24 years old, and 61%–39% if
limited to 6–19 years old). There are strong incentives to encourage OSCY aged 6–15 to return to formal schooling
but this becomes challenging the longer the children are away from school and they slip further behind their age
group. A PIDS study45 found that being overage is a major factor in dropping out. It finds that “when children are
older than their cohorts, they lose interest and motivation because they are embarrassed and at risk of being
bullied and of developing attitude issues as they progress to the higher grades.”
Figure 15: Out-of-School Children and Youth (% distribution) by Per Capita Income Decile and Gender, 2017
20.06 20.73
16.47 16.57
14.94 16.16
13.14 12.92
10.67
8.62 7.87 8.61 8.58 8.24
4.27 3.69 2.28
2.87 2.52 0.69
First Decile Second Decile Third Decile Fourth Decile Fifth Decile Sixth Decile Seventh Decile Eight Decile Ninth Decile Tenth Decile
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, 2017 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey Male Female
Figure 15 shows that the poor have a higher probability of being out of school. Two-thirds (66.6%) of female
OSCY come from the bottom 40% of the population, while the corresponding figure for males is 64.4%.46
45
PIDS Policy Notes No. 2018–17.
46
Philippine Statistics Authority.
49
The major reason for not attending school is widely believed to be poverty and the associated costs of attending
school. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) suggests that “marriage/family matters” is the major
reason for not attending school for young women aged 16–24, which reiterates the earlier reasons given for low
attendance in school. It may also be a lack of parental or spousal support for the schooling of females due to
traditional gender-role beliefs, cultural norms, and perceptions.
Table 7: Reasons for Not Attending School by Gender and Age, 2017
Male Female Both Sexes

Reason for not
attending school 12 to 16 to 12 to 16 to 12 to 16 to
Total 6 to 11
15 24
Total 6 to 11
15 24
Total 6 to 11
15 24
Accessibility of school 2.0 14.0 - 0.7 0.3 - - 0.3 0.9 9.6 - 0.4
Illness / disability 11.9 27.0 9.2 10.4 5.4 32.5 17.9 3.8 7.8 28.8 11.8 5.8
Marriage / family matters 2.5 - 1.1 3.4 57.0 - 3.0 61.9 37.0 - 1.6 44.3
High cost of education / financial concern 24.0 13.7 14.7 28.6 14.3 6.4 18.6 14.4 17.9 11.4 15.8 18.6
Employment / looking for work 12.2 - 0.5 17.8 6.2 2.6 2.9 6.5 8.4 0.8 1.2 9.9
Finished schooling or finished post

0.1 - - 0.1 0.1 - - 0.1 0.1 - - 0.1
secondary or college
Lack of personal interest 43.8 31.4 71.3 37.0 13.6 27.8 51.5 11.02 24.7 30.2 65.5 18.8
Problem with school record / birth

1.2 4.2 0.3 1.0 0.6 9.8 - 0.3 0.8 6.0 0.2 0.5
certificate
Too young to go to school 0.7 6.9 - - 0.5 18.3 - - 0.6 10.5 - -
Others 1.6 2.8 3.0 0.9 2.1 2.6 6.1 1.8 1.9 2.7 3.9 1.6
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number of OOSCYs (‘000) 1,311 140 281 890 2,262 65 117 2,080 3,573 205 398 2,970
Note: “ – “ denotes zero count or less than 0.05%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, 2017 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey.47
Table 7 shows that the reasons for not attending school differ depending on the age and gender of the learners.
Teenagers aged 12 to 15 are not in school largely because of lack of personal interest. Males are more prone to
non-attendance, being more affected by peer pressure, risky behavior, or the pressure of needing to augment the
family income by working. Males mentioned this 30% more than females. PIDS also found that children residing
in regions where the learner-to-teacher ratio is high are likely to lack interest.48 Males aged 6–11 seem to be the
only group significantly affected by difficulty in accessing school. Proximity to a school has almost no bearing
on the decision to pursue schooling for all other age groups, regardless of gender. This implies that in terms of
47
This report is from 2017 but it included disaggregated data by sex. APIS 2019 and FLEMMS 2019 are more recent but did not have that
disaggregated data.
48
PIDS Discussion Paper Series No. 2016-39.
50
improving participation rates, special attention should be given to elementary-aged males. For all other groups,
the economic issues discussed earlier are more pressing compared to simply building more schools in remote
locations.
Remote Communities
The government has identified geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA)49 nationwide.
This refers to communities with marginalized populations physically and socio-economically separated from
the mainstream society and characterized by: 1) physical factors- isolated due to distance, weather conditions,
and transportation difficulties (island, upland, lowland, landlocked, hard-to-reach, and unserved/underserved
communities), and 2) socio-economic factors (high poverty incidence, presence of vulnerable sector, communities
in or recovering from situation of crisis or armed conflict). Many of the Last Mile Schools identified by DepEd are
within the GIDA.
There are 10,875 GIDA barangays nationwide, representing 25.87% of all barangays. Regions V, VIII, and IX have
the most GIDA barangays, representing 31.23% of the total among the three regions. There are 8,013 barangays
without elementary schools, most of them are in GIDA, and eight municipalities without secondary schools,
mostly located in the conflict-affected areas of Basilan and Maguindanao in BARMM and in Palawan. There are
1,044 remote and 86 extremely remote schools nationwide based on the result of remoteness index analysis.
49
GIDA is a classification that originated from the Department of Health and the analysis is conducted at the municipal level.
51
Children and Youth with Disabilities
Philippine and international laws guarantee the right of children and youth with disabilities to access quality
education. The constitutional right to access quality education applies to all citizens, including persons with
disabilities. The Education Act of 1982 and the Child and Youth Welfare Code also mandate that the right to quality
education should be afforded to all without discrimination on the basis of physical and mental conditions, while
such education should be commensurate to the abilities and special needs of certain learners. The Magna Carta
for Persons with Disabilities also provides that persons with disabilities have the same rights as other people to
take their proper place in society and their rights must never be perceived as welfare services by the government.
The Magna Carta specifically provides for the right of persons with disabilities to the provision of adequate access
to quality education and ample opportunities to develop their skills, and the corresponding duty of the State to
ensure this right. It demands that special requirements of persons with disabilities be considered by the State
in the formulation of education policies and programs. The Magna Carta obligates the national government to
allocate funds that are necessary for the effective implementation of the special education program nationwide,
while the local government units may likewise appropriate counterpart funds to supplement national funds.
Recently, RA 11510 or the Alternative Learning System Act was enacted on December 23, 2020, aiming to,
among others, design specialized programs for learners with disabilities, taking into consideration their different
levels of learning needs and other functional difficulties in the development of instructional materials and learning
resources in accessible formats (Sec. 3).
Internationally, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) provides for the right of the child to education
(Art. 28) and obligates State Parties to respect and ensure the rights set forth in the Convention to each child
within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal
guardian’s race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property,
disability, birth or other status (Art. 3). Under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD,
2006), State Parties, including the Philippines, have the duties to recognize the right of persons with disabilities
to education, with a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity. State
Parties should thus ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning directed to (a) the full
development of human potential and sense of dignity and self-worth, and the strengthening of respect for human
rights, fundamental freedoms, and human diversity; (b) the development by persons with disabilities of their
personality, talents, and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential; and (c)
enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society (Art. 24). State Parties of the UNCRPD
have the duty to, among others, ensure that persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general education
system on the basis of disability and that “persons with disabilities can access inclusive, quality, and free primary
and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live.”
Pursuant to RA 7277, as amended, the State is mandated to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided
with accessible and quality education, as well as opportunities to develop their skills, taking into consideration
their special requirements. For the purpose of the establishment, maintenance, and support of a complete,
adequate, and integrated system of special education for the visually impaired, hearing impaired, persons with
mental health conditions, and other types of exceptional children, DepEd is directed to establish special education
classes in public schools in cities or municipalities, as well as Braille and record libraries in provinces, cities, or
municipalities. DepEd, with the other education agencies, should also provide vocational, technical, and other
training programs, and non-formal education to persons with disabilities.50
50
Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, Sections 12 to 17, 32.
52
When compared to the country’s compliance to UNCRPD commitments, the initial report finds that (a) there is
still a lack of measures to provide for inclusive and mainstreamed education for persons with disabilities,
(b) there is a low number of children with disabilities enrolled in elementary schools, and (c) the education of
children, young persons, and adults with disabilities in regular educational facilities is hindered by the barriers
to accessibility and the lack of a universal design for learning and reasonable accommodations in all academic
and social aspects of student life. To address this, DepEd issued DepEd Order No. 44, s. 2021, entitled “Policy
Guidelines on the Provision of Educational Programs and Services for Learners with Disabilities in the K to 12
Basic Education Program.”
The DepEd program for children with disabilities (CWD) represents 1.34% of the total enrollment. However,
according to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 15% of the world’s population live with some form of
disability, of whom 2–4% experience significant difficulties in functioning.51 The same report predicts that the
global estimate for disability is on the rise due to population ageing, the rapid spread of chronic diseases, and
improvements in the methodologies to use to measure disability.
Muslim Children and Youth
BARMM has the lowest levels of performance indicators related to access. BARMM is an outlier compared to
other regions: the difference in net enrollment between NCR and BARMM is 3.5 p.p. in Kindergarten, 18 p.p. in
Elementary, and a staggering 53 p.p. in JHS and 52 p.p. in SHS. This disadvantage begins early in schooling: while
gross enrollment is competitive at the kindergarten and elementary levels (96.01% and 86.62% compared to the
national averages of 90.21% and 101.13%, respectively), in secondary education the figures are 58.38% for JHS
and 31.64% for SHS, compared to 102.12% and 78.18%, respectively, at the national level. This lack of access
51
World Health Organization. 10 Facts on disability. https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/disabilities
53
is worse for males. In addition, BARMM is also an outlier in terms of Elementary School Leaver Rate (4.87%)
and Completion Rate (72.94%) when the corresponding averages for other regions are 0.52% and 96.17%,
respectively. In short, less learners are entering school, more are dropping out, and even less are completing
elementary school. This sets the stage for continued poor indicators at the secondary school level.
Children and Youth of Indigenous Cultural Communities
The population of Indigenous Peoples (IP) in the Philippines is estimated to be between 12–17% of the national
population. Using 2015 figures of the Philippine Statistics Authority,52 which puts the national population of
5- to 19-year-old youth at 31,528,047, the IP population of the same age range would be between 3,783,366 to
4,413,926. With the population of IPs continuing to be an estimate at all governance levels (national to barangay),
education data on IP learners relying on a total population with which to compare like Net Enrollment Rate
(NER) remain to be estimates at best. This makes setting of program targets on IP learners a challenge for the IP
Education Program.
Globally, IP communities still face some challenges such as limited access to formal education, absence of
recognition of their identities and cultures, inadequate provision of supplies in schools, and absence of sufficient
number of teachers who speak indigenous languages.53 The quality of data gathering by field personnel is also
crucial since a degree of trust is a prerequisite to self-disclosure of IP identity. Also, disaggregation of other data
sets that may be useful for analysis (e.g., percentage of the literate population who are IPs, performance of IPs
in the National Achievement Test [NAT]) still needs to be included in the system. These cumulative experiences,
compounded by other socio-economic pressures and difficulties experienced by IP communities, bring about the
observed higher dropouts, lower enrollment and poorer performance of IP learners compared to learners who
belong to the ethnic populations considered dominant in the country54 (e.g., Tagalog, Ilocano, Bisaya).
52
Philippine Statistics Authority. 2019. 2019 Philippine Statistical Yearbook. Philippine Statistics Authority. Manila, Philippines.
53
United Nations-Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 2017. State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: Education. New York, USA.
54
Ibid.
54
3.1.3. A Rights-Based Education Through Inclusion Programs
According to the Inclusive Education Policy Framework for Basic Education, “inclusive education contributes
to the realization of the Department’s commitment to quality, equitable, culture-based, and complete basic
education, which is premised on its mandate to protect and promote the right of every Filipino citizen to such
education services.”55 In this context, the inclusiveness of K to 12 Education is expressed through DepEd’s
existing inclusion programs such as the following:
Special Education Program
Appropriate Special Education (SPED) programs and services are provided for learners with disabilities. These
programs and services refer to early intervention programs, curriculum adaptations, learning resource support,
guidance programs, and transition programs. To address the learners’ health and medical needs, the schools’
referral system to medical and allied medical-service providers is an essential part of services for learners with
disabilities.
Figure 16: Children and Learners with Disabilities in Special Education Programs, SY 2019–2020
68206
40320 38958
24027
15575
9944
Mainstreamed Self-Contained Non-Graded

CWD-Elem CWD-Elem CWD-Primary
Source: DepEd EBEIS Male Female
55
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 21, s. 2019, Annex 5. Inclusive Education Policy Framework for Basic Education.
55
There was a total of 360,879 learners with disabilities in SY 2019–2020. Males represent 57.76% of SPED
enrollment, representing a 15.53 p.p. advantage over females. Statistically, there is no reason why more males
should exhibit disabilities in any general population; therefore, the wide gender gap can be attributed to other
factors that determine school participation of female children and youths with disabilities.
Findings from the LCSFC56 2016 baseline survey indicated that marginalized children (at age 10), specifically
children with disabilities, those living in areas prone to armed conflict, in geographically isolated and
disadvantaged areas (GIDA), or are classified as IP, were at increased risk of poor outcomes compared to the non-
marginalized.
Table 8: Proportion of Index Children with Vulnerabilities by Marginalized Sectora
Children
Characteristics with AC GIDA IP NM All
disabilities
Ever repeated a grade*** 35.5 12.5 18.1 16.9 10.5 11.8
Sick last 6 months** 42.3 17.4 40.9 29.4 29.1 29.1
Stunted ***(n=4925) 47.7 36.0 44.8 43.9 29.6 32.0
Low BMI-for-age(n=4925) 21.5 13.1 22.3 19.1 15.3 15.9
Low diet diversity scores** 60.0 56.0 46.5 63.9 54.6 55.4
Hungry but did not eat(n=4908) 54.9 51.4 39.0 46.8 42.0 43.0
Physically hurt by friends**(n=4823) 43.0 37.6 40.7 28.3 39.5 38.5
Physically hurt by parents(n=4817) 24.9 22.2 17.1 16.2 15.6 16.2
Physically hurt by adults**(n=4764) 33.3 26.8 23.1 16.3 22.6 22.4
AC - armed conflict, BMI - body mass index, GIDA - geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, IP - indigenous peoples, NM - non-
marginalized
a
Weighted results are presented as percentages. Tests for significant differences in weighted proportions were based on Pearson’s chi-
squared test of independence. Significantly different across categories at ** p<0.05, *** p<0.01
Source: Longitudinal Study on the Filipino Child 2016.
56
UNFPA. Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child 2016.
56
The baseline survey was followed by a qualitative study in 2017 focusing on the different groups of marginalized
children. In-depth interviews of 10-year-old children were conducted, aiming to provide a voice to these
marginalized children and obtain context to their circumstances and vulnerabilities. While the baseline survey did
not include gender identity questions, given that the sample was deemed too young for these, the qualitative
study included focus group discussions among gay and lesbian adolescents aged 15–19 and inquired about their
circumstances at age 10.
Among the marginalized children, those with disabilities appear the most in need of support, not just from
their own households but from their communities as well. Very few of the children reported to be in any form
of professional therapy. A common desire among their families was for these children to live as independently
as possible. To achieve this, they require much support in terms of information, training, infrastructure, and
rehabilitation measures. The data also showed a need to provide psychosocial and logistical support to the
children’s caretakers and families.
The qualitative data showed vivid descriptions of the many forms of bullying experienced by marginalized
children. Having to deal with bullying, on top of their vulnerabilities, brings their suffering to a whole new level.
None of the children interviewed reported getting any counseling or mental health support from the school or
the community. Among caregivers and parents, marginalized female children who are approaching puberty raise
additional worries that include concerns over the children’s capacity to handle themselves in school and in high-
risk sexual situations. These findings point out the need to empower both children and parents/caregivers on
sexual reproductive health information and available services/support.
The Department of Education conducted the National Training of Trainers (NTOT) for Multi-factored Assessment Tools (MFAT) for the Luzon
Cluster on November 6-10 in Puerto Princesa City. More than 200 Grade 1 and SPED teachers, school heads, and regional and division
supervisors attended the training to acquire knowledge in assessing learners who may exhibit developmental advancement or delay.
Covering the five domains of learning—cognitive, communication, socio-emotional, motor, and daily living skills—the MFAT will help teachers
provide appropriate intervention programs and proper placement to Learners with Disabilities (LWDs).
57
Indigenous Peoples Education Program
Republic Act No. 8371, also known as the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Rights Act of 1997, mandates all government
agencies to recognize and promote the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples within
the framework of national unity and development. DepEd Order No. 62, s. 2011, entitled Adopting the National
Indigenous Peoples Education Policy Framework, advocates for and fosters an educational system that is
inclusive and respectful of IP learners and communities. This serves as an instrument for promoting shared
accountability, continuous dialogue, engagement, and partnership among government, IP communities, civil
society, and other education stakeholders in upholding the IPs learners’ rights to culture-based education.57
DO 62, s. 2011 was also further reinforced by the implementation of the K to 12 Program, which includes in its
principles and standards the curriculums being learner-centered, inclusive, and culture-sensitive.
Figure 17: Indigenous Peoples Learners, Public School Enrollment, 2008–2020
3,750,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
1,500,000
750,000
-
SY 2008-09 SY 2009-10 SY 2010-11 SY 2011-12 SY 2012-13 SY 2013-14 SY 2014-15 SY 2015-16 SY 2016-17 SY 2017-18 SY 2018-19 SY 2019-20
Source: DepEd EBEIS
The nationally coordinated implementation of the IP Education Program started in 2013 and by SY 2015–2016,
a 110% increase in IP learners’ enrollment was noted. This is a result of the cumulative efforts of DepEd in
partnership with IP communities to create, communicate, and institutionalize the respect for cultural integrity
and dignity of IP communities as concretized by policies and practices that promote culture sensitivity and
responsiveness towards IP communities and learners. This change in the relational dynamic has encouraged
parents and learners to declare their IP ethnicity, which is then captured in enrollment data. The fluctuations in
enrollment data from SY 2015–2016 onwards reveal that work still needs to be done to eliminate and/or correct
sources of data inaccuracies. This also reflects the wider social factor of ongoing debates about how IP ethnicity
is understood.
IP learners are in 41,731 public schools nationwide, or 79.19% of all public schools. IP learners represented
9.48% of enrollment in SY 2019–2020. Almost half of these (47.13%) come from just four regions: BARMM
(15%), Region XI (12%), CAR (10%), and Region IX (9.5%). The gender ratio for this subset of the population
observes the national pattern: more males in elementary then it shifts to reflect more females being retained in
high school.
57
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 62, s. 2011.
58
Madrasah Education Program
With the passage of RA 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,
the basic education system in BARMM is placed under the Bangsamoro Government, although remaining as
a subsystem of the national education system. The mandate to establish, maintain, and supervise Madaris
education, as well as to ensure the integration of the teaching of Islamic and Arabic studies into basic education
curricula for Muslim pupils and students in public schools, is also lodged in the Bangsamoro Government.
Muslim learners have grown steadily since 2015, exhibiting the same patterns as the general population. This is a
positive development in terms of integration and tolerance and highlights the fact that significant Muslim
populations are found outside Mindanao. They represent around 5% of total enrollment and while being a Muslim
is not automatically a disadvantage, there are significant segments of the Muslim population that suffer from
poverty, discrimination, disability, and others that warrant focused attention from DepEd.
Figure 18: Muslim Learners Nationwide, by Gender and Level, 2015–2019
500,000
375,000
250,000
125,000
0
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Elem-Male Elem-Female JHS-Male JHS-Female SHS-Male SHS-Female
Source: DepEd EBEIS
The Madrasah Education Program (MEP) is a comprehensive program that aims to provide Muslim learners
with appropriate and relevant educational opportunities within the context of their cultures, customs, traditions,
beliefs, and interests through the integration of the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE)
in the K to grade 6 curriculum in public schools and private madaris so that every Muslim Filipino will have the
intellectual and educational capacity to participate in nation building.
There was a total of 168,497 learners enrolled under the ALIVE program in SY 2019–2020, with almost 89% of
them in elementary school and 11% in secondary school. Four regions in Mindanao represent 87% of enrollment:
BARMM (42%), Region XII (21%), Region IX (13%), and Region X (11%). This program has encountered various
issues in the past, including lack of resources, teacher qualifications, and appropriateness of curriculum. The
number of males and females is similar, with slightly more males in elementary and more females in secondary
education. The BARMM Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) is currently preparing their
own education sector analysis and education sector plan, which will address most of these issues in that region.
59
Multigrade Program in Philippine Education
In 1993, DepEd launched the Multigrade Program in Philippine Education (MPPE) with the objective of improving
equitable access to quality elementary education, particularly in isolated and poor communities. It is anchored on
the Basic Education Act of 2013. DepEd has defined standards, mechanisms, and processes in the organization of
multigrade classes; adoption of multigrade teaching; the content of the specific curriculum; mode of instruction;
provision of education resources, incentives, and benefits for teachers; creation of appropriate learning
environments; and monitoring and supervision of schools. The program has a clear orientation to ensure inclusive
and equitable quality education for all school-age children. There are multiple challenges as this program works in
isolated communities that are difficult to reach and where management and supervision are also difficult.
According to a study conducted by SEAMEO INNOTECH for DepEd and UNICEF, the number of multigrade
schools has been declining, from 12,799 in SY 2009–2010 (33.37% of the public elementary schools) to 12,282 in
SY 2014–2015 (31.76%), and just 7,234 in SY 2017–2018 (18.6%). The regions with more multigrade schools are
Eastern Visayas (19.41%), CAR (9.51%), and Cagayan Valley (7.64%).58 The contributing factors to
successful implementation were related to instructional delivery, traditional assessment, parental and community
engagement, teacher motivation and commitment, and school leadership. According to the study, the main
challenges are linked to the multiple roles of the teachers, the difficulties for school heads and supervisors to
provide adequate instructional support, and the absence of a responsive M&E system.
Alternative Delivery Mode
Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM) are tried and tested alternative modalities of education delivery within the
confines of the formal system that allows schools to deliver quality education to marginalized learners and those
at risk of dropping out to help them overcome personal, social, and economic constraints in their schooling.
ADM provides formal education options to learners enrolled in the formal school but who cannot regularly
attend school for a number of reasons. The target learners are marginalized learners, children whose parents are
always moving, sick children, children/youth working at daytime, late enrollees, and children at risk of dropping
out. ADM is implemented in existing kindergarten, elementary, and secondary schools, and it uses the same
K to 12 curriculum. As of SY 2018–2019, DepEd has recorded 15,512 learners undergoing the program. ADM is
often confused with ALS, as they have similar aspects in terms of flexibility, use of modules, and time away
from school. However, ADM enrollment is still counted within formal school enrollment, while ALS learners are
individuals who are no longer enrolled in formal schools.
Last Mile Schools
The Last Mile Schools (LMS) is a comprehensive response for schools that do not fall under the usual planning
parameters because of factors related to isolation and marginalization.59 Most of these schools are in remote
areas and GIDA. The communities where the schools are located also tend to lack other basic services. To help
address this problem, the Department of Education identified 2,298 LMS that will be the focus of significant
58
Education Management Information Systems Division, DepEd (SY 2017–2018).
59
According to DM 59, 2019, these are some characteristics used to identify Last Mile Schools: having less than four classrooms; having
makeshift or nonstandard rooms; absence of electricity; have not been allocated funds for repairs or new construction projects in the last
four years; with travel distance of more than one hour from town center, or with difficulty of terrain; having multigrade classes/rooms; with
less than five teachers; having less than 100 learners; with more than 75% Indigenous People learners.
60
interventions over the next few years. These are mostly multi-grade schools that are in remote locations and do
not have enough school-aged population to warrant more educational resources in the past. CAR and Regions
VIII, IV-B, and VII represent 61.71% of identified LMS.
The program will build classrooms; replace makeshift or nonstandard classrooms with standard ones; provide
furniture; and install solar panels, water supply, learning materials, and ICT equipment. These schools will also
be the focus of a more holistic set of interventions that will include more operating expenses, more teachers and
teacher training, and other important inputs.
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
DepEd has a total of 8.2 million learners that come from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
beneficiaries. The conditional cash transfer program, implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), provides financial incentives for poor families that enroll and keep their children in school,
thus potentially having a significant effect on participation. Region V, BARMM, Region VI, and Region IV-A have
the biggest share of 4Ps beneficiaries. The allocation of beneficiary slots does not appear to follow a distinct
pattern, as the distribution does not appear to be influenced largely by the size of enrollment in the region, nor
the poverty incidence in the region. Further study on this is desirable.
Alternative Learning System
DepEd created the Alternative Learning System (ALS) as a parallel learning system that provides a practical
option to the existing formal instruction for those youth and adults who did not finish basic education. It offers a
basic literacy program for those who never attended school, and elementary and secondary level programs for
those who dropped out of the formal education system. The Governance Act for Basic Education (RA 9155)
stipulates the establishment of the ALS to provide out-of-school children, youth, and adults with basic education.
RA 11510 or the Alternative Learning System Act, signed into law in December 2020, provides that DepEd will
strengthen the implementation of a range of priority non-formal education programs. This Act specifies which
government agencies will assist DepEd in the implementation of ALS, e.g., CHED will promote among higher
education institutions (HEIs) the admission of ALS Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) test passers; TESDA
will assist DepEd “in equipping ALS learners with technical-vocational skills and provide access to national
certification, as applicable, to improve their work readiness.” The coordination with the LGUs and local school
boards is also regulated in that Act.
The ALS Act further strengthened other aspects such as 1) the expansion of ALS for learners with disabilities,
2) the creation of a Bureau of Alternative Education, 3) the provision of conducive teaching and learning
environments for ALS including establishment of school based CLCs and mandating at least one CLC in every
municipality and city, 4) enhancement of post-program options, and 5) expanded financing using the Local School
Board Special Education Fund and tax credits for private sector investments.
There were 760,000 learners in ALS programs in 2019, with 75% of them in A&E Secondary. However, there was
a significant decline in 2020, to almost 480,000 ALS learners. The reasons for such decline are related to 1) with
60% of ALS learners employed, the economic downturn due to COVID-19 lockdowns resulted in lower enrollment
in ALS as learners and potential learners prioritized finding income and livelihood over pursuing education and
training; 2) for ALS learners who are parents, they prioritized supporting their younger children in remote learning;
61
and 3) with majority of the ALS learners looking forward to being certified through the program, the uncertainty
that they will get their diplomas/completion certificates amid COVID-19 resulted in the lower enrollment in A&E.
The gender trend in formal schools is also reversed in ALS: two-thirds of ALS learners are male, providing hope
that while more males do not complete high school compared to females, they try and make it up by enrolling in
ALS if possible.
Child Rights and Child Protection
With the issuance of DO 3, s. 2021 in January 2021, two new units have been created in DepEd—the Child
Protection Unit (CPU) and the Child Rights in Education Desk (CREDe). In recognition of the significance
of the child’s right to protection against all forms of violence and abuse, the CPU was created to fully implement
DepEd’s policy of zero tolerance of such violence and abuse. In pursuance of the holistic development of the
child, the CREDe was created, envisioning child-centered and child-caring basic education schools, learning
centers, and offices, which respect, protect, promote, and fulfill the dignity and rights of the child in basic
education so they may lead productive and happy lives as they participate in nation-building. The CREDe, using a
child rights and legal lens, will perform functions pertaining to policy formulation, monitoring, and reporting of the
implementation of the rights of the child in basic education, and building awareness and advocacy of these rights
to be infused into DepEd’s work and mandate.
In DO 3, s. 2021, DepEd recognizes that the 1987 Constitution and other domestic and international laws,
primarily the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, guarantee a range of rights of children to
promote their overall well-being. These rights of the child in basic education encompass not only the right to
accessible and quality education, but also the rights in education such as the right against discrimination, right to
health, right to participation or the right of a child capable of forming an opinion to have one’s views heard and
seriously considered in accordance with his/her age and maturity, right to religion, right to rest and play, and right
to protection against all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, and maltreatment, as guaranteed
in international and domestic laws.
DepEd embraces a rights-based approach to education. Its mandate under the Governance of Basic Education
Act of 2001 to ensure access to, promote equity in, and improve the quality of basic education is based on the
rights of the child and youth—the rights-holder—as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution and other domestic
and international laws, which is a legal obligation of DepEd as a duty-bearer to uphold. The 1987 Constitution
enshrines the right of all citizens to accessible and quality basic education and the corresponding duty of the
State to protect and promote this right. It also prescribes the duty of all educational institutions to include the
study of the Constitution as part of the curricula and to inculcate patriotism and nationalism; foster love of
humanity, respect for human rights, and appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development
of the country; teach the rights and duties of citizenship; strengthen ethical and spiritual values; develop moral
character and personal discipline; encourage critical and creative thinking; broaden scientific and technological
knowledge; and promote vocational efficiency.
DepEd performs its mandate because it respects, protects, fulfills, and promotes the rights of the child to
accessible and quality basic education and the rights of the child in basic education. Basic education is a matter
of right of the child and youth, the rights-holder, and not a matter of charity, benevolence, or mere provision of
services to address needs without a duty. DepEd, as a duty-bearer, is legally obligated to uphold this right and
perform its mandate.
62
With a rights-based education framework and approach, DepEd acknowledges that all the rights of the child to
and in basic education are interdependent and indispensable, and must be realized. The enjoyment of the right to
protection against bullying affects the exercise of the right to access to education as bullying can be a cause for
learners dropping out of school. Bullying can also affect the exercise of the right to quality education as it
causes bullied learners to be absent from class, which affects their performance and grades. Thus, it is necessary
to uphold children’s and learners’ interdependent rights in three interrelated dimensions: the right to access to
education, the right to quality education, and the right to respect in the learning environment, which includes the
right to respect for identity and non-discrimination, the right to bodily and mental integrity and protection against
physical and psychological violence, and the right to participation of children in matters affecting them.60
In DepEd’s rights-based education (RBE-DepEd), children and their rights are at the center of policies, programs,
projects, and activities pursuing the holistic development of the child and the vision of child-centered basic
education institutions where happy, well-rounded, and smart children and learners enjoy their rights in schools,
learning centers, and other learning environments served by a learner-centered and rights-upholding DepEd.
Thus, in RBE-DepEd, programs pertaining to child protection, student governance and participation, health and
nutrition, and gender sensitivity, for example, are not viewed as extra, disparate, or peripheral programs in basic
education. Instead, these programs are cohesively and consistently treated as an integral part of RBE-DepEd,
where the right to access to education, the right to quality education, and the right to respect in the learning
environment are interdependent and indispensable and should all be realized with both the performance of
obligations by duty- bearers and the active participation of children as rights-holders.
RBE-DepEd serves as a framework and lens. As a framework, RBE-DepEd brings together policies, programs,
projects, and activities in a consistent, cohesive, and commonly embraced framework, which puts the broad
range of the rights of the child to and in education at the center of these policies, programs, projects, and
activities within the three dimensions of the right to access to education, the right to quality education, and
the right to respect in the learning environment. As a lens, it provides a lens and guide to DepEd with other
stakeholders in education, as duty-bearers, on how policies, programs, projects, and activities in DepEd are
proposed, planned, implemented, monitored, and evaluated to respect, protect, fulfill, and actively promote
children’s interlinked and indispensable right to access to education, right to quality education, and right to
respect in the learning environment. Thus, policies issued by DepEd and inputs to legislation have been anchored
on, and infused with, education rights using RBE-DepEd.
In RBE-DepEd, children are acknowledged as active agents in their education and not merely passive recipients
of education services. They should therefore be capacitated as rights-holders to claim their rights in a positive
manner while duty-bearers are also capacitated and supported to respect, protect, fulfill, and promote them to
build a positive climate, culture, and learning environment. While RBE-DepEd is largely supported by the rights of
the child, it also applies to learners in basic education who are no longer children or below 18 years old through
the use of legal bases that apply to persons who are no longer children, such as the constitutional rights to and
in education and international human rights instruments like the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and
Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
60
UNICEF, UNESCO. 2007. A Human Rights-Based Approach to Education for All: A framework for the realization of children’s right to
education and rights within education. p. 10.
63
Among the PISA-participating countries, the information reported by learners reveals that the Philippines has
the highest incidence of bullying, with 65% of learners reporting that they were bullied at least a few times a
month, compared to 23% on average across OECD countries. Around 29% of these learners reported to have
skipped a day of school and 61% of learners had arrived late for school during that period. This is consistent
with a study that reported that three in five respondents experienced bullying or peer violence during childhood.
More females (70.5%) than males (59.8%) had experienced bullying.61 In 2020, these forms of bullying might
have carried over to the online space, as schools were closed and classes were held through a blended learning
modality. Cyber bullying is also prevalent in the Philippines as 43.8% of young people between 13 and 18 years
of age experienced cyber violence in 2016, in the form of verbal abuse over the internet or cellphone or sexual
messages. The prevalence was slightly higher for males (45.3%) than for females (42.2%).62 In the same report,
14.3% of the respondents who attended school declared having experienced physical violence in school. The
prevalence of violence in children is similar regardless of socio-economic class. Some of this violence targets
individuals or groups on the basis of their gender. According to a baseline study conducted by the Council for the
Welfare of Children, 2 out of 3 children experienced physical violence, 1 out of 4 experienced sexual violence, 2
out of 5 experienced psychological violence, and 2 out of 3 experienced violence from their peers.63 According
to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey, in the Philippines, 1 in 20 females aged 15–49 have
experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.64 The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community is
particularly at risk of sexual violence at school, often from peers.
The majority of the marginalized children who participated in the qualitative study (OPS 2019b) were enrolled in
school and bullying was reported to be experienced while in school, particularly among children with disabilities.
A Policy Note dedicated to bullying65 (Largo et al, 2019) highlighted the consequences of bullying among 10-year-
old baseline children (see table and figure below). In this cohort study, where 98% of the 10-year-old children
were in school, about 38% have reported being physically hurt and 45% being emotionally hurt by friends/
classmates. Multivariable models show that children who reported violence from their peers were less likely to
have higher grades, more likely to miss classes, and less likely to aspire for a college education.
61
UNICEF Philippines. 2017. National Analysis of the Situation Affecting Women and Children in the Philippines: Assessment Report.
62
Council for the Welfare of Children and UNICEF. 2016. National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in the Philippines, Executive
Summary. p. 8.
63
UNICEF-CWC Baseline Study. 2015.
64
UNFPA. Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response. https://philippines.unfpa.org/en/node/15307
65
Largo, F.M., Bacungan, C.C., Alegado, J.L.G., Borja, J.B., Mayol, N.L., Bechayda, S.A.,Bautista, C.A.P., Herrin,
A.N. 2019. Reducing the incidence of bullying and improving elementary school performance: Enhancing effectiveness of school programs.
Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child. UNFPA-OPS Policy Notes Series_No. 2. USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, Inc.
Retrieved from https://www.opsusc.org/paper_series.php.
64
Table 9: Types of Reported Violence on Children by Friends or Classmates by Island Group1
Type of Reported Violence Luzon Visayas Mindanao All
Reported that friends or classmates hurt their feelingsc (n=4,820) 44.9 48.7 41.1 44.6
Reported being physically hurt by friends/classmatesa,c (n=4,823) 37.2 44.1 36.8 38.5
Reported that parents hurt their feelingsa,b (n=4,823) 17.1 24.3 27.8 21.4
Reported being forcefully hurt by parentsa,b (n=4,817) 9.3 23.8 24.3 16.2
Reported being physically hurt by adultsa,b,c (n=4,764) 18.8 30.7 23.6 22.4
Has witnessed any physical violence at homea,b (n=4,815) 22.2 38.1 36.0 29.0
1
Test for significant differences in weighted proportions was based on Pearson chi-square test for independence
a
Significantly different at p<0.05 between Luzon and Visayas; b Luzon and Mindanao; c Visayas and Mindanao
DepEd continues to strengthen its policies, programs, and structures to ensure child protection and address
related issues in schools, including bullying, child abuse and exploitation, discrimination, and violence. DepEd’s
Child Protection Policy66 enunciates its zero tolerance against all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation, neglect,
discrimination, and all other forms of maltreatment against learners. DepEd also issued the Implementing Rules
and Regulations of RA 10627 or the Anti-bullying Act of 2013,67 and it also has a Department policy to address
concerns of children-at-risk (CAR) and children in conflict with the law, among other policies aimed at the
protection of children.
All schools are also mandated to have Child Protection Committees composed of school personnel and other
stakeholders, including a representative of the learners themselves. All DepEd governance levels have roles and
responsibilities towards child protection.
Under its capacity building programs, among other child protection programs, projects, and activities, DepEd
has produced a pool of around 600 Child Protection Specialists trained to provide technical advice to the schools
and their respective schools divisions on complex or serious child protection cases brought to their attention and
recommend actions to address the same based on existing child protection-related laws and pertinent DepEd
issuances. Thousands of DepEd personnel were trained on children’s rights, including child protection, through
a webinar series that was accredited by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) for the first
time in 2020, thus mainstreaming child rights training. The accreditation makes it possible for the participation of
personnel in capacity-building activities to be credited towards their professional development portfolio. DepEd
has also been conducting the Cybersafety in Schools Training, a training program for DepEd personnel that
covers the protection of children from online abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, and bullying. A National
Summit on the Rights of the Child in Education is also conducted annually to bring together the whole of society,
including the children and learners themselves, in strengthening the realization of child rights to and in basic
education.
66
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012. DepEd Child Protection.
67
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 55, s. 2013. Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA No. 10627, otherwise known as the
Anti-Bullying Act of 2012.
65
3.1.4. Private Education
In SY 2019–2020, the share of private schools to total enrollment (K to 12) was 16%. The share of private
elementary school enrollees as a share of total elementary school enrollees has been fairly steady over the past
two decades. In 1998, private schools represented 7.6% of elementary enrollment nationwide. Before 1987, most
of the high school enrollment was in the hands of private schools (65%). With the mandate to provide universal
and free public high schooling, the government began a large-scale high school building program establishing
thousands of high schools. The share of private high school enrollment started to fall steadily. In 1998, private
high school enrollment was down to 28% of secondary enrollment. By 2015, the percentage was at 18.5% (40%
in SHS in SY 2018–2019). In absolute numbers, however, the number of private high school learners has grown
though at a much slower rate than public school enrollment.
The pattern in the country, pre-COVID-19, is as follows:
• In the elementary years, the vast majority of parents send their children to public schools (92%
of enrollees);
• In the JHS years, more parents shift their children to private schools (around 18% of enrollees
for any number of reasons: academics, discipline, religion, extra-curriculars);
• In SHS, closer to half the total enrollment are in private schools.
A similar shift was observed from public to private education in UNFPA’s longitudinal study.68 Data below shows
the increasing percentage of students going to private schools over time. However, the increasing trend has been
halted during the pandemic as a slight increase in public school enrollment was observed from W4 (SY 2019–
2020) to W4a (SY 2020–2021).
Figure 19: Percentage of Students Going to Private Schools Over Time

Public vs private enrollment across waves
W1 (Gr 4–5) 96.8

3.2
W2 (Gr 5–6) 97.1

2.9
W3 (Gr 6–7) 93.0

7.0
W4 (Gr 7–8) 91.5

8.5
W4a (Gr 8–9) 92.7

7.3
0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 120.0
Source: UNFPA - Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Filipino Child public private
68
Largo, F.M., Alegado, J.L.G., Borja, J.B., Mayol, N.L., Bechayda, S.A.,Bautista, C.A.P., Herrin, A.N. 2021. Ensuring the Safety and Welfare
of Filipino Children in the Covid-19 Pandemic and the New Normal Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child. UNFPA-OPS
Policy Notes Series_No. 7. USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.opsusc.org/paper_series.php.
66
Private education provides school choice and introduces alternative methods of education. Despite the
diminishing share in JHS enrollment, the steady share in elementary school enrollment and the large share in
SHS enrollment speak of private education’s importance in helping relieve the pressure on the public school
system. Without private schools, many of these learners would have to transfer to public schools, many of which
are already overcrowded especially in urban areas—a challenging scenario with a negative impact on improving
input ratios.
In the first year of the COVID-19 period, there has been a sharp reduction in private school enrollment. From
a total private school enrollment (all levels) of 4.3 million learners in SY 2019–2020, only 3.4 million enrolled in
private schools in 2020–2021, for a drop of 22%. DepEd reported that there were 398,881 learners who had
transferred from private schools to public schools officially during this period.69 DepEd has reported that 700
private schools have permanently shut down.70
69
Planning Service, Enrollment Analysis, November 6, 2020.
70
Reported in the media in November 2020.
67
3.1.5. Health; Nutrition; and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
In accordance with the mandate of DepEd, the Department has made its mission the protection and promotion of
the “right of every Filipino to quality, equitable, culture-based, and complete basic education. DepEd ensures that
learning takes place in a child-friendly, gender-sensitive, safe, and motivating environment.” For such a learning
environment to materialize, all possible forms of support are afforded to children in school, including programs
and activities concerning their health and nutrition. Under RA 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa
Pilipino Act, DepEd is mandated to implement a school-based feeding program for undernourished children
in elementary education. It is also directed to implement other related programs, i.e., milk feeding programs;
provision of micronutrient supplements; Gulayan sa Paaralan; health examinations, vaccinations, and deworming;
and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). As defined under the law, an undernourished child is “one who has
been supplied with less than the minimum quantity of food essential for sound health and growth … children
who are suffering from chronic hunger and malnutrition as well as those who are considered as severely wasted
or stunted under the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards.”71
The nutritional status of learners measured in Grades K–10 in SY 2018–19 is shown in Figure 20.
Figure 20: Nutritional Status of Children, SY 2018–2019
Height Weight
15,557,405 17,548,502
3,299,683
1,881,751
1,036,248 276,106 738,790 590,674
172,905
Severely Stunted Normal Tall Severely Wasted Normal Overweight Obese

Stunted Wasted
Source: DepEd Q&A, 2019
71
Ibid.
68
There is evidence of severe wasting (underweight) and stunting, both of which are issues that relate to poverty
and inadequate nutrition. Stunting is caused by inadequate nourishment in utero as well as the early years of
growth. Paradoxically, an increasing number of overweight learners, particularly in urban areas, has now emerged
as an issue along with evidence that many of the widely available and popular foods in society today are hindering
children’s abilities to learn. The prevalence of sugars, caffeine, chemicals, and sodium in many popular menu
items both in schools and at home are leaving learners tired, unfocused, jittery, and sick, which not only impacts
their grades and performance, but also influences their behavior and moods.72 Apart from these side-effects of an
inappropriate diet, learners who attend school in a hungry state will not be receptive to learning.
DepEd launched in 2018 (DepEd Order No. 28, s. 2018) the Oplan Kalusugan sa Department of Education (OK
sa DepEd) to integrate all of DepEd’s programs, plans, policies, and activities related to major school health and
nutrition programs for their effective and efficient implementation at the school level, in partnership with various
stakeholders. The general objective of this policy was established as “to promote and provide all learners and
DepEd personnel with a sustainable holistic school health and nutrition program towards healthier behaviors and
better learning outcomes.”
In the UNFPA’s first Policy Note in the LCSFC series focused on undernutrition and its consequences on
schooling, results show that in a nationally representative cohort of 10-year-old children, 15.3% were categorized
as thin (below normal BMI-for-age), about a third were stunted, and about 7% were both thin and stunted. As
shown in the figure below, all forms of undernutrition were associated with poor schooling outcomes, whether
individually or in combination.
72
Chen, Grace. 2020. How Diet and Nutrition Impact a Child’s Learning Ability, Public School Review, New York.
69
Figure 21: School Related Outcomes and Forms of Undernutrition
80.0
Not stunted/not low BMI

70.0 68.4 Stunted only
62.0 Low BMI only
60.0 Stunted and Low BMI

56.4 56.3
50.0 47.2
43.3
PERCENT
42.0
41.5
40.0
34.5
33.7 33.3
31.0
30.0
21.7 20.4 21.0

19.2 19.4
20.0 16.8 17.6
14.8
13.7 14.0 13.5
9.0
10.0
0.0
Repeat grade *** Grade below 81 ** Missed classes ** Below Gr5/6 ** IC no college ²* Mom no college3**
SCHOOL-RELATED OUTCOMES
Source: UNFPA- Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Filipino Child
1
Predicted rates adjusted for relevant child, household and community characteristics. Excluded in graph: being in school since
about 98% were in school. Height-for age cut-off: Stunted= <-2SD; BMI-for-age cut-offs: Low BMI:<-2SD; Not low BMI: ≥-2SD
2
IC does not aspire for nor believe he/she can attain college education
3
Mother/caregiver does not aspire for college education for IC nor believes IC can attain such level
Significantly different at p<0.05 *** in all categories ** between not stunted/low BMI and stunted only and stunted/lowBMI
*between not stunted/low BMI and stunted only
Figure 21 highlights the importance of addressing the cognitive limitations of these undernourished children,
independent of feeding and nutrient supplementation programs, particularly for a third of the children who are
stunted.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) – In addition to the school feeding program, both the DepEd and the
DSWD, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and LGUs, were required to establish and maintain
water and sanitation facilities, and promote good hygiene and safe food preparation in all of its component units
especially in areas designated for the preparation of fortified meals under the program described earlier.
This was mandated through a DepEd policy issued in 201673 through which all schools and learning centers
nationwide were required to implement WASH practices according to standards that will enhance well-being
of the children as well as their families. This meant that all schools must have available drinking water from a
trusted source, usable and gender-segregated improved toilets, and handwashing facilities with water and soap.
73
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 10, s. 2016. Policy and Guidelines for the Comprehensive Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
in Schools (WinS) Program.
70
The policy also proposes the improvement of hygiene and sanitation practices of learners and ensures that
schools are kept clean and safe through school-based solid waste management, proper drainage, the elimination
of breeding grounds for mosquitoes to prevent vector-borne diseases, and food sanitation.
UNFPA’S latest policy note, which focuses on the challenges that confront children in the new normal, shows that
children from ages 10–13 wash their hands with soap three times a day. At age 13, the most common reasons
cited for handwashing with soap are associated with mealtimes—before (73%) and after (81%) eating. Of grave
concern is the relatively low incidence of handwashing for the other important times, especially after toilet use
(17%) and when hands are visibly dirty (20%). In light of the COVID-19 transmission modes, getting children to
wash their hands after these come in contact with possibly contaminated surfaces or after these are used to
cover coughs or sneezes, a practice that they may not normally do, poses an additional challenge in educating
children on proper handwashing in the new normal.
DepEd policy situates WASH in Schools (WinS) within school-based management (SBM) responsibilities where
the school is responsible for achieving these minimum requirements and for monitoring its progress. There have
been major advances in the last three years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance
of WinS as critical to the personal and environmental hygiene necessary for the safe operation of schools.
Participation in WinS monitoring has increased substantially over the three-year monitoring period from SY 2017–
2018 with a 10% increase (about 5,000 schools) each year to reach an 87.9% participation rate in the most recent
monitoring carried out in SY 2019–2020. The three-star rating system used by DepEd allows a school to reach the
national standards for WinS step-by-step by achieving the defined national priorities, setting benchmarks, and
being incentivized and recognized by the achievements that are reported in the monitoring results.74 Guidelines
for the three-star approach are published in a brochure distributed to all schools.75
74
Department of Education. 2020. WASH in schools. WinS-Monitoring Results School Year 2017/18 to School Year 2019/20. Three-star
approach. Booklet.
75
Wash in Schools Three Star Approach National Guidelines. https://wins.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/TSA-WinS-DepEd-
Brochure-Memorandum-30-10-2017.pdf
71
3.2. Quality of Education Provision and
Learning Outcomes
This section addresses the important links between the quality of teaching, the availability of learning resources
designed specifically for learners at different stages, curriculum standards, and the methods used to assess the
standards reached by learners at these designated stages.
3.2.1. Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
Whether students are learning in school and how they are learning are essential determinants of the quality of
an education system. Other associated factors such as the quality of the learning environment and the school’s
strategy for addressing the different forms of violence against children (bullying, discrimination, etc.) also have
an effect on the quality of student learning. Assessment of classroom learning by teachers is an integral part of
day-to-day lessons and classroom activities, with clear policy guidelines issued in 201676 for the K to 12 Basic
Education program. In this context, assessment is defined as
“the process of measuring learners’ progress in the attainment of learning standards and
21st century skills. The results of the various forms of assessment shall be used to quantify
judgement on learners’ academic performance.”77
The judgement on an individual learner’s performance is currently school-based only, since there is no
mechanism for testing learners’ progress at schools division or regional level as per policy issued in 2012.78 This
is discussed further below.
DepEd also undertakes system assessments through large-scale national or international assessments
administered to learners at specific times in the school year.79 The results of the large-scale national assessments
along with data gathered from the international large-scale assessments are used to feed into the system
assessment of DepEd.
These various forms of assessment advocated by DepEd to measure student learning outcomes are described as
follows:
• School (classroom) assessment refers to various forms of assessment used by teachers as formative
assessment to gauge a learner’s mastery in a subject and to inform the teacher about his/her teaching;
76
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 08, s. 2015 - Policy Guidelines on the Classroom Assessment for the K to 12 Basic Education
Program.
77
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 55, s. 2016 - Policy Guidelines on the National Assessment of Student Learning for the K to 12
Basic Education Program.
78
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 7, s. 2012 - Discontinuing the Conduct of the Regional and Division Achievement Tests.
79
Ibid.
72
• National assessments. These are administered annually by DepEd Central Office through the Bureau
of Education Assessment (BEA) and are for system monitoring and evaluation only. The Early Language,
Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA) test is administered to all Grade 3 learners at the end of Stage
1. The National Achievement Tests (NAT) are written tests conducted across a stratified sample of schools in
selected divisions to gauge student learning standards across the country in Grade 6 (end of Stage 2), Grade
10 (end of Stage 3 or JHS), and Grade 12 (exit assessment at end of Stage 4 or SHS);
• Accreditation and Equivalency Tests (A&E).These tests are administered by BEA for learners who are
studying within the Alternative Learning System (ALS). The tests measure the competencies and life skills of
those who have not attended or finished formal elementary or secondary education.
• International large-scale assessment (ILSAs). DepEd has stipulated that the K to 12 curriculum and
assessment strategies must be aligned with international benchmarks, so three ILSAs that provide standard
measures of learning at different points in the learning cycle are administered to determine how Filipino
students are performing relative to similar countries within the region or beyond. The benchmarks chosen to
provide this data are included in the Southeast Asia- Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM, for Grade 5), Trends
in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS, for Grade 4), and Program for International Student
Assessment (PISA, for 15-year-old learners in various grades). Additional details are provided below;
• Career assessment refers to an aptitude test administered to all learners at Grade 9 to determine their
aptitudes and occupational interests on any of the SHS tracks.
73
These different forms of assessment and the grade levels at which they are administered are summarized in
Table 10 and discussed further below.
Table 10: Measures of Student Learning Outcomes for Basic Education
GRADES
K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
National and School-Based

Assessments
Classroom Assessments
Early Language, Literacy and

Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA)
National Achievement Test (NAT)

Grade 6
National Career Assessment

Examination (NCAE)
Accreditation & Equivalency Test

(A&E) for Alternative Learning
System
National Achievement Test (NAT)

Grade 10
Basic Education Exit Assessment-

Grade 12
International Large-Scale
Assessments
Elementary
Southeast Asia- Primary Learning

Metrics (SEA-PLM)
Trends in International
Mathematics and Science Study
(TIMSS)
Secondary
Program for International Student

Assessment (PISA) (15-year-old
learners)
Source: Compiled from various source documents
National and School-Based Assessments
(i) Classroom Assessment: This is a continuous school-based process of identifying, gathering, organizing, and
interpreting qualitative and quantitative information about what learners know and can do. Such tests will
measure both cognitive knowledge and the achievement of competencies by learners. Teachers are expected to
use both formative and summative assessment methods.
74
Formative assessment is assessment FOR learning and is characteristically informal to help learners and teachers
identify strengths and weaknesses before, during, or after lessons and units of work so that they can learn from
the experience and make adjustments in the method of instruction. Summative assessment is assessment
OF learning and is used to describe the standard reached by a learner towards the end of a unit, semester, or
year of study. Learners from Grades 1 to 12 are graded on Written Work, Performance Tasks, and a Quarterly
Assessment. For Kindergarten, the official ECCD checklist is completed, and anecdotal records are used instead
of numerical grades. This evidence is then reflected in a class record and the grades achieved by learners can be
presented in a report card to show learners’ progress to parents and other stakeholders.
The most common form of classroom assessment is that of the written test administered periodically to not
only assess an individual learner’s progress but to provide feedback to the teacher about group progress as well.
Another form of assessment is portfolio assessment, which is a developing strategy whereby projects are
submitted individually or by small groups for assessment. The portfolios permit learners to show creativity as well
as understanding of a topic and can be used across all subjects as well as a strategy for inter-disciplinary learning.
Collating these different forms of assessment data allows for a school-based reporting of results but there is no
mechanism at present for consolidating schools division or regional performance data because Division
Achievement Tests (DAT) and Regional Achievement Tests (RAT) are not currently permitted80 to be conducted in
DepEd schools because learners were being subjected to excessive testing that took time away from classroom
instruction. Some divisions nevertheless have devised some small-scale assessment tests to ensure that
some data about learning levels were available during the school closure period and in the absence of face-to-face
teaching.
Collating these different forms of assessment data allows for a school-based reporting of results but there is
no mechanism at present for consolidating schools division or regional performance data because Division
Achievement Tests (DAT) and Regional Achievement Tests (RAT) are not currently permitted82 to be conducted in
DepEd schools because learners were being subjected to excessive testing that took time away from classroom
instruction. Some divisions nevertheless have devised some small-scale assessment tests to ensure that some
data about learning levels were available during the school closure period and in the absence of face-to-face
teaching. However, the introduction of division-level standardized testing will be necessary if the school closures
remain in place and do not permit the return to large scale face-to-face testing in SY 2020–2021 (or SY 2021–
2022).
(ii) National Assessments: These tests are administered at the end of the learning stages to determine whether
learners are achieving the learning standards specified in the K to 12 curriculum. Stratified random sampling
representing all types of schools in the division and regions sampled is used. For all reporting of national test
scores for both elementary and secondary levels, the following assessment scale is used:
82
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 07, s. 2012. Discontinuing the Conduct of the Regional and Division Achievement Tests.
75
Table 11: Assessment Scale
Levels of Proficiency Mean Percentage Score
Highly Proficient 90–100
Proficient 75–89
Nearly Proficient 50–74
Low Proficiency 25–49
Not Proficient 0–24
Source: National Achievement Test Results, Bureau of Education Assessment
The tests administered are as follows:
(a) Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA) is administered to a stratified random
sample of learners at the end of Grade 3 who are completing Stage 1 (K to 3). Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual
Education (MTB-MLE) for 19 languages81 is used in Stage 1. ELLNA assesses early language, literacy, and
numeracy in the 19 languages covered by this program as well as competencies needed for academic success in
later key stages. Unfortunately, the ELLNA results for SY 2017–2018 showed that learners were performing
at a low proficiency in the subjects designated as English and Filipino despite the use of MTB-MLE in the early
grades. When the ELLNA data were further analyzed in terms of each separate mother tongue, the proficiency
levels did not change substantially to those found for English and Filipino. This outcome requires additional
research data for better understanding of language effects.
(b) National Achievement Test (NAT) for Grade 6 and Grade 10 is seen as an “exit assessment” to determine
if learners are meeting the learning standards of Stage 2 (Grade 4 to Grade 6) and Stage 3 (Grade 7 to Grade 10
or JHS), respectively. A stratified random sample of learners in Grade 7 and Grade 11 is again used, representing
all districts, divisions, and regions. Schools are sampled in each area, but all learners in the school to be sampled
are required to take the test. Selected learners are viewed as country representatives and do not represent the
academic performance of each region. Results are reported using the scales shown in Table 11 above. Census-
based testing of all students in the ELLNA and NAT will be administered to the universal population every three
years and with the ongoing pandemic, there is no current data available to assess the performance of schools,
divisions, or regions with respect to relative achievement levels.
A new form of the NAT was introduced in SY 2017–2018, which replaced subject-based testing with assessing
the 21st century skills of Problem Solving, Information Literacy, and Critical Thinking across the five subjects of
Filipino, Mathematics, English, Science, and Araling Panlipunan. This means that the NAT results for SY 2017–2018
and SY 2018–2019 are not comparable to the previous NAT tests because of the change in test focus across
the core subjects and the changed analysis based on proficiency levels. Test results for SY 2019–2020 are not
available because of the banning of face-to-face interaction brought about by COVID-19, which meant that the
81
Akeanon/Akianon; Bikol; Chavacano/Cabacano; Hiligaynon; Ibanag/Ybanag; Ilokano/Iloko; Ivatan; Kapampangan; Kinaray-a; Maguindanaon;
Maranao; Pangasinan/Pangasinense; Sambal; Sinugbuanng Binisaya/Cebuano; Surigaonon; Tagalog; Tausug; Waray and Yakan.
76
NAT testing usually conducted at the end of the school year was not possible. With only one year of testing data
available since the tests were changed, it is not possible to discern trends across two or more tests, especially
since there is no single scale currently used that would allow the reporting of changes in learner attainment over
time and would facilitate the monitoring of the impact of major policy innovations across DepEd bureaus.
The limited results available for both NAT 6 and NAT 10 show that learners perform better in Filipino than in all
other subjects and it is the only subject where the mean percentages approach “nearly proficient” (mean score
range of 50–74). In both tests, disaggregated scores show that females outperform males in all areas. At NAT 10,
the performance in Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies), English, Mathematics, and Science are all within the “low
proficiency” range. Proficiency in spoken English has historically been a comparative advantage of the Filipino
labor force but the results for English language proficiency are classified as “low”.
(a) Basic Education Exit Assessment (BEEA) for Grade 12 is an additional form of the NAT introduced with the
addition of an SHS level. This test represents a summary assessment tool of the same three 21st century skills
mentioned earlier across all K to 12 learning in seven grouped areas: Science, Philosophy, Humanities, Media and
Information Literacy, Mathematics, Language and Communication, and Social Science. Proficiency levels are
reported in the same way as for NAT 6 and NAT 10. The overall mean percentage scores disaggregated by gender
show that, just as with NAT 6 and NAT 10, performance was again within the “low proficiency” range and that
females outperformed males (except for Mathematics where the Mean Percentage Score [MPS] was the same).
(b) National Career Assessment Examination has been administered to Grade 9 learners since SY 2006–2007
to determine learners’ aptitudes and occupational interests for career guidance. It was not administered in SY
2019–2020 and SY 2020–2021 due to COVID-19 regulations.
(c) Accreditation and Equivalency Tests (A&E) are administered to learners enrolled in the Alternative
Learning System (ALS), including out-of-school children in special cases, youth and adults who are prepared for
assessment. Certification is provided to accredit completion of Elementary or Junior High School requirements
within the program. The tests cover 21st century skills across five strands—Communication Skills, Critical Thinking
and Problem Solving, Sustainable Use of Resources and Productivity, Development of Self and a Sense of
Community, and Expanding One’s World Vision. In the A&E tests administered in 2019 prior to the onset of the
pandemic, the results were remarkably similar for both Elementary and JHS, with the overall MPSs measured
across all strands as 58.7 and 64.7, respectively, or “average mastery”. Again, for both Elementary and JHS levels,
the learners scored highest on Strand 4 - Development of Self and a Sense of Community (moving towards
mastery) and the lowest on Strand 2 - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (average mastery). An accreditation
and equivalency test to accredit completion of Senior High School is also intended to be developed.
International Large-Scale Assessments (ILSAs)
At the beginning of her term in 2016, DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones released an agenda document
titled Quality, Accessible, Relevant and Liberating Basic Education for All. She noted that the data from the
National Achievement Test or NAT show that the quality of education, in terms of effective attainment of learning
standards, will continue to be the foremost education challenge for the current and longer term.
The thrust towards addressing the challenge of education quality was central to the Briones administration’s
decision to join international assessments, including the OECD Program for International Student Assessment
(PISA), which the Philippines only joined for the first time in its 2018 round. DepEd regarded this as a step
towards globalizing the quality of Philippine basic education.
77
Together with the changing landscape of education, global standards are also changing, and the country needs
to have a complete view of the gaps and areas for improvement. By joining international assessments, DepEd
takes advantage of assessments designed and constantly updated by education experts around the world to
complement its own national assessment.
There are three international tests (ILSAs) for basic education that DepEd joined since 2016:
(i) Southeast Asia - Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM): This assessment is administered to Grade 5 learners
regardless of age to better understand the status of students’ learning achievement in reading, writing, and
mathematics, as well as students’ knowledge and skills relating to global citizenship. SEA-PLM also gathers
contextual data from students, teachers, school leaders, and parents to determine other factors that affect
schooling. The language of assessment in SEA-PLM is English.
The band descriptions and range of scores in the Reading Literacy SEA-PLM Assessment 2019 are as follows:
Band Description of What Students Can Typically Do
Band 6 and above (317 and above) Understand texts with familiar structures and manage conflicting information
Band 5 (304 to less than 317) Make connections to understand ideas
Band 4 (289 to less than 304) Understand simple texts
Band 3 (274 to less than 289) Read a range of everyday texts fluently and begin to engage with their meaning
Band 2 and below (less than 274) Identify relationship between words and their meanings
The results of SEA-PLM 2019 were as follows:
A small percentage of Grade 5 children in the Philippines had achieved Band 6

Reading and above or were progressing (Band 5) towards achieving the expected levels of
reading proficiency at the end of primary education.
More than 70% of Grade 5 children were in the three lowest bands, but even the
Writing highest performers of this group can exhibit only low-level writing, with simple,
insufficient ideas and limited vocabulary.
A modest percentage of Grade 5 Filipino children has achieved the mathematical

literacy skills expected at the end of primary school (Band 6).
Mathematics Majority of Grade 5 children are still working towards mastering fundamental
mathematical skills; learners had great difficulty writing an answer (constructed
response) compared to needing to select an answer from given options (multiple
choice).
78
Additional analysis of the data is provided later when literacy and numeracy challenges in the Philippines are
discussed further. The questions on global citizenship revealed that children and teachers have significant interest
in and concern on environmental issues, including climate change. Solving disagreements with classmates and
solving problems in the community appeared to be among the most valued lessons learned at schools. At the
same time, less than half of the children reported experience with speaking in an organized debate or discussing.
(ii) Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS): In the Philippines, TIMSS 2019 was
administered to a sample of Grade 4 learners in the subjects of mathematics and science. TIMMS implements a
two-stage random sampling where a sample of schools is drawn in the first stage and one or more intact classes
of learners are selected from each sample school in the second stage. Overall achievement is reported across
four international benchmarks (advanced, high, medium, and low); by major content domains (numbers, algebra,
and geometry in mathematics; earth science, biology, and chemistry in science); and by cognitive domains
(knowing, applying, and reasoning).
The Philippines obtained an average achievement of 297, which is significantly lower

Mathematics than the TIMSS Scale Center Point (500) and had the lowest average achievement
(297) among 58 participating countries and 6 benchmarking countries.
The Philippines obtained an average achievement of 249, which is significantly

Science lower than the TIMSS Scale Center Point (500) and had the lowest average
achievement (249) among 58 participating countries and 6 benchmarking countries.
These data reveal a serious shortfall in the standards achieved by Grade 4 learners in science and numeracy
relative to learners in other countries. More focus will need to be given to aligning the areas being assessed in
this ILSA with the NAT 6 with its focus on 21st century skills.
(iii) Program for International Student Assessment (PISA 2018) is an international assessment administered
every three years by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to measure 15-year-
olds’ ability to apply their reading, mathematics, and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life situations
and problems (rather than testing their knowledge recall as had been the focus of previous assessments).
In PISA 2018 participated in by the Philippines, the focus was on Reading Literacy. Only 68% of 15-year-olds
in the Philippines were deemed eligible to participate in PISA 2018, suggesting that a sizable proportion of
Filipino learners have left school by the age of 15, which is a cause for concern. There was a noticeable grade-
age mismatch due to late entry and grade level repetition, particularly among males and socio-economically
disadvantaged learners. The additional concern is that the Philippines scored the lowest ranking of all
countries.
The results for PISA 2018 were reported as follows:
79
This was the main subject in focus, the OECD average of the total scaled data was
Reading
487. The Philippines scored 340 and was ranked last of 79 countries that participated
Literacy
in in this subject assessment
The OECD average of the total scaled data was 489. The Philippines scored 353 and
Mathematics
was ranked second to the last out of 79 countries that participated in this subject
Literacy
assessment.
The OECD average of the scaled data was 489. The Philippines scored 357 and was
Scientific
again ranked second to the last out of 79 countries that participated in this subject
Literacy
assessment.
The Philippines’ performance in the ILSAs generated the response of Sulong Edukalidad (discussed elsewhere
in this document), which addresses the need for major reforms to be undertaken to improve the quality of
education outcomes. Although the levels of proficiency as measured in the various ILSAs are not comparable
with current national tests, it is essential that the Philippines NAT (at Grades 6, 10, and 12) is aligned more closely
to the ILSAs if international benchmark levels are to be set. At present, Philippine learners are not meeting the
challenges measured in the ILSAs.
80
3.2.2. Key Challenges Impacting the Quality of Teaching and Learning
This section describes the recent findings that have emerged from the tests described earlier and proposes
solutions to some of the challenges in trying to reverse the trends that have become apparent in recent years.
The onset of the pandemic has aggravated the impact of these challenges and needs to be factored into the
plans for reforming learning in the next decade.
Poor Performance in Reading from Early Years into Secondary School
As shown earlier, Reading Literacy was the main subject assessed in PISA 2018, so it provides a benchmark topic
against which to measure the learning attained across elementary and JHS levels. The PISA 2018 data shows that
15-year-old learners in Grades 9 and 10 who repeated a grade level at least once at the elementary level scored
at least 52 points less in reading than non-repeaters, while those who repeated a grade level at least once at JHS
level scored at least 71 points less in reading than non-repeaters. PISA 2018 data analysis also showed that 96%
of learners who spent less than a year in early childhood programs fell below Level 2 (defined as the basic
proficiency level). Learners who delay entering elementary school are more likely to encounter learning difficulties
and hence score lower on reading than those who entered at the correct age.
The ELLNA program is designed for K to Grade 3 learners with specific objectives that all learners in those grades
will be equipped with (i) fundamental literacy and numeracy skills, and (ii) competencies needed for academic
success in later key stages. Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) is used in instructional
practices. Unfortunately, the ELLNA results for SY 2017–2018 showed that learners were performing at a low
proficiency in the subjects designated as English and Filipino despite the use of MTB-MLE in the early grades.
When the ELLNA data were further analyzed in terms of each separate mother tongue, the proficiency levels did
not change substantially to those found for English and Filipino (using the 19 different mother tongues reported
earlier). There is a disappointing trend in the foundation levels of Oral Reading Fluency in English and Filipino as
shown by data collected between 2013 to 2019.82 The levels were already low for Grade 3 pupils when assessed
in 2013, and by 2019 the national averages for English and Filipino had declined further by 10.5 and 8.3 percentage
points, respectively. This reinforces the likelihood that reading fundamentals might not have been learned in the
early grades.
82
USAID. 2019. National Grade 3 Early Grade Reading Assessment.
81
A longitudinal study83 conducted over six years (2014–2020) that followed 4,500 students from the
commencement of Kindergarten through to Grade 2 found that there was a strong relationship between learners’
social and emotional skills and cognitive skills (achievement in literacy and mathematics) at the commencement
of school. These results strongly support the emphasis placed on the development of social and emotional skills
as an integral part of the early years of schooling. The study also found that reading skills at end of Grade 3 are
critical predictors of future performance and achievement. The findings suggest that the Math Grade 4 curriculum
was far too advanced for all learners.
Student perceptions about their performance in reading and their feelings towards school84 were additional
factors measured via a questionnaire as part of PISA 2018. Learners who reported feeling positive emotions
tended to perform better, and a 1-unit increase in the positive feelings’ index was associated with an 8-score
point increase in reading (after accounting for the socio-economic profiles of learners and schools). Learners
who reported sometimes or always feeling joyful at school scored at least 53 points higher in reading than other
learners. By promoting a school climate where students feel safe and socially connected, educators can more
effectively support learning for all students.
A troubling finding from PISA 2018 was that only 31% of learners in the Philippines (the OECD average was 63%)
held a growth mindset, which is among the lowest proportions for all participating countries. A growth mindset
is the belief that one’s abilities and intelligence are malleable, and that intelligence can be developed over time.
Sixty percent of Filipino learners tested at age 15 years old had a fixed mindset, a belief that “intelligence is an
unchangeable trait that cannot be altered through experience.”85 Belief in a growth mindset was associated with
better reading performance, particularly among females and advantaged learners, where a 76-score point gap
was observed in favor of advantaged learners. Both females and males increased their scores when they
endorsed a growth mindset, but the score-point difference was significantly higher in favor of females. Although
this data represents a narrow band of 15-year-old learners on the cusp between JHS and SHS, it has implications
for the teaching of reading across all age groups. For many Filipino learners, their fixed mindset is restricting their
performance in reading, and it is likely that this may be extended across all subjects as well as years of schooling.
Data from this cohort, from ages 10 through 13, indicate poor reading behavior outside of required school reading,
although we see an increasing trend in non-textbook reading after age 10 (Grades 4–5). Compared to females, a
higher proportion of male children tend not to read materials other than textbooks. By Wave 4, at age 13, 65.7%
among males versus 49.6% among females were non-textbook readers.
83
The Philippines Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Longitudinal Study is a six-round study from October 2014 to April 2021,
covering Kindergarten to Grade 4. Funded by UNICEF and the Australian Government through DFAT, the Study was
implemented by ACER with SEAMEO through its Regional Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH
and the Assessment, Curriculum and Technology Research Centre (ACTRC) of the University of Melbourne and the University of the
Philippines.
84
World Bank. 2020. PISA 2018, Philippines Country Report. Manila, Philippines.
85
82
Figure 22. Increasing Trend of Non-Textbook Reading After Age 10
Reads materials other than textbooks?
70.0
64.5
60.0 58.3 57.3 58.0
50.0
40.0
30.0 29.1 27.1 27.1

24.0
20.0 15.6 15.0
11.5 12.6
10.0
0.0
W1 mean age 10.5 W2 mean age 11.8 W3 mean age 12.8 W4mean age 13.7
Source: UNFPA- Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Filipino Child

No Yes Sometimes
Language as a Key Element of Quality of Learning
(a) Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE)
Starting SY 2012–2013, DepEd introduced a Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) program
that was implemented in all public schools in Stage 1 (Kindergarten to Grade 3) as part of the K to 12 Basic
Education Program. The use of mother tongue (MT) in kindergarten and elementary education levels was
institutionalized by RA 10533. The law mandates the use of the regional or native language of the learners in
Kindergarten and the first three years of elementary education, instruction, teaching materials, and assessment.
DepEd is also directed to formulate a mother language transition program from Grade 4 to Grade 6 so that
Filipino and English will be gradually introduced as languages of instruction until such time when these two
languages can become the primary languages of instruction at the secondary level. A recent review86 of the
following aspects of the policy (choice of language instruction, teachers’ training, learning materials, pedagogy,
school leadership/governance, and stakeholder support) found that there are concerns over the provision of
learning materials in the 19 different languages and disputes in communities over the MT chosen by the school in
areas where there were multi-ethnic overlaps. A study undertaken by the Philippines Institute for Development
Studies (PIDS)87 found that there are schools that do not implement the MTB-MLE policy at all for various
reasons that are detailed in the Basic Education Sector Analysis.88
86
Arzadon, M. 2020. Status Report on the MTB-MLE Implementation in the Philippines.
87
Jennifer D. Monje, Aniceto C. Orbeta Jr., Kris A. Francisco-Abrigo, and Erlinda M. Capones. 2019. ‘Starting Where the Children Are’: A
Process Evaluation of the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education Implementation. PIDS. June.
88
Department of Education. 2021. Basic Education Sector Analysis.
83
(b) English as a Mandated Test Language
The NATs designated for Grades 6, 10, and 12 are administered in English because although Filipino (or another
local language) is often used in classrooms along with English, learners do not have an option to take the test in
Filipino as it is not an official language of instruction after Grade 4 (as is English). PISA 2018 technical standards
required participating countries to use their designated language of instruction as the language of testing. There is
an assumption that those taking the tests have reached a sufficient level of understanding in English to attempt
these tests without encountering linguistic problems. However, the Philippines’ participation in the SEA-PLM at
Grade 5 gathered important data about the inconsistency between the language of instruction in school and the
language spoken at home. Learners sitting for the test were asked to state what language they most often used
at home, and this was mapped against the language of the test.
The result for the Philippines (Figure 23) was in stark contrast to the results gained from the five other ASEAN
nations that sat for the assessment.
Figure 23: Percentage of Grade 5 Children, by Language of Instruction (and Testing) Spoken at Home
Cambodia 90%
LAO PDR 60%
Malaysia 82%
Myanmar 75%
Philippines 6%
Vietnam 90%
Ave
Source: SEA-PLM 2019 Main Regional Report
Only 6% of respondents in the Philippines indicated that they spoke English at home (the language of the test).
All other countries administered the tests in their own respective languages (in Malaysia, the test was conducted
in Chinese, Bahasa, and Tamil to take into account the ethnic diversity of the country).
A similar situation is shown by the PISA 2018 survey.
84
Transition Issues Between Learning Stages
There is no formal transition process whereby Grade 6 learners are evaluated as ready for Grade 7 study apart
from school-based assessment tests that rely on the judgement of the school and individual teachers. Division
Achievement Tests (DAT) or Regional Achievement Tests (RAT) are no longer permitted since January 201289
so there is no mechanism to moderate the standards across a division or region apart from the qualitative
judgements of Schools Division Superintendents (SDS) or Regional Directors who have their own administrative
arrangements for judging standards. The administration of the NAT for Grades 6, 10, and 12 establishes an overall
snapshot of the national achievement levels but is based on a sampling strategy only and does not provide
individual profiles for each region, division, school, or student. For transition from Stage 2 to Stage 3, the critical
element is the written curriculum and the assumed continuity between Grade 6 and Grade 7.
A similar situation exists at the interface between Stage 3 (JHS) and Stage 4 (SHS) with the NAT for Grade 10.
The spiral progression approach for curriculum design used in the K to 12 program means that learners should
gain proficiency at each stage of learning because concepts are built upon and deepened in succeeding
grade levels. Decisions are taken at school level to promote learners to a higher grade level based on their
school assessments, and it is likely that early detection and provision of support to struggling learners through
interventions such as the provision of remedial programs and additional learning time for these learners rather
than grade level repetition may be more cost-effective policies for schools.
Curriculum Issues Affecting Student Learning Outcomes
The K to 12 curriculum has been extensively revised and enhanced with a Kindergarten year and two SHS years
added to the previous 10-year basic education program. Two key issues have been highlighted in the
implementation of the restructured curriculum that directly affect the quality of student learning outcomes: high
cognitive demand for learners in the K to 12 curriculum and weak pedagogical skills of teachers for addressing
21st century skills.
High cognitive demand of the K to 12 curriculum: There were 14,171 competencies listed in the K to 12
curriculum, and a comprehensive review by the Assessment, Curriculum and Technology Research Centre
(ACTRC) in close coordination with the DepEd Bureau of Curriculum Development expressed concern over
the high number of these essential learning competencies (LCs) along with issues with the sequencing and
expression of the prerequisites of these learning competencies. The study found that the K to 12 curriculum was
more demanding in terms of the number of LCs than the other countries in the comparison (Australia, Canada,
and Singapore).90 Some adjustments were proposed to reduce the number of learning competencies in each
subject so that the remaining learning competencies could still be taught to the required cognitive depth within
the school year. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic gave urgency to this proposed revision of the LCs and it
was undertaken as part of the Learning Continuity Plan proposed to deal with the pandemic.
89
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 07, s.2012 Discontinuing the Conduct of the Regional and Division Achievement Tests.
90
Robertson, P., Bustos, T., Rickards, F., Ferido, M., Bagui, L., Dela Cruz, J. & Kheang, T. 2020. Review of the Intended Curriculum.
Assessment Curriculum and Technology Research Centre (ACTRC).
85
The total number of competencies in all learning areas from Kindergarten to Grade 12 (excluding the TVET
specializations in Senior High School) was reduced to the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) in
2020. The original 14,171 LCs were reduced to 5,689 (a reduction of around 60%), which gave greater focus
to learning activities and resource provision for effective learning and allowed sufficient time for coverage and
mastery91 in the short term, but it must be examined whether there may be a loss of other important learning
competencies.
Weak pedagogy skills of teachers for addressing 21st century skills: The requirement for teachers to embed
the 21st century skills of Problem Solving, Information Literacy, and Critical Thinking within all subjects of the
curriculum has been instituted without sufficient professional development of teachers or provision of resources
to assist with teaching these essential learning skills. Addressing 21st century skills is a major component of
the reskilling/upskilling of teachers in Sulong Edukalidad, which was formulated in December 2019 to address the
poor student performances in PISA 2018. The ongoing transformation of the NEAP now includes a requirement
for the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) programs to assist teachers to include these 21st
century skills in the core subjects of Filipino, Mathematics, English, Science, and Araling Panlipunan, as well
as teachers’ mastery of content standards for the subjects, anchored on the Philippine Professional Standards
of Teachers and School Leaders. Additional focus on the school-based CPD for these skills is also essential. A
corresponding change in the pre-service teacher training curriculum is also required to complement the support
available to teachers already in schools.
Importance of Time for Teaching and Learning: OECD research from Teaching and Learning International
Survey (TALIS) and PISA studies92 shows that the most effective schools (in terms of better student learning
outcomes) have school leaders who spend more time working on “instructional leadership” with their teachers
than they spend on “administrative leadership” demands. There is no data available that maps this time
disaggregation in Philippine schools, but several regional directors agreed that the administrative load for
Philippine school leaders is excessive. Research on school heads’ time on various tasks will clarify this important
role for them. DepEd Order No. 9, s. 2005 or Instituting Measures to Increase Engaged Time-on-Task and
Ensuring Compliance Therewith instituted measures to increase engaged time-on-task and ensuring compliance
therewith.93
In the time available for schooling in a regular school year (excluding COVID-19 effects), there are approximately
306 calendar days, which equates to around 204 weekdays available for classroom activities. This number is
further reduced by class suspensions due to natural calamities (floods, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, etc.),
national and local holidays proclaimed, and other disruptions as discussed elsewhere. The reduced number of
formal school days puts significant pressure on teachers to cover the mandated curriculum and also on the
learners to master the large number of competencies in the time remaining.
91
Department of Education. 2020. Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan. May.
92
Schleicher, Andreas. 2020. Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALSI) Insights and Interpretations. OECD. Brussels. http://www.
oecd.org/education/talis/TALIS2018_insights_and_interpretations.pdf
93
“To arrest the deteriorating quality of education, one of the immediate tasks that need to be undertaken is to increase engaged time-on-
task. The objective is to meet the required number of school days in every school year and the time allotment for the different subjects
in every school day by lessening activities that take teachers and/or students away from the classroom, maximizing the use of the time
allotment for every subject, and reducing the non-teaching duties of teachers” (DO No. 9, s. 2005).
86
3.3. Education Budget and Financing
Resources for Basic Education are provided from national level resources and from resources raised and
managed by Local Government Units (LGUs) nationwide. National resources are appropriated to DepEd via the
annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). The appropriation for new construction of school facilities included in
the DepEd budget is directly released to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for execution
(Basic Education Facilities Fund or BEFF). The appropriation for DepEd also includes funding for five attached
agencies: Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCD Council), National Book Development Board
(NBDB), National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT), National Museum, and Philippine High School for the
Arts (PHSA).
Resources for supporting Basic Education are also generated at the local level. Pursuant to RA 7160, provinces,
cities, and municipalities are authorized to levy and collect an annual tax of 1% on the assessed value of real
property in addition to the basic real property tax. The proceeds of the said tax exclusively accrue to the Special
Education Fund (SEF). The SEF is allocated for the operation and maintenance of public schools; construction and
repair of school buildings, facilities, and equipment; educational research; purchase of books and periodicals; and
sports development as determined and approved by the respective local school boards. As established under the
law, a local school board is created in every province, city, or municipality whose functions include, among others,
the determination of the annual supplementary budgetary needs for the operation and maintenance of public
schools and the supplementary local cost of meeting such needs, as well as authorization for the disbursement
of the SEF.94
Finally, financial resources for strengthening the development of education in the Philippines are provided via
collaborative initiatives from development partners and the private sector. Below are selected data on official
development assistance extended to the Philippines and Philippine education.
Table 12: Selected Official Development Assistance (ODA) Information for the Philippines, 2010–2019
(Million USD)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Total ODA 1,181.2 722.7 770.6 872.7 1,331.9 1,150.4 867.6 725.1 1,024.5 1,373.9
ODA for education 54.9 68.3 91.2 56.4 83.2 100.1 67.4 71.1 52.3 49.9
% ODA for education / total ODA 4.6% 9.5% 11.8% 6.5% 6.2% 8.7% 7.8% 9.8% 5.1% 3.6%
ODA for basic education 33.1 19.5 32.4 21.7 41.2 71.7 30.7 31.4 21.9 15.0
% ODA for basic education / Total ODA .8% 2.7% 4.2% 2.5% 3.1% 6.2% 3.5% 4.3% 2.1% 1.1%
Source: https://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?DataSetCode=CRS1#
94
Government of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 7160. Section 98, 99, 100, 235, and 272.
87
Evolution of Public Investment in the Education Sector
One means of assessing the level of commitment to education is to examine the trends in investment over
time (Figure 24). The composition of Education Sector appropriations has evolved to reflect the Philippine
Government’s priorities of increasing opportunities in skills development and post-secondary education with
relatively increasing shares of appropriated resources being allocated to Higher Education (CHED) and Vocational
Technical Education (TESDA). During that same period, the percentage of the appropriation for Basic Education
fell from about 96% of central government appropriation in 2010 to 80% in 2020. The share of the Education
Sector appropriation as a percentage of total government appropriations has been within the recommended
Education Framework 2030 Agenda benchmark of 15–20% since 2013.95
Figure 24: Education Sector Appropriations FY 2010–2020
800,000
18.7% 16.9%
700,000 19.6% 18.2%
600,000
16.6%
500,000
16.1%
400,000 15.9%
16.7%
300,000 14.9%
14.4%
13.2%
200,000
100,000
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
DepEd 174,966 207,271 238,766 293,401 309,415 367,122 433,383 568,436 580,632 531,565 554,213
CHED 2,539 1,695 2,207 3,604 8,012 3,402 9,657 19,576 50,534 52,436 47,907
TESDA 2,991 2,953 2,855 3,107 5,250 5,442 6,861 6,828 7,717 12,730 13,152
SUC 22,477 25,097 27,307 34,924 38,075 44,397 49,661 61,440 65,245 68,338 77,352
Source: General Appropriations Acts 2010-2020
CHED - Commission on Higher Education, DepEd - Department of Education, SUCs - State Universities and Colleges,
TESDA - Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
95
SDG 4 - Education 2030.Financing for SDG4: Making Global Education a Reality. https://www.sdg4education2030.org/financing-sdg4-
making-global-education-reality-sdg-ed2030-sc-november-2017
88
While the appropriation for Basic Education (and the five attached agencies) stagnated or decreased between
2017 and 2020, the allotment received by DepEd and spending (obligations) continued to increase during that
same period96 —more than doubling between 2012 and 2019 (see Figure 25).97 The growth in nominal spending
corresponds to the rollout of the universalization of Kindergarten beginning in 201298 and the expansion of publicly
funded secondary education from four to six years beginning in 2016.99 In this period, more teachers had to be
hired and classrooms built to deliver three more grade levels in basic education.
Figure 25: DepEd Allotment, Obligation, and Disbursement, FY 2012–2019

(Million Php)
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Adjusted Allotment Obligation Disbursement
Source: Status of Appropriations, Allotments, Obligations, Disbursements and Balances (SAAODB) for DepEd 2012-2019
96
It does not include Basic Education Facilities Funds resources managed by DPWH or Education spending by LGUs.
97
Continuing and Current Appropriations (Regular and Automatic).
98
Kindergarten Education Act (RA 10157) 2012.
99
The supporting law, the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (RA 10533), was enacted in 2013; however, the additional years in secondary
education were added from 2016.
89
Table 13 presents total Basic Education spending from 2010 to 2019 incorporating Basic Education Facilities Fund
(BEFF-DPWH) as well as LGU100 spending. The table also presents total Basic Education spending as a percentage
of GDP for each year. As with the trend in DepEd spending, total Basic Education spending increased consistently
between 2010 and 2017 in nominal terms and as measured as a percentage of GDP.
Table 13. Total Basic Education Spending, 2010-2019

(Million Php)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
National Government 191,118 218,817 240,238 291,030 284,606 365,202 430,048 577,924 567,092 500,272
Local Government 13,526 14,435 16,232 16,654 15,976 15,984 16,468 18,889 20,868 24,018
Total Government 204,644 233,252 256,470 307,684 300,582 381,186 446,516 596,813 587,960 524,290
As % of GDP 2.2% 2.3% 2.3% 2.6% 2.3% 2.7% 3.0% 3.6% 3.0% 2.8%
Source: World Bank. 2019 Philippines Basic Education Public Expenditure Review (SAAODB for DepEd and DPWH, DOF-BLGF LGU
Fiscal Data Statement of Receipts and Expenditures and annual GDP from Philippine Statistics Bureau)
In 2017, appropriations increased significantly because additional facilities had to be built to accommodate more
years in secondary education. Over P100 billion of the appropriations were transferred from DepEd to DPWH as
BEFF because DPWH is responsible for constructing facilities. As a result, DepEd-managed spending represented
about 77% of Basic Education spending in 2017—down from about 90% in 2013. On the other hand, BEFF
spending as a share of all Basic Education spending increased from about 3% in 2013 to 20% in 2017. While LGU
spending increased for most years in nominal terms, DepEd and BEFF spending increased at a faster rate and the
share of total Basic Education spending financed by LGUs decreased from about 6% in 2010 to about 3% in 2017.
The national revenue projections for 2021 have been significantly impacted by the measures to address the
consequences of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Initial information indicates that the appropriation
for DepEd may be some P13 billion lower than the 2020 appropriation. The planned reductions have been
concentrated on infrastructure projects and other capital spending.
International comparisons have demonstrated a clear relationship between government commitment, spending,
and results. Analysis from the PISA spending and reading scores data highlights the challenges for the Philippine
system in mobilizing sufficient resources to improve outcomes.
100
LGU general fund and Special Education Fund obligations.
90
Figure 26: Cumulative Spending per Student and Learning Outcomes from PISA101
555
Singapore
Chinese Taipei R2= 0.49

530 Hong Kong (China)
Estonia Canada Macao (China)
Finland
Ireland
Korea
Poland United
New Zealand Sweden Kingdom
Japan
505 Germany United States
Slovenia Australia
Norway
Czech Republic
France
Belgium Austria
OECD average: 487 points
Portugal
480 Russia
Croatia
Latvia
Italy
Netherlands
Belarus Hungary
Lithuania Iceland Luxembourg
Ukraine Israel
Turkey
455 Chile Greece

Slovak Republic
Serbia
430 Romania
Moldova Uruguay
Mexico Cyprus
Montenegro
Jordan Bulgaria
Malaysia
Brazil
Colombia
405
Brunei Darussalam
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Argentina Qatar
Peru
North Macedonia
Thailand
Kazakhstan
380
Panama
Indonesia
355
Philippines
Dominican Republic
330
0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 350,000
Cumulative expenditure per student from age 6 to 15 (in US dollars)
Source: OECD PISA 2018 database
In addition to assessing the adequacy of education investment for meeting policy goals in the Philippines, it will
also be necessary to review the efficiency of education spending by examining the relationship between levels/
types of spending and outcomes and how those relationships may differ by regions of the country.102
The structure of DepEd spending has evolved during the 2012–2019 period, reflecting policy and practice reforms.
The expansion of publicly funded Secondary Education by two additional years has increased the share of school
operations spending for Secondary Education from about 32% of school operations funding in 2015 to nearly 40%
in 2019. The increased emphasis on providing school material inputs and improved learning environments has
reduced the personnel services spending (salaries and benefits) to about 80% of total DepEd spending in 2019—
down from 86% in 2015.
101
World Bank. 2020. PISA 2018 Report.
102
For example, utilizing reconstructed cohort assessments of internal efficiency and wastage.
91
DepEd’s obligation and disbursement rates are high compared to other government agencies as shown in Table
14 below. When considering these rates of budget execution, it is important to keep in mind that more than
80% of DepEd spending is on personnel services that can be routinely disbursed through regular monthly salary
payments. On the other hand, improving spending efficiency on capital outlays remains challenging for the DepEd
as transfers to DPWH mean it is not in full control of its appropriated funds. The shift to the cash
budgeting system in late 2019 is meant to improve spending efficiency for all government agencies. For DepEd,
however, the shift means grappling with differences in timing between the school year and the fiscal year. Further
improvement in budget execution will require more concentrated effort in improving systems for planning,
procurement, and taking delivery of “big ticket” goods like infrastructure and equipment as well as other capital
goods.
Table 14: Obligation and Disbursement Rates, 2016–2020
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Obligation rates 90.1% 98.3% 96.7% 95.8% 96.2%
Disbursement rates 94.9% 86.9% 95.2% 94.8% 93.4%
Source: Statement of Appropriations, Allotments, Obligations, Disbursements and Balances (SAAODB) for DepEd, 2016–2020
92
3.4. System Management
RA 9155 or the Basic Education Governance Act of 2001 provides the framework for the governance of basic
education. This legislation sets the general directions for educational policies and standards and establishes
authority, accountability, and responsibility for achieving higher learning outcomes. DepEd’s Central Office
outlines the national strategies that will protect and promote all Filipino children’s right to access quality basic
education services. These thrusts and priorities are translated into programs, projects, and services in all regions,
divisions, schools, and learning centers. A decentralized basic education ensures education policies and programs
are adapted and fit local needs.
The principle of shared governance is operationalized in the different levels of governance in DepEd. At the
national level, the Central Office sets the national education standards, national education policies, and national
basic education plan that serve as beacons for DepEd’s field offices to ensure values, needs, and aspirations
of a school community are reflected in the program of education for children, out-of-school children, youth, and
adult learners. Operationally, DepEd’s regional offices are mandated to develop their respective regional policy
frameworks that reflect the values, needs, and expectations of the communities they serve. Regional thrusts
and priorities are further operationalized by the Schools Division Offices (SDOs) to ensure effective, efficient,
and equitable education resources for all schools and learning centers. The SDOs through the Schools District
level provide timely professional and instructional advice and support to school heads, teachers, and facilitators
of schools and learning centers. The schools and learning centers provide the platform for children, out-of-school
youth, and adult learners to access basic quality education services.
Strengthening the capacity of DepEd to efficiently and effectively deliver education programs and projects
continues to be a top priority in every reform agenda. In 2015, DepEd implemented the agency’s Rationalization
Plan. The reorganization led to new structures and the creation of new functional units. Internal systems and
processes are being strengthened to ensure schools and learning centers receive the kind of focused attention
they deserve. Educational programs, projects, and services take into account the interest of all learners.
While RA 9155 and other capacity-building efforts have laid down the policy framework for shared governance,
the full implementation of the spirit of the law is yet to be realized. Translations of national education policies and
standards into programs and projects that best address the requirements of school communities need to be
continually fine-tuned.
Management of Teachers’ Professional and Career Development
The quality of the teacher is the most crucial factor influencing or affecting the performance of students.103
Teachers and learning facilitators must have the flexibility to serve the needs of all learners. Implementing the K
to 12 curriculum raises the demand for more qualified teachers, and the emerging challenges (as experienced in
the pandemic)104 will make the capacity building of teachers and learning facilitators a top priority of DepEd. The
following issues need to be addressed:
103
OECD. 2005. Teachers Matter: Attracting, Developing and Retaining Effective Teachers.
104
The education sector reported a large decrease in the number of employed persons (-248,000). https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-
and-employment/labor-force-survey/title/Employment%20Situation%20in%20March%202021
93
• Quality of entry-level teachers. The quality of entry-level teachers continues to be one of the major issues
affecting teacher management in DepEd. Since 2009, the results of the Board Licensure Examination for
Professional Teachers (BLEPT) (previously called the Licensure Examination for Teachers) show low numbers
of candidates meeting the minimum qualifications for entry to teacher training programs. In 2019, the passing
rate was 31% for the Elementary BLEPT and 40% for the Secondary BLEPT;
• Unfilled teaching and teaching-related positions.The number of teachers hired almost doubled in the
2000–2020 period. Over these 20 years, the teaching workforce grew by an average of 3.47% annually,
representing 20,764 new hires per year. The most significant increases in new teacher items came in 2013
and 2017, after introducing Kindergarten in 2012 and Senior High School in 2016. Despite attempts to improve
the hiring and deployment of teachers, a total of 39,557 teaching and teaching-related positions remained
unfilled by the end of 2020;
• Ancillary tasks. Teachers should be able to focus on classroom teaching as this is the role to which they
are assigned. However, teachers and other DepEd employees often are required to perform ancillary tasks
assigned by higher authorities. These range from light administrative tasks (e.g., school assembly coordinator)
to complicated tasks (e.g., coordinator of large-scale school test);
• Unequal distribution of qualified teachers. Newly recruited (and less experienced) teachers are often
assigned in hard-to-reach areas (such as rural, remote, and island schools). Unequal distribution of qualified
teachers is also found in secondary schools with insufficient qualified teachers to cover the range of subjects
offered. Recently, a revised policy on the allocation of a Special Hardship Allowance for teachers in remote
schools has been agreed by DepEd and DBM following the development of a “hardship index”;
• Teachers are not teaching their SHS specialization. In SY 2017–2018, 7,343 teachers did not teach their
SHS specializations in English, Filipino, Mathematics, and Science. These represent 10% of the total
number of teachers in the four subject areas, often identified as “difficult to fill.” Almost 65% or 4,765 non-
major teachers received no special training that will prepare them for their assignment;
• Teachers lacking training for teaching foundation skills. The results from the early grade international
tests and the Philippines ECCD Longitudinal Study described earlier reveal that teachers lack the capacity to
develop foundational skills of literacy (reading) and numeracy in the early grades (Stage 1) and this hampers
learning progress in the later stages;
• Poor skills in analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. In a Teacher Development Needs Study conducted by
the Philippine National Research Centre for Teacher Quality (RCTQ), many Grade 6, 8, and 10 teachers of
Filipino, English, Mathematics, and Science were revealed to be not well prepared to teach their subjects.
The teachers also showed poor skills in analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. These are crucial components of
higher-order thinking and are foundational elements of 21st century skills directly relevant to the Philippines’
emerging high value, knowledge-based, manufacturing, and service industry economy;
107
Esguerra. 2018. As referenced in PIDS Policy Notes No. 2019-01.
94
• Increasing demands for teachers handling inclusion programs. The improvements in DepEd’s inclusion
programs’ coverage also create increased demands for teachers to handle multigrade schools, ALS, SPED,
and IP education. Teachers handling inclusion or specialized programs are often assigned to remote and
hard-to-reach areas with limited training and growth opportunities. Usually saddled with heavy workloads,
the turnover rate of teachers is about two to three years. They often transfer to central schools or more
accessible schools with more training and more career growth opportunities. Teachers’ training support in
inclusion programs is program-specific (based on program target groups’ unique needs);
• Completion of a functioning Human Resource Information System (HRIS). Almost 88% of DepEd’s
human resources are teachers. The absence of a fully functional HRIS system makes it difficult for DepEd’s
field units, such as the RO and SDOs, to organize and manage teacher-related information, which can
be crucial in workforce planning, capacity development, capability building, staffing and deployment,
performance appraisal, and reporting. The HRIS would provide easy and secured access to SDOs about
teacher information and teachers’ profiles. Information from the HRIS will help facilitate the SDOs’
formulation of capability-building strategies and determine unique requirements in difficult grade levels and
geographical areas.
Public School Autonomy
DepEd has implemented significant reforms and programs on governance at the school level in the last 20 years.
These include school-level planning, stakeholders’ participation, resource mobilization, and capability building
for school heads. However, despite these efforts, desired learning outcomes resulting from school-based
management initiatives are yet to be realized.
Major reforms have been achieved in the school planning process. Participation and involvement of community
stakeholders increased the community’s ownership of the plan and involvement in school management.
However, most School Improvement Plans (SIP) unevenly focused on improving school facilities rather than
directly addressing issues on teaching and learning, including highlighting the learning needs of learners with
special learning requirements.
School-Based Management (SBM) had a positive impact on school operations. A vital aspect of these reforms’
success has been the provision of increasing levels of operational funding to the school level coupled with the
devolution to schools of greater autonomy over the use of these funds.105 However, schools increasing access to
financial resources are not matched by improvements in school outcomes. There is a need to review the focus
and quality of programs and projects initiated by the schools. An appraisal process reviewing the quality and
feasibility of proposals may need to be established to ensure additional resources address learning outcomes
issues. The SDOs, through the Schools Governance and Operations Division (SGOD), may need to improve its
process of tracking the efficiency of schools to deliver these programs and projects and evaluate the same for
effectiveness.
105
World Bank. 2016. Assessing Basic Education Service Delivery in the Philippines. June.
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Learning Resources
The Bureau of Learning Resources (BLR) manages the acquisition, allocation, procurement, and equitable
distribution of learning resources, including textbooks and teacher manuals. The aim is to ensure every learner
in all public schools is provided with a complete set of textbooks (TXs) per grade level and every teacher a
complete set of teachers’ manuals (TMs). It will ensure that the Textbook to Pupil Ratio (TXPr) in all public
schools will remain at desirable levels (1:1 for core subjects and 1:2 for non-core subjects) throughout the five-
year life span of the TXs and TMs.106 However, the needed TXs and TMs do not reach the public schools on time
due to the following operational issues: (i) low quality of manuscripts submitted by suppliers, (ii) high cost of
materials (papers), (iii) suppliers’ failure to meet the deadline in printing and delivery, and (iv) limited participating
bidders (same publishers). These bottlenecks prolong both the procurement process and distribution of learning
resources. These bottlenecks have had severe implications on the ability of the BLR to utilize the allotted budget
for learning resources.
In the current scenario where DepEd uses a new curriculum, not all teachers may be thoroughly equipped
to implement it; the quality of learning materials in all schools should be a key attribute in fostering improved
learning outcomes. The costs and delays in procuring textbooks for schools should be evaluated against
using digitally based learning materials, and a policy needs to be introduced about how blended learning can be
effectively implemented using both modes.
Public-Private Complementation in Basic Education
Enrollment in private schools has been declining in the past years, causing school closures. Pursuant to
RA 10533, DepEd fully implemented the K to 12 Basic Education Program, including SHS, in 2016. It actively
engaged the participation of private schools, which helped increase the latter’s enrollment. The implementation
of Republic Act No. 8545 or the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education
Act (E-GASTPE law)—whose implementation coverage was extended, under RA 10533, to SHS under the K to
12 Basic Education Program— greatly benefited private schools. The complementary roles of private and public
institutions in the education system is recognized by the Constitution.107
However, the implementation arrangements under the E-GASTPE law need to be revisited to address the
voucher program’s challenges and/or implementation issues. The discrepancy in teacher salaries between public
and private schools is also a major issue and often leads to a constant exodus of teachers to public schools.
On average, private school teachers in comparable positions only earn 60% of the basic salary of an entry-level
teacher in public schools.108 The regional discrepancies are significant.
106
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 74, s. 2011. Policies and Guidelines on the FY 2011 Allocation of Textbooks and Teachers
Manuals.
107
1987 Constitution. Article XIV, Section 5.
108
Philippine Statistics Authority. 2018. Labor Force Survey.
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Technical Assistance to Schools
The reorganized and strengthened SDOs play a critical role in providing timely, and sustainable support to all
schools within the division. Currently, the provision of technical assistance is largely program- driven. The process
is dictated by program owners from the Central (different bureaus and services) and Regional Offices (other
functional units). Often, the strategies for implementing programs are customized according to the program’s
unique requirements, and in some cases, may conflict or compete with one another.
Shifting from curriculum implementation to technical assistance or provision of essential education support
services is a major challenge. Both Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) and SGOD staff need to be
equipped with the necessary skills to effectively provide technical assistance, prepare division education
development plans and programs, implement a monitoring and evaluation system efficiently, and manage and
maximize external stakeholders’ support.
The ratio of SDO staff to schools (school heads, teachers, learning facilitators, and non-teaching staff) and the
geographical dispersion of schools and learning centers (with unique challenges and requirements) make it
difficult for SDOs to provide equitable education support services to all schools and learning centers. The number
and type of schools require differentiated assistance to elementary (multigrade, monograde), junior high schools,
integrated schools, and senior high schools. Unique and competing operational requirements of schools demand
robust management systems and processes. At present, the primary modalities for technical assistance are
workshops and school visits.
Implementation of Strategies and Programs
The implementation of national education policies and programs is the responsibility of the DepEd Regional
Office (RO). Operationally, the RO must institutionalize systems and processes for implementation, review, and
evaluation of national initiatives, including support programs and projects. The capacity of each of the 16 DepEd
regions to define a regional educational policy framework that reflects the values, needs, and expectations
of the communities to implement national policies and programs is a critical element for the effective delivery
of basic education services in all communities. The RO’s must improve its capability to provide mechanisms to
integrate operations, do monitoring and technical assistance work, improve assessments tests in the regions,
and counter the tendency for the excessive number of programs.
Assessment of Learning
The K to 12 curriculum’s realignment into outcomes-based statements requires introducing changed

methods of assessment tools that are better suited to criterion-referenced assessment. Assessment tools
must no longer focus primarily on testing knowledge. They need to also assess the acquisition and application of
the 21st century skills of problem-solving, information literacy, and critical thinking109 across all subjects. Assessing
these different outcomes requires new types of examinations and strategies. Continuous monitoring of learning
progress by teachers using formative assessment in classrooms is an important element of effective
teaching. CPD focused on formative assessment at all levels needs greater emphasis on training programs at
both school and pre-service levels.
109
These three 21st century skills have been selected for inclusion in the K to 12 curriculum. They are also referred to as transverse
competencies because they are applied across all subjects of the curriculum.
97
Planning, Budget Horizons, and Regulatory Environment
The system and practice of planning and budgeting in DepEd improved considerably by introducing critical
changes such as integrating strategic education plans across governance levels, the participation of Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders in planning and budgeting (institutionalized budget engagement
of CSOs—e.g., the Alternative Budget Initiative), and linking operations planning with budgeting. While the
mechanisms to ensure vertical and horizontal integration of education and operational plans have been set in
place, the following issues must be addressed: (i) the quality of education plans needs to be improved,
especially in reflecting curriculum management and implementation concerns in the school improvement plans
(SIPs). Emphasis should be on improving teaching and learning, curriculum implementation and management,
addressing least mastered competencies, and other quality-related concerns rather than physical improvements
in school facilities; and (ii) DepEd has continuously struggled with the regulatory environment defined by
oversight agencies like the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the COA. The DBM’s cash-based
budgeting created pressure to immediately utilize the budget allocation, making the implementation of various
programs for the school year very challenging. Overall, this has led to under-investment in some programs, delays
in others, and others’ disallowances.
Timely Access and Utilization of Education Data and Information
Awareness of the importance of evidence-based decision making, education planning, and M&E work is very
high in DepEd, as evidenced by the surge in planning- and monitoring-related activities across governance levels.
There is also increased demand for education data and information for use in preparing School Improvement
Plans, Division Education Development Plans, Regional Basic Education Plans, and national plans. The preparation
of report cards and the conduct of quarterly program implementation reviews (PIR) are becoming the norms
in DepEd. DepEd must match this awareness with improvements in the timely access to education data
and information. While existing information systems have improved access to data on learners’ information,
enrollment, and school information, including learning facilities, information related to learners’ performance and
curriculum effectiveness is currently limited. Limited data on quality severely affects the ability of the RO and
SDO to make timely corrective adjustments in education policies, programs, and projects. This is currently being
addressed at the central office by moving to integrate data on large scale assessments with the main information
systems.
98
3.5. Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management
3.5.1 Natural and Human-Induced Hazards Over the Last Years
The Philippines is highly exposed to natural hazards, being at the junction of several tectonic plate boundaries,
as well as being in an area of frequent tropical cyclones. The Philippines is ranked as the fourth most affected
country in terms of extreme weather events (1998–2018), particularly tropical cyclones,110 in Germanwatch’s
Global Climate Risk Index of 2020.111 Reports from schools from SY 2014–2015 to SY 2018–2019 show that a total
of 36,853 (78.09%) schools have experienced natural hazards at least once.112
A paper based on the LCSFC (Edwards, Gray, and Borja, 2021) examined vulnerabilities (other than disaster
damage) linked to cumulative exposure to natural disasters. Higher levels of family violence, stunting in children,
and food insecurity were associated with experiencing an increased number of natural disasters.
Tropical Cyclones
The Philippines is frequented by at least 20 tropical cyclones a year, nine of which make landfall on average every
year,113 making the country “the most storm-exposed country on earth.”114 Collected data from the Enhanced
Basic Education Information System (EBEIS) show an increasing trend in the number of affected schools each
year, from 8,230 (17.44%) in SY 2014–2015 to 14,365 (30.44%) in SY 2018–2019—a 13% increase overall. Most
of these tropical cyclones affected Region IV-A (CALABARZON) in the southern portion of Luzon island (19,009
school incidents), followed by the regions on the eastern seaboard such as Region V (Bicol Region) and Region
VIII (Eastern Visayas) with 17,790 and 17,442 school incidents, respectively (EBEIS reports). Regions on the
western seaboard such as Region I (Ilocos Region) with 17,819 school incidents, Region III (Central Luzon) with
16,135 school incidents, and Region VI (Western Visayas) with 15,770 school incidents show that areas directly
opposite the regions in the eastern seaboard also experience the intensity of this weather system. On average, a
school experiences at least three tropical cyclones each year.Flooding and Sea Level Rise
110
The World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region Rural Development. “Natural Disaster Risk Management:
Enhancing Poverty Alleviation Through Disaster Reduction”. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/975311468776739344/
pdf/338220REPLACEM1aster0Report1combine.pdf
111
Eckstein, David, Kuncel Vera, Laura Schafer, and Mark Winges. 2019. “Global Climate Risk Index 2020.” Bonn: Germanwatch.
112
DEPED-EMISD. Enhanced Basic Education Information System Consolidated Report, SY 2014-2015 to SY 2018-2019. Extracted End of
School Year 2019-2020 through Educational Management Information System Division- Planning Service.
113
DOST-PAGASA. “Frequently Asked Questions / Trivia”. http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/learnings/faqs-and-trivias
114
Brown, Sophie. 2013. “The Philippines Is the Most Storm-Exposed Country on Earth”. http://world.time.com/2013/11/11/the-philippines-is-
the-most-storm-exposed-country-on-earth/ Time Magazine. 11 November.
99
Regions that are frequently affected by tropical cyclones are also exposed to flooding. Two of the regions most
affected by tropical cyclones in the eastern seaboard, Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region, also have the highest
frequency of reported flooding incidents in the EBEIS, having a total of 9,428 and 8,749 school incidents,
respectively. Likewise, Western Visayas and Central Luzon also reported the most flooding incidents among the
regions in the western seaboard, with a total frequency of 9,202 and 9,124 school incidents, respectively. The
Philippines has more than P1.05 billion worth of land and structures at risk of damage from rising sea levels.115
There are a total of 1,199 schools that are located on small islands, 4,975 schools are near the coastline,
and 8,376 schools are near rivers or waterways. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
estimated an increase in the country’s sea level of around 30 to 60 cm even if global warming is within 2 degrees
Celsius. However, at current projections, there is an expected 60 to 110 cm sea level rise due to uncurbed
greenhouse gas emissions.116 Climate Central’s 2019 mapping predicts that a huge portion of the country’s coastal
area will be submerged in 30 years, threatening the lives of around 8.6 million Filipinos.117
Earthquakes
The Philippines is situated in the tectonically active region called the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, where numerous
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS), most of the inland earthquakes are caused by movement along the Philippine Fault—a 1,300 km-
long fault that traverses the Ilocos Region in the north to Eastern Mindanao in the south—which causes
an average of 20 recorded earthquakes daily.118 EBEIS data show an increasing trend in the number of schools
affected by earthquakes from 1,559 in SY 2014–2015 to 8,859 in SY 2017–2018. The regions most affected by
earthquakes are Eastern Visayas, Region XIII, and CALABARZON.
Volcanic Eruptions
PHIVOLCS monitors 22 active volcanoes, which may possibly bring several hazards, such as pyroclastic flows,
lava flows, ashfall, lahar,119 or volcanic gases from their eruptions.120 There are four active volcanoes that have
erupted from 2015 to 2020: Taal Volcano in CALABARZON, Mayon Volcano and the Bulusan Volcano in the Bicol
Region, and Kanlaon Volcano in Western Visayas.121 EBEIS data from SY 2014–2015 to SY 2018–2019 show that the
most affected region from volcanic eruptions is Bicol Region with a total frequency of 2,362 reports across 675
schools. On January 12, 2020, Taal Volcano in Batangas erupted, affecting 5 million students in over 4,000 schools
covering four DepEd regions (CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Metro Manila, Central Luzon). The eruption and the
ensuing ashfall damaged many schools in the areas surrounding the Taal Volcano. Schools in nearby areas were
used as evacuation centers for displaced families.
115
Bayani, J.K.E., Dorado, M.A., & Dorado, R.A. 2009. “Responding to Sea Level Rise - A Study of Options to Combat Coastal Erosion in The
Philippines”. EEPSEA Policy Brief pb2009082, Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA). revised August.
116
IPCC. 2019. Summary for Policymakers. In: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate [H. O. Pörtner et al).
117
Kulp, Scott and Benjamin Strauss. 2019. “New elevation data triple estimates of global vulnerability to sea-level rise and coastal flooding.”
Nature Commun 10, 4844 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12808-z
118
DOST-PHIVOLCS. “Earthquakes and its Hazards”. https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/publications/general-information-products
119
A rapidly flowing thick mixture of volcanic material and water, usually generated along river channels by extreme rainfall.
120
DOST-PHIVOLCS. Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards. https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/publications/general-information-products
121
DOST-PHIVOLCS. “Eruption History”. https://vmepd.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/volcan/erupt-history
100
Armed Conflict
Armed conflicts continue to pose serious security threats to communities, with adverse impacts particularly
on children’s education. EBEIS data show that from SY 2014–2015 to SY 2018–2019, a total of 7,303 schools
nationwide reported 27,131 violent incidents, including activities as a result of organized crimes and armed
conflict. In these situations, learners, personnel, and parents suffer fear or trauma, or simply their own regard
for personal safety and security prevents learners from going back to school. Moreover, armed conflicts create
unsafe and unsecure environments where learners face the risk of being victims of grave child rights violations
(GCRVs).
A total of 44 public school teachers and personnel form Marawi City were among the first to receive Psychological First Aid (PFA) conducted
by the Department of Education and its partners from June 20–22, 2017 at the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) Region
10 in Cagayan de Oro City. Led by the DepEd DRRMS, the series of PFA aims to help DepEd teachers and personnel who have experienced
distressful and/or traumatic events in the war-torn city regain a sense of normalcy in their lives.
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3.5.2. Impact of Natural and Human-Induced Hazards in Basic Education
From SY 2014–2015 to SY 2018–2019, a total of 36,853 schools have reported effects of natural hazards, while
7,009 schools have reported human-induced hazards. These hazards impede the provision of education, damage
school infrastructure and non-infrastructure, and threaten and affect both the lives of students and personnel and
other educational resources and investments.
From 2015–2020, a total of 9,854 schools in the Philippines incurred total

or major classroom damages due to tropical cyclones. A total of 821
Damage to schools were reported to have incurred total or major classroom damages
Infrastructure due to earthquakes. Among these schools, Davao Region had reported
(Natural Hazards) the greatest number of damaged classrooms at 2,184 across 221
schools; followed by SOCCSKSARGEN with 1,899 damaged classrooms
across 337 schools.
Data from the Rapid Assessment of Damages Report 2 (RADaR 2) show

proportional values of damage to non-infrastructure items, namely, school
furniture, learning resources, and computer sets. Bicol Region ranked first
Damage to in non-infrastructure damages, followed by Eastern Visayas and Cagayan
Non-infrastructure Valley. For damaged learning resources, Bicol Region ranked highest,
followed by Eastern Visayas and MIMAROPA. From the 2015–2020
consolidated RADaR 2, the total cost of damages amounted to Php
105 billion.
During and after a disaster, schools have been normally used as

evacuation centers. In 2016, Republic Act No. 10821 was enacted, limiting
the use of schools as evacuation centers. EBEIS data show that from SY
Schools Used as
2014–2015 to SY 2018–2019, a total of 35,648 classrooms across 11,522
Evacuation Centers
schools nationwide had been used as evacuation centers, averaging at
7,130 classrooms per school year. Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas had
the highest number of classrooms used as evacuation centers.
EBEIS data show that there is a cumulative total of 27,224 school

days lost due to classrooms being used as evacuation centers across
4,252 schools, and 105,618 school days lost due to class suspensions
brought about by natural hazards across 17,694 schools. Among the
regions with school days lost due to classrooms being used as
evacuation centers, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (BARMM) and Bicol Region rank highest with 3,914 and 6,330,
School Days Lost
respectively, school days lost (Data is between two school years .Among
the regions with school days lost due to class suspensions brought about
by natural hazards, the National Capital Region (NCR) ranks the highest
with an average of 8 days, followed by the Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR), Central Luzon, and CALABARZON with 5 days each.
Around 46% of learners are affected nationwide.
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Intensified weather conditions such as typhoons and droughts, together

with adverse environmental conditions, impose risks to young people’s
physical, mental, psychosocial, and emotional development. UNICEF
reported that “climate change exacerbates the many threats to children’s
Psychosocial Impacts
wellbeing, survival, and access to services in the Philippines, including
education, water and sanitation, nutrition, and health.” These impacts
are not only confined to disasters arising from natural hazards, but also
human-induced hazards, including armed conflict.
In May 2017, the Marawi siege broke out, much larger in scale and with
greater impact than the Zamboanga siege in 2013. Lasting for nearly
five months, the ensuing war affected 96 barangays, completely
destroyed 20 schools in ground zero, and displaced thousands of learners.
The total cost of damaged school infrastructure amounted to Php 1
billion, while the total cost of damaged non-infrastructure, which included
school furniture, learning resources, and computer sets, amounted to Php
38 million. Other than these large-scale conflicts, sporadic small-scale
Damage to Schools
clashes between the government’s armed forces and armed groups also
(Armed Conflict)
take their toll on the education sector. In the period from June 2018 to
December 2019, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service
(DRRMS) received 23 reports from the field on schools affected by
armed conflict. These reports involved schools, learners, and personnel
caught in the crossfire between the military and armed groups such
as the Abu Sayyaf and the New People’s Army, which resulted in class
suspensions ranging from 1 to 10 school days. The DRRMS also received
reports on alleged child rights violations against learners and personnel.
103
3.5.3. The DepEd DRRM Responses
DepEd established the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office through DepEd Order No. 50, s. 2011
and elevated the office to a service (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service or DRRMS). The
DRRMS is tasked to empower the DepEd personnel, offices, schools, and learners in ensuring safety and
learning continuity; institutionalize Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), Climate Change Adaptation
and Mitigation (CCAM), and Education in Emergencies (EiE); and strengthen the resilience of basic education in
the context of natural and human-induced hazards.
The DRRMS implements six major programs within the Comprehensive DRRM in Basic Education Framework:122
1) Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation;
2) Education in Emergencies relating to Armed Conflict;
3) Safe Learning Environment and Facilities;
4) Preparedness;
5) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services; and
6) Response, Rehabilitation, and Recovery.
The DRRMS uses the Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (RADaR)123 for large scale disasters, which are
SMS reports sent by School DRRM Coordinators to the DRRMS within the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster,
covering infrastructure and non-infrastructure damages or incident reports for armed conflict, as well as small-
scale disasters such as fire and landslide. These reports are submitted to the DRRMS by the concerned Schools
Division Office.
The response is elaborated in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) inter-agency Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) or Post Conflict Needs Assessment (PCNA)
led by the Office of Civil Defense. Results of the PDNA/PCNA are utilized for the formulation of DepEd’s
Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan for the disaster/emergency-affected areas. NEDA leads the
NDRRMC Rehabilitation and Recovery Cluster. Reports of damages are also shared with the Education Cluster,
which is activated in times of disasters, and to other partners for the planning and provision of response
interventions. RADaR is used as the basis for allocation of interventions.
Based on the consolidated vetted RADaR, immediate interventions for affected schools are determined and
funded by the Disaster Preparedness and Response Program (DPRP) Funds of the DRRMS. These include the
following:
• Provision of Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS);

• School clean-up and minor repair;
• Mental Health and Psychological Support Services (MHPSS) and Psychological First Aid in Emergencies;
• Provision of learners’, teachers’, and hygiene kits;
• Emergency school feeding;
• Alternative delivery modes;
• Deployment of personnel;
• Fund support for response, rehabilitation, and recovery efforts.
122
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 37 s.2015.
123
Department of Education. DepEd Order No. 21 s.2015.
104
The Quick Response Fund (QRF) is an annual budget (about P2 billion) given to the Department of Education
solely for the repair and reconstruction of disaster-affected schools. However, this amount has remained
historically insufficient. From 2016 to 2020, the repair or reconstruction of only 20,233 out of at least 30,918
classrooms with validated disaster-induced damages has been funded. More than P30 billion would be needed
to cover all damages. Despite the limited funds allocated annually, the DRRMS provided a total of 8,522 units of
TLS amounting to P668 million to disaster and emergency-affected schools from 2015 to 2020. Other response
interventions such as the provision of learners’ kits, teachers’ kits, and hygiene kits started in 2018, but were
subject to available DRRMS funds. Another fund source is the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Fund (NDRRMF), which may be used for repair and reconstruction, replacement of non-infrastructure resources,
and other rehabilitation and recovery needs. From 2017 to 2020, DepEd had been granted more than P1 billion
to fund rehabilitation and recovery works for areas affected by Typhoons Karen, Lawin, and Nina (2017) and the
Marawi Siege (releases made from 2017 to 2020).
The inadequacy of the said funds for repair and reconstruction has led to thousands of backlogs and billions
of pesos needed for rehabilitation and recovery, coupled with the limited budget provided for in the General
Appropriations Act (GAA) that could not meet all the annual demand for new construction to accommodate a
growing student population.
105
3.5.4. The Impact of COVID-19 to the Education Sector
The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the increase in the unemployment rate, the increase
in the poverty incidence, and the GDP contraction of 8.5%, will have longer-term effects on household well-being
and will impact education and schooling. The effects on the system are multi-layered with varying time frames.
The COVID-19 period has brought severe disruption to the Education sector.
Immediate Effect of the Wholesale School Shutdown
In late March 2020, schools were shut down due to the quarantine restrictions imposed by the government.
Some schools were able to finish the school year as scheduled, especially graduating classes where final
examinations are traditionally administered earlier in preparation for graduation. Most schools, however, had
to cut short their school year and arrange for ways to complete the requirements expected of students. Many
schools worked out alternative ways of assessing students other than final examinations (i.e., projects, written
work, presentations, video essays).
School opening originally scheduled in early June 2020 was postponed until early October for public schools.
Private schools could open earlier. In both public and private schools, face-to-face in-class instruction was not
allowed by the President to manage the COVID-19 crisis. As of May 2021, schools are still closed for face-to-face
learning while DepEd is preparing the guidelines for face-to-face.
The shift to distance learning and the uncertainty of the pandemic led to a decline in total Basic Education
enrollment. As shown in Table 15, the total enrollment fell by 4% across all grade levels and ALS. While public
school enrollment surpassed the last SY enrollment, private school enrollment fell by 22%. In November 2020,
DepEd reported that 398,981 students had transferred from private schools to public schools. Given that public
school total enrollment was only slightly less than the year before, this meant that private school students had
taken up the seats of public-school enrollees that had dropped out of the system or did not enroll this school year.
Table 15: Enrollment for SY 2020–2021, Kindergarten to Grade 12 including ALS (as of January 18, 2021)
SY 2019–2020
SY 2020–2021 % of SY 2019–2020
Sectors Actual LIS
LIS Enrollment Enrollment
Enrollment
Public 22,572,923 22,712,409 101%
Private 4,304,676 3,375,748 78%
SUCs LUCs 131,006 118,755 91%
Alternative Learning System 759,723 478,672 63%
Philippine Schools Overseas 21,786 20,100 92%
Grand Total 27,790,114 26,705,684 96%
LIS - Learner’s Information System, LUCs - Local Universities and Colleges, SUCs - State Universities and Colleges
Source: DepEd’s LIS SY 2020–2021 final official enrollment count, as of January 15, 2021. ALS data is as of March 19, 2021
106
The LCSFC conducted a brief phone survey in November 2020 to check on how the cohort and their households
were faring during the pandemic. As expected, the monthly median income of all households surveyed decreased
by 40% between pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. About 76% of the households reported some level
of difficulty in meeting expenses. The proportion of food-insecure households significantly increased during the
pandemic compared to the last pre-pandemic survey.
About 97.5% of the cohort children were reported to be enrolled in school, noting a slight increase in public
school enrollment compared to the prior survey. In terms of the mode of schooling, the majority (72.9%) opted
for printed modules (either picked up from the school/barangay or delivered to the home). Despite 80.4% of
the households having internet connections at home, a smaller proportion opted for the purely internet/online
schooling mode (9%) or blended learning using both online and printed modules (17.3%). Only about 17.2%
reported no difficulty in their chosen mode of schooling. The mothers and siblings mainly assisted the children in
their school work, indicating that these household members may also require some form of training or assistance
in handling modules.
IATF guidelines have restricted movements of children (below age 15) outside the home boundaries for safety
reasons. The latest Policy Note (Largo et al, 2021) also discusses the potential risk of increased exposure to
home violence as a result of prolonged home confinement of children, particularly among those living in crowded
households.
107
Effect of the Pandemic on Learners, Teachers, and Parents
The immediate effects of the shift to distance education on learners, teachers, and parents have been in the
adjustment to changed modes of learning and instruction. In terms of teaching and learning strategies, the
pandemic has highlighted the need for various education technologies that can facilitate learning from home.
Within the public school system, there are 1,042,575 devices (desktops, laptops, tablets) that are distributed
across 44,155 or 93% of schools. Among these devices, 459,578 are laptops/tablets that 2% of the public-school
learners may bring home on a scheduled basis. Some 22,645 or 48% of public schools have internet connections.
Another 8,478 or 18% of public schools are located in areas with internet service providers but have not yet
been connected. This administrative data was supplemented by a survey conducted by DepEd at the beginning
of the quarantine period, which showed that 45% of the teacher respondents have laptops/desktops with Wi-Fi
at home, while 36% have no internet connection; 8% of the teachers with laptops/desktops answered that an
internet signal is not available in their area; and more than 77,000 or 11% of the teachers nationwide do not have
laptops/desktops at home.124
124
Department of Education. 2020. Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan.
108
At the country level, the National ICT Household Survey125 found that 5% of households did not have electricity,
52.9% did not have radios, 17.3% did not have TVs, and 82.3% did not have access to the internet (with great
regional disparities: 33% in NCR and 5% in BARMM).
In the first year of distance learning, it was still too early to determine how much learning loss there might be
due to the cessation of face-to-face in-class learning. As of May 2021, the Philippine Government has not made a
definite statement about when face-to-face learning will be allowed to happen.
Risk Management from COVID-19
The declaration of a state of public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated major changes
to how learning provision and public services are delivered. Central to DepEd’s response to the pandemic is the
creation of a DepEd Task Force COVID-19 (DTFC-19).126 Chaired by the Undersecretary for Administration, the
DTFC-19 is administered by the DepEd Central Office Quick Response and Recovery Team, which, due to the
nature of the crisis, has been restructured to have the Bureau of Learner Support Services- School Health Division
(BLSS-SHD) as the leading agency and the DRRMS as the co-leader. The DTFC-19 is tasked to mainly cooperate
with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging
Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in the Philippines on overall Philippine government efforts on addressing COVID-19;
promulgate policy directives, subject to the review and/or approval of the Secretary, containing standard
protocols in response to COVID-19 in DepEd offices and schools; and oversee COVID-19 preventive, coordinative,
monitoring, and response measures.
The biggest risk of an uncertain period of school closure will be learning loss in the absence of face-to-face
classes. It is very likely that learners from low-income families will be more adversely affected by the current
COVID-19 situation, compared to learners from middle- or upper-income families who have access to both digital
and other resources, thereby rendering the attainment of inclusive and equitable quality education more difficult.
To mitigate the effects of schools’ closure, DepEd elaborated the Basic Education- Learning Continuity Plan (BE-
LCP) with the following principles, strategies, and interventions.
Principles:
1. Protect the health, safety, and well-being of learners, teachers, and personnel, and prevent the further
transmission of COVID-19;
2. Ensure learning continuity through K to 12 curriculum adjustments, alignment of learning materials,

deployment of multiple learning delivery modalities, provision of corresponding training for teachers and
school leaders, and proper orientation of parents or guardians of learners;
125
Department of Information and Communications Technology. National ICT Household Survey Executive Summary. https://dict.gov.ph/
ictstatistics/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/NICTHS-Executive-Summary_Updated_July-23.pdf
126
Department of Education. DepEd Task Force on Covid-19, i.e., DM 11 s. 2020. “Creation of A Task Force for the Management of the
Department of Education Response to Novel CoronaVirus Acute Respiratory Disease”, as amended by as DM 19, s. 2020.
109
3. Facilitate the safe return of teaching and non-teaching personnel and learners to workplaces and
schools, taking into consideration the scenarios projected by the Department of Health and the
Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Philippines,
complemented by other credible sources, and balanced with DepEd’s own risk assessments;
4. Be sensitive to equity considerations and concerns, and endeavor to address them the best we can;
and
5. Link and bridge the BE-LCP to DepEd’s pivot to quality and into the future of education, under the
framework of Sulong EduKalidad and Futures Thinking in Education.
Some of the strategies and interventions are as follows:
• The BE-LCP streamlines the K to 12 Curriculum into the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs),
to be delivered in multiple learning modalities and platforms. The MELCs will be used nationwide by field
implementers for SY 2020–2021 only as an emergency measure to allow instruction amid challenging
circumstances to focus on the most essential learning, and to ease the requirements for adapting classroom-
based learning resources for distance learning;
• A Learning Resources and Platforms Committee (LRPC) was created to ensure that appropriate learning
resources of good quality are made available (including self-learning materials, with inclusive interactive
versions for learners with disabilities), and that the necessary platforms or technologies (printed, digital online
and offline, television, and radio) are engaged or made available in a timely and efficient manner;
• Adoption of different learning modalities by schools: face-to-face modality (not allowed at that time), distance
learning, blended learning, or homeschooling; and
• Training of teachers and school leaders on the multiple learning delivery modalities.
110
4.0
POLICY FRAMEWORKS
OF THE BEDP
111
The BEDP is anchored in DepEd’s current vision, mission, mandate, and core values.127
VISION
We dream of Filipinos who passionately love their country and whose values and competencies enable
them to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the nation.
As a learner-centered public institution, the Department of Education continuously improves itself to better
serve its stakeholders.
MISSION
To protect and promote the right of every Filipino to quality, equitable, culture-based, and complete basic
education where:
• Students learn in a child-friendly, gender-sensitive, safe, and motivating environment;
• Teachers facilitate learning and constantly nurture every learner;
• Administrators and staff, as stewards of the institution, ensure an enabling and supportive environment for
effective learning to happen; and
• Family, community, and other stakeholders are actively engaged and share responsibility for developing
life-long learners.
The Department of Education Mandate
Section 17 under Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates the State to give priority to education,
science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress,
human liberation, and development. Article XIV, Section 1 declares 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.” As declared in the Constitution, the State has the duty to respect, protect, fulfill, and promote
the right of every Filipino to accessible and quality education.
The Department of Education is the government agency that formulates, implements, and coordinates policies,
plans, programs, and projects in areas of formal and non-formal basic education. In all our decisions and actions,
we put the Filipino learner first. It supervises all elementary and secondary education institutions, including
alternative learning systems, both public and private; and provides for the establishment and maintenance of a
complete, adequate, and integrated system of basic education relevant to the goals of national development.
DepEd Core Values
Republic Act No. 8491 known as the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines states that the national Motto shall
be “MAKA-DIYOS, MAKATAO, MAKAKALIKASAN AT MAKABANSA.” The Department of Education has taken this
a step further and formally adopted these as core values to help ensure that all DepEd initiatives are guided by
the said values. At the time of the articulation, the core values were also stated in the definition of a functionally
literate individual, which was part of the DepEd vision then. While the vision for the learners has been updated
in this plan, the Department as a whole saw that it is important to continue to advocate for the core values that
have guided the Department for many years.
127
Department of Education. Vision, Mission, Core Values, and Mandate. https://www.deped.gov.ph/about-deped/vision-mission-core-values-
and-mandate/
112
Core Values Behavior Statements
Expresses one’s spiritual beliefs while respecting the spiritual beliefs of others
Maka-Diyos
Shows adherence to ethical principles by upholding truth
Is sensitive to individual, social, and cultural differences

Makatao
Demonstrates contributions toward solidarity
Makakalikasan Cares for the environment and utilizes resources wisely, judiciously, and economically
Demonstrates pride in being a Filipino; exercises the rights and responsibilities of a Filipino citizen
Makabansa
Demonstrates appropriate behavior in carrying out activities in the school, community, and country
The BEDP is anchored in national development goals and the Agenda 2030.
The vision for Philippine society by 2040 is embodied in AmBisyon Natin 2040. This is a long-term strategy
of the national government in fighting poverty, which represents the collective long-term vision and aspirations of
the Filipinos for themselves and for the country in the next decades. It envisions that “By 2040, the Philippines
shall be a prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor; our peoples shall live long and
healthy lives, be smart and innovative, and shall live in a high-trust society,” translated in Filipino as having a
“Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay.”128
The current Philippine Development Plan (PDP) sets out the strategies to meet the long-term vision. The goals
and strategies are grouped into the following pillars: 1) Enhancing the social fabric (malasakit),
2) Reducing inequality (pagbabago), and 3) Increasing growth potential (patuloy na pag-unlad). To achieve these
necessitates the provision of an enabling and supportive economic environment, solid foundations for sustainable
development towards peace and security, balanced and strategic infrastructure development, and ecological
integrity. Education is included in the Strategic Framework for Accelerating Human Capital Development and the
PDP expects that lifelong learning opportunities for all will be ensured:
131
Section 1, EO 5, 11 October 2016.
113
• Strengthen early childhood care and development programs in order to adequately prepare for basic
education;
• Pursue the full implementation of K to 12;
• Strengthen inclusion programs;
• Develop and improve interventions to keep children in school;
• Continue curricular reforms;
• Enhance teacher competencies;
• Integrate 21st century competencies;
• Strengthen quality assurance mechanisms.
In addition, the equity approach included in the BEDP is anchored in the statement proposed in the PDP: “To yield
greater equity in human development outcomes, education will be made accessible to vulnerable groups and
those not reached by formal education.”
Sulong Edukalidad is a national effort designed to improve the quality of education, close the remaining access
gaps, and address equity issues. It was issued in the middle of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte
and has four pillars that represent the priority areas. Each pillar has several core strategies that will catalyze
the achievement of the overall goal of Sulong EduKalidad. Each strategy is supported by relevant programs,
projects, and activities that will help achieve the objective of each strategy. The soul of the framework is the core
values that should influence how the curriculum is delivered in every classroom. Governance and Management
include cross-cutting processes that will support the implementation of each strategic objective. Research and
Innovations, Policy Development, Planning and Monitoring & Evaluation, Legal Management, and Finance and
Procurement Management are essential key management processes that will keep the system improving for the
better.
114
Figure 27: Sulong EduKalidad Framework
We dream of Filipinos who passionately love their country and whose values and competencies enable them
to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the nation. As a learner-centered public
Sulong institution, the Department of Education continuously improves itself to better serve its stakeholders
EduKalidad:
By 2020, we will have nation-loving, and competent lifelong learners able to respond to challenge and
opportunities through the delivery of quality accessible, relevant and liberating K to 12 program by a modern
professional, pro-active, nimble, trusted and nurturing DepEd.
Strategic Objectives Strategic Objectives

• Review and enhance K-12 • Transform the learning environment
curriculum to make it more to be child-friendly, gender-sensitive,
relevant, responsive and motivating, safe and inclusive
inclusive • Provide appropriate materials
• Ensure that every child attains and technology for learning and
a minimum reading proficiency administrative use
K-12 Improving
appropriate for their level. • Support the physical, mental and
curriculum the Learning
• Ensure SHS graduates are overall well being of learners
development for Environment to
ready for further education,
improved delivery develop learner’s
entrepreneurship and work
and instruction, and full potential
assessment
Address Equality
close ACCESS gaps
improve QUALITY
Teachers’ Engagement
and School of stakeholders
Leaders upskilling for support and
and reskilling collaboration
to improve
competencies
Strategic Objectives Strategic Objectives
• Deliver an integrated, and • Institutionalize an inclusive,
aligned capacity development multi-sectoral education group
interventions for better engagement
• Develop and implement career • Provide responsive
progression opportunities engagement platforms and
• Support the welfare and well- mechanisms
being of teaching and non- • Advocate and localize SDG
teaching personnel 2030
Governance and Research and Innovation Policy Development Planning

Management Legal Management Finance and Procurement Management and M&E
115
The four strategic objectives of this framework are highlighted as:
• K to 12 curriculum review and update with focus on foundational skills on reading and numeracy, especially at
early grades;
• Improving the learning environment in terms of physical facilities, learning resources, and promoting safe and
nurturing schools;
• Teachers’ upskilling and reskilling to develop teaching proficiency alongside provision of incentives and better
career progression; and
• Engagement of stakeholders for support and collaboration, not just on provision of facilities but more on
deeper consultations, collaborative research and analysis, and high-level advice to strategic policy, planning,
and programming for quality.
The rights-based education framework and lens provide the legal institutional framework. DepEd’s mandate under
the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001 to ensure access to, promote equity in, and improve the quality
of basic education is based on the rights of the child and youth—the rights-holder—as enshrined in the 1987
Constitution and other domestic and international legislation, which is a legal obligation of DepEd as a duty-bearer
to respect, protect, fulfill, and promote. The BEDP is anchored on these rights and duties in relation to the basic
education sector.
• The 1987 Constitution:
- Enshrines the right of all citizens to accessible and quality basic education and the corresponding duty of the
State to protect and promote this right;
- Prescribes the duty of the State to establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated
system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society and to establish and maintain a system of
free public education in the elementary and high school levels;
- Prescribes the duty of all educational institutions to include the study of the Constitution as part of the curricula
and to inculcate patriotism and nationalism; foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, and appreciation of
the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country; teach the rights and duties of citizenship;
strengthen ethical and spiritual values; develop moral character and personal discipline; encourage critical and
creative thinking; broaden scientific and technological knowledge; and promote vocational efficiency.
• RA 9155 (Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001):
- Declared the policy of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality basic education and
to make such education accessible to all by providing all Filipino children a free and compulsory education in the
elementary level and free education in the high school level;
- The following Declaration of Policy is included in RA 9155: “It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect
and promote the right of all citizens to quality basic education and to make such education accessible to all by
providing all Filipino children a free and compulsory education in the elementary level and free education in the
high school level. Such education shall also include alternative learning systems for out-of-school youth and adult
learners. It shall be the goal of basic education to provide them with the skills, knowledge and values they need
to become caring, self- reliant, productive, and patriotic citizens”;
116
- The law stressed the importance of shared governance between and among the national/central, regional, and
division offices.
• RA 10533 (Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013):
- Defined Enhanced Basic Education Programs as encompassing the following number of years in education:
o At least 1 year of Kindergarten;
o 6 years of Elementary;
o 6 years of Secondary, which includes 4 years of Junior High School and 2 years of Senior High School.
• RA 11510 (Alternative Learning System Act):
- Provides out-of-school children in special cases and adults with opportunities to improve their knowledge,
values, life skills, and readiness for higher education, work, or self-employment through a system of non-formal or
indigenous education or both, which are tailored to respond to their learning needs and life circumstances.
• Convention on the Rights of the Child:
- Guarantees the right of children to education that develops their personality, talents, and mental and physical
abilities to their fullest potential, and develops respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and for the
principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations;
- Guarantees a wide range of children’s rights in relation to basic education including, but not limited to, the right
to non-discrimination,129 right to health,130 right to participation or the right of a child capable of forming an opinion
to have one’s views heard and seriously considered in accordance with his/her age and maturity,131 right to
religion,132 right to rest and play,133 and right to protection against all forms of violence.134
• International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights:
- Enshrines the right of everyone to education that is directed to the full development of the human personality
and the sense of its dignity and strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
129
Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 2.
130
Id. at Article 24.
131
Id. at Article 12.
132
Id. at Article 14.
133
Id. at Article 31.
134
1987 Constitution. Article XV, Section 3.; Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 19(1).
117
The 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal #4
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)135 are the blueprint
to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address global challenges like poverty, inequality,
climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. The 2030 Agenda is a universal set of goals,
targets, and indicators agreed upon by the United Nations member states in 2015, which guides their respective
development agendas and policies until 2030. The Philippines affirms its commitment to achieve the SDGs by
2030, if not sooner, especially as the Global Goals are in sync with the country’s development plans and long-
term aspirations for 2040. In particular, DepEd supports and focuses its efforts on the attainment of the education
goal (SDG 4), which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all.”
SDG 4 is made up of 10 targets:
1. Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary
education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes;
2. Target4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and
pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education;
3. Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational,
and tertiary education, including university;
4. Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including
technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship;
5. Target 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education
and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in
vulnerable situations;
6. Target 4.6: By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve
literacy and numeracy;
7. Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable
development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable
lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and nonviolence, global citizenship, and
appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development;
8. Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability, and gender sensitive and provide safe,
non-violent, inclusive, and effective learning environments for all;
9. Target 4.b: By 2030, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries,
in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and African countries, for enrollment
in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical,
engineering, and scientific programs, in developed countries and other developing countries;
135
United Nations. Sustainable Development Goals. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
118
10. Target 4.c: By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international
cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island
developing States.
A voluntary national review136 of the SDGs noted the achievements of the Philippines to date and the work that
needs to be accomplished for the country to meet its commitment.
The 17 SDGs are interrelated and therefore the BEDP should also contribute to the achievement of other
SDGs in the Philippines, in particular SDG 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages),
SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), SDG 6 (Ensure availability and sustainable
management of water and sanitation for all), and SDG 16 (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive
institutions at all levels).
136
Reyes, Celia et al. 2019. The Philippines’ voluntary national review on the sustainable development goals. PIDS Discussion Paper Series
No. 2019-10.
119
120
5.0
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
OF THE BEDP
5.1. Access to Quality Basic Education for All
5.2. Equity for Children, Youth, and Adults in Situations of Disadvantage
5.3. Quality of Education Provision and Learning Outcomes
5.4. Learners’ Resiliency and Well-Being
121
Goal
All Filipinos are able to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully in building a cohesive nation.
Sector Outcome
Filipino basic education learners have the physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, and moral preparation for civic
participation and engagement in post-secondary opportunities in their local, national, and global communities.
21st Century Skills and Aspirations for Filipino Learners
Filipino learners are envisioned to be holistically developed in basic education, acquiring 21st century skills that
will enable them to manage oneself, build connections, inquire, innovate, stay nimble, and serve beyond self.
They must take pride in Filipino national identity and nationhood and aspire for life skills and responsiveness,
competitiveness, economic prosperity, socio-political stability, unity in diversity, flourishing, and sustainability by
upholding the above-mentioned core values: Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa.
122
Figure 28: Competencies and Aspirations for Filipino Learners
I R AT I O N
ASP S
t Century Sk
1 s ill
2 s
Un
it y
an
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ve
Di
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123
The 21st Century Skills
The 21st Century Skills are the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competencies that learners need to develop so
that they can prepare for and succeed in work and life in the 21st century (DepEd Order No. 21, s. 2019). The
attainment of these skills will assist learners to meet the vision of and aspirations for a Filipino learner and to
thrive in a complex and uncertain world.
The 21st Century Skills in the K to 12 Conceptual Framework comprise the four domains as stipulated in DepEd
Order No. 21, s. 2019:
• Information, media, and technology skills

• Learning and innovation skills
• Communication skills
• Life and career skills
Information, Media, and Technology Skills
This multifaceted domain refers to the ability to effectively, efficiently, and responsibly gather, manage, use,
synthesize, evaluate, and create information through media and technology .
It allows learners to navigate the fluid and dynamic environment of today’s technologically and information-driven
society and empower them to use a plurality of information sources (i.e., private, government, community) and
plurality of voices (i.e., from people of all levels of society) for problem-solving, decision-making, and ideation in
personal, social, economic, and political life.
This domain encompasses the contributory and significant skills applied and required in all academic subjects,
thus challenging learners to sift through, communicate ideas, and utilize this information through ICT, media,
libraries, and archives in a critical, creative, and ethical manner.
This domain also supports and promotes the development of globally competitive Filipinos who can effectively
evaluate materials, information, representations, and perspectives considering the vast amount of information
accessible nowadays.
Learning and Innovation Skills
This is a set of abilities where learners think critically, reflectively, and creatively; analyze and solve problems;
create and implement innovations using a variety of techniques or methods; and generate functional knowledge
that supports varying degrees of thinking skills and metacognition, thereby allowing them to easily navigate and
respond to dynamic, fluid, and complex forces (both internal and external) that significantly affect their well-being.
Communication Skills
This domain puts a premium on communication skills in all forms and contexts including, but not limited to, verbal
and non-verbal communication, active listening, as well as the ability to express feelings and provide feedback.
This domain also covers negotiation skills that directly affect one’s ability to manage conflict.
124
This domain is considered as the gateway to developing soft skills that are highly valued in the workplace and
public life, and are also shaped by current and emerging technologies. Cognizant of the current educational
paradigm, everyone is expected to engage in highly networked collaborations that enable them to demonstrate
communicative competence and multiliteracies.
The knowledge, skills, and competencies that embody communication and collaboration, which include
skilled oral and written communication in the mother tongue and foreign languages; teamwork especially in
heterogeneous environments, open-mindedness, conflict management; cultural awareness and global awareness
(ability to appreciate the value of the varied cultures and to intentionally construct cross-cultural relationships and
networks); and leadership (self-motivation, initiative taking, entrepreneurship, leading by influence), are accounted
for in this domain.
Life and Career Skills
Life and career skills prepare learners to make informed life and career decisions to enable them to become
citizens that engage in a dynamic global community and to successfully adapt to meet the challenges and
opportunities to lead in the global workforce. These are critical for our learners to become active responsible
citizens who hold meaningful and productive jobs and businesses that will contribute to the sustainability and
welfare of the community beyond adversity.
Each of the domains has skills, competencies, values, and attributes that learners are expected to develop as
shown below.
21st Century Skills
Information, Media and Learning and

Communication Skills Life and Career Skills
Technology Skills Innovation Skills
• Visual literacy • Creativity • Teamwork • Informed

• Information literacy • Openness • Collaboration decision-making
• Media literacy • Critical thinking • Interpersonal skills • Adaptive leadership
• Technology literacy • Problem solving • Intrapersonal skills • Intercultural
• Digital literacy • Reflective thinking • Interactive understanding
communication • Self-discipline
• Non-verbal • Future orientation
communication • Resilience and
•Communicating in adversity
diverse environments management
125
It is expected that throughout their education, Filipino learners develop these 21st Century Skills, in addition to
foundational literacy and numeracy skills, and discipline-specific skills/competencies (e.g., scientific literacy).
Together, the 21st Century Skills, foundational skills, and discipline-specific skills/competencies equip Filipino
learners to succeed in the future.
The 21st Century Skills in the K to 12 Conceptual Framework satisfy the following requirements:
• They are transversal in nature, that is, they can be taught and learned within a range of learning areas.
• They are additional to the foundational literacy and numeracy skills and discipline-specific skills/
competencies that are also included in the curriculum.
• They minimize overlap between skills. They are defined in a way that minimizes overlap between the
domains but encompasses similar and related constructs.
• They are skills/competencies rather than outcomes; for example, the outcome of being an entrepreneur
can be attained by drawing on the skills of future orientation/thinking, problem solving, reliance, critical
thinking, etc.
• The skills/competencies were benchmarked against other 21st Century Skill frameworks, including the
UNESCO transversal skills, P21 framework, and ATC21S.
• They are aligned with the Philippines’ core educational goals and the UN Sustainable Development
Goals.
Aspirations for Filipino Learners
Filipino learners will realize their aspirations that represent their ideals and ambitions if they acquire the 21st
Century Skills that will make them thrive in the 21st century and beyond. For every aspiration, there is a domain of
21st century skills envisioned to contribute to its attainment. Such aspiration may also relate to the other domains
of the 21st century skills. These redefine the future of education, skills development, and training in light of the
evolving society and economy.
21st Century Skills Aspirations
Information, Media and Technology Skills Competitiveness

(Visual literacy, Information literacy, Media literacy, Combined knowledge, skills, and attitudes that make
Technology literacy, Digital literacy) an individual productive and highly employable in a
competitive labor market
Learning and Innovation Skills Economic Prosperity

(Creativity, Openness, Critical thinking, Problem Access to decent work opportunities as well as
solving, Reflective thinking) enjoyment of a comfortable standard of living with
basic services made available by the government
due to its sustained and inclusive economic growth
126
Communication Skills Unity in Diversity

(Teamwork, Collaboration, Interpersonal skills, Cooperating, collaborating, and developing shared
Intrapersonal skills, Interactive communication, Non- goals with people from diverse backgrounds and
verbal communication, Communicating in diverse perspectives
environments)
Life and Career Skills National Identity and Nationhood

(Informed decision-making, Adaptive leadership, A collective sense of pride, belonging, and obligation
Intercultural understanding, Self-discipline, Future towards the nation that is derived from a shared
orientation, Resilience and adversity management) culture, history, traditions, language, symbols, and
territory
Flourishing
Highest state of well-being wherein the potentials
of an individual are realized to the fullest, which is
characterized by a sense of meaning and purpose,
having supportive relationships, and contributing to
the welfare of the community
Socio-Political Stability
Strong and peaceful state of social and political
structures
Sustainability
Actions and decisions that meet the needs of
the present while securing the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs
Skills/Competency Clusters
The key competencies of Filipino learners and other related competencies are also organized into clusters that
represent major processes that learners engage in all throughout life, whether for school, work, business, or
beyond. These processes include 1) inquiring and innovating, 2) building connections, 3) staying nimble, 4)
managing oneself, and 5) serving beyond self. The “inquiring and innovating” cluster sums up the cognitive
competencies necessary to develop solutions for improving life conditions and creating economic value. On the
other hand, the cluster for “building connections” represents interpersonal competencies for relating to people,
learning with peers, and working with others. The “staying nimble” cluster is about technological competencies,
nimble mindset, as well as foresight for adapting to challenges, seizing opportunities, and anticipating trends.
The “managing oneself” cluster emphasizes intrapersonal competencies that are critical for reaching individual
potential to the fullest. Lastly, the “serving beyond self” cluster sums up the competencies for rising above
oneself to serve the Filipino nation and humanity.
127
The priority development areas in the BEDP are:
1. Pivoting to quality, ensuring that all learners attain learning standards in every key stage in the K to 12
program.
2. Expanding access to education for groups in situations of disadvantage to ensure inclusive and
equitable quality service delivery.
3. Empowering learners to be resilient and to acquire life skills.
4. Strengthening the promotion of the overall well-being of learners in a positive learning environment
where learners exercise their rights and experience joy, while being aware of their responsibilities as
individuals and as members of society.
Intermediate Outcomes
In order to achieve the Sector outcome, the BEDP includes four pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, and Resilience,
and enabling mechanisms for governance and management. The intermediate outcomes for each pillar and
enabling mechanisms are as follows:137
Pillars Intermediate Outcomes
All school-age children, out-of-school youth, and adults accessed relevant basic
Pillar 1: Access
learning opportunities.
Disadvantaged school-age children and youth, and adults benefited from

Pillar 2: Equity
appropriate equity initiatives.
Learners complete K to 12 basic education, having successfully attained all learning

Pillar 3: Quality standards that equip them with the necessary skills and attributes to pursue their
chosen paths.
Learners are resilient, know their rights, and have the life skills to protect
Pillar 4: Resiliency themselves and claim their education-related rights from DepEd and other duty-
and Well-Being bearers to promote learners’ well-being, while being aware of their responsibilities
as individuals and as members of society.
Enabling Mechanisms:
Modern, efficient, nimble, and resilient governance and management processes.
Governance
137
The order of the intermediate outcomes follows a logical sequencing and does not imply prioritization. DepEd will prioritize the
implementation sequence of the plan according to the budget and country context at the appropriate time
128
Figure 29: Mainstreaming BEDP Strategies in DepEd

GOAL
BEDP Results
Framework
All Filipinos are able to realize their full potential and contribute Overview
SECTOR OUTCOME
Basic education Filipino learners have the physical, cognitive, socio-emotional and moral preparation for civic
participation and engagement in post-secondary opportunities in their local, national and global communities
1. ACCESS 2. EQUITY 3. QUALITY 4. RESILIENCY

& WELL-BEING
All school-age children, out- School-age children and youth, and Learners complete K-12 basic Learners are resilient and know
of-school-youth, and adults adults in situations of disadvantage education, having successfully their rights, and have the life skills
accessed relevant basic learning benefited from appropriate equity attained all learning standards that to protect themselves and their
opportunities initiatives equip them with the necessary rights
skills and attributes to pursue their
SIO#1.1. All five-year-old children SIO#2.1. All school-age children chosen paths SIO#4.1. Learners are served by
attend school and youth, and adults in situations a department that adheres to a
of disadvantage are participating SIO#3.1. Learners attain Stage 1 rights-based education framework
SIO#1.2. All learners stay in school in inclusive basic learning (K-Grade 3) learning standards of at all levels
and finish key stages opportunities and receiving fundamental reading & numeracy
appropriate quality education skills SIO#4.2. Learners are safe
SIO#1.3. All learners transition to and protected, and can protect
the next key stage SIO#3.2. Learners attain Stage 2 themselves, from risks and
(Grades 4-6) learning standards in impacts from natural and human-
SIO#1.4. All out-of-school children required literacy and numeracy induced hazards
and youth participate and complete skills and apply 21st century skills
in formal or non-formal basic to various real-life situations SIO#4.3. Learners have the basic
education learning opportunities physical, mental, and emotional
SIO#3.3. Learners attain Stage 3 fortitude to cope with various
(Grades 7-10) learning standards of challenges in life and to manage
literacy numeracy skills and apply risks
21st century skills to various real-life
situations
SIO#3.4. Learners attain Stage 4

(Grades 11-12) learning standards
equipped with knowledge and 21st
century skills developed in chosen
core, applied and specialized SHS
tracks
SIO#3.5. Learners in the

Alternative Learning System attain
certification as Elementary or
Junior High School completers
ENABLING MECHANISMS- GOVERNANCE

Modern, efficient, nimble, and resilient governance and management processes
EM#1- Education leaders EM#2- All personnel EM#3- Ideal learning EM#4- Internal systems, EM#5- Key stakeholders EM#6- Public and
and managers practice are resilient, competent, environment and and processes are actively collaborate to private education
participative, ethical, and continuously adequate efficient,responsive serve learners better operate under
and inclusive management improving learning resources for modern, and a dynamic and
processes learners improved continuously responsive
improving complementarity
framework
129
5.1. Access to Quality Basic
Education for All
One of the mandates of DepEd is to ensure access to quality basic education for all Filipino children through
compulsory education at the kindergarten, elementary, and secondary levels and free public education in all
these levels. Such education also includes the alternative learning system (ALS) for out-of-school youth and adult
learners. The goal of basic education is to provide them with the skills, knowledge, and values they need to
become caring, self-reliant, productive, and patriotic citizens.
Coverage of basic education is measured by net enrollment rate or participation rate, expressed as the ratio of
enrollment at the right age over the school-age population. The elementary participation rate for the school year
2019–2020 (baseline year) is 94%, indicating that only 6% of children ages 6–11 are not in school at the right age.
In contrast, at the secondary level, the current coverage of basic education for the school year 2019–2020 is only
83%. Participation at the secondary education level has increased from 75.33% in 2016 to 83% in 2019. While
there is still a big gap in the participation rate between elementary and secondary, access to basic education in
the Philippines has improved in the last five years. As a result, more children and youth can avail themselves of
basic education services.
Despite the gains in participation in the last five years, barriers to quality basic education persist. Social and
economic factors such as community and social support, income and employment, and physical resources can
significantly affect participation in basic education. These factors may immediately impact the gains in making
basic education accessible to all school-age children, out-of-school youth, and adults. In addition, in 2020, the
suspension of traditional face-to-face learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic affected learners’ access
to basic education. Notwithstanding this, DepEd will continue to ensure all mechanisms necessary to sustain
learners’ participation are in place and that strategies that will continuously engage learners in the learning
process are strengthened, adapted, and reinvented amidst the pandemic and as we transition to the new normal.
The Intermediate Outcome of the BEDP has been defined as “All school-age children, out-of-school youth, and
adults accessed relevant basic learning opportunities.” To achieve universal coverage in basic education, critical
milestones in access should be fulfilled, which include:
Sub-Intermediate Outcome 1.1: All 5-year-old children attend school
The entry level for basic education in the Philippines is at 5 years old. All 5-year-old children, particularly those
in the poorest households, situations of disadvantage, and underserved areas, are compelled to attend the
kindergarten program. The program promotes physical, social, intellectual, emotional, and skills stimulation
and values formation to sufficiently prepare them for formal elementary schooling. As of SY 2019–2020, the
participation rate of 5-year-old children was at 64%. This indicates that 4 out of 10 5-year-old children are still not
in school or not in school at the right age. One of the main contributors to very low intake in kindergarten is the
unrecognized and undocumented schools offering the kindergarten program. In addition, there is a
proliferation of groups or individuals providing kindergarten services in the urban areas, especially in subdivisions
(private villages) that DepEd does not recognize. In the rural setting, access to the kindergarten program is
provided by faith-based and NGO-run schools. Faith-based and NGO-run schools operate in hard-to-reach areas
130
or in areas not reached by public schools. However, most kindergarten completers in these schools are having
difficulty transitioning to Grade 1 because these schools do not have the permit to operate. A low intake rate at
the kindergarten level will impact participation at the elementary level. At the end of 2030, DepEd aims to achieve
universal coverage of all 5-year-old children in the Philippines and to ensure a smooth transition to Grade 1.
Strategy #1: Improve access to universal kindergarten education
The strategic entry point for addressing universal coverage of learners includes the kindergarten program, public
and private school complementarity, and making schools and CLCs more accessible. As the entry point of basic
education, DepEd’s strategies on access will address the bottlenecks resulting from the changing policy on the
cut-off age and enrollment deadlines, and issues affecting DepEd’s operations concerning Kindergarten including
better transition from pre-school/child development centers and stronger coordination with LGUs to support the
transition in consonance with the ECCD Strategic Plan 2021 approved by the ECCD Council. DepEd Central Office
will capacitate DepEd field units to improve their ability to quality assure public and private kindergarten programs
and facilities, including faith-based and NGO-run kindergarten schools, to map 5-year old children and to advocate
for universal kindergarten in five years.
Outputs:
• Standards on kindergarten facilities developed and implemented (include facilities, LR, teachers and
other components);
• Operational Guidelines on parental engagement in Kindergarten developed and implemented;
• Tripartite partnership with Barangay LGUs, pre-school centers, and public schools strengthened;
• DepEd’s acceleration policy developed and implemented;
• Existing Catchup program for five-year-old children or above not attending kindergarten reviewed and
reformulated;
• Strategy for mapping whereabouts of 5-year-old children developed and implemented in schools; and
• Research studies on the effectivity of stakeholders’ involvement in strengthening the kindergarten
program completed.
Sub-Intermediate Outcome 1.2: All learners stay in school and finish key stages
One of the important milestones to achieve universal coverage is to ensure all learners in school will continue
to stay in school and participate actively in the teaching and learning process. Operationally, DepEd schools will
aim for zero dropouts and zero school leavers. DepEd aims to provide a nurturing environment where the eight
capabilities of the learners (as stated in Section 5: Strategic framework) are developed so children and youth can
achieve their full potential and become well-rounded and happy learners. However, the suspension of face-to-
face learning (SY 2020–2021) due to the COVID-19 pandemic makes it particularly difficult for learners to stay and
participate meaningfully in the teaching and learning process. This means DepEd needs to exert extra effort to
facilitate learners’ continuing education and ability to stay in school and finish key stages despite the challenges in
the past 12 months. Moreover, children consulted in the BEDP elaboration have expressed their strong desire to
have a bully-free school, as many dropouts were due to discrimination and bullying.
131
Strategy #2: Improve learners’ access to quality and rights-upholding learning environment
Learners’ access to a quality and child-friendly and rights-upholding environment continues to be a priority of
DepEd. While the suspension of in-person schooling adversely affected enrollment especially in the private
sector, learning modality shifted to distance education using modular and digital platforms. Specifically, DepEd
implemented the Basic Education- Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) to continue providing learners access
to quality learning through the use of learning modules in digital and printed form, radio, television, and the
internet. DepEd’s experience in delivering online and blended learning resulting from the lockdowns will be
revisited and designed as a viable alternative for making basic education accessible to all learners.
With the eventual return to face-to-face learning, DepEd will continue to improve learners’ access to quality
and child-friendly and rights-upholding learning environments, possibly in a blended approach. The focus will
be on improving classroom shortages in NCR and Region IV-A (Elementary) and NCR, Region IV-A, Region XI,
and Region IV (Junior High School), with high shortages, and as well as improving access to online platforms
and other distance learning modalities. To sustain learners’ participation in school, access to learning materials,
laboratories, and health and sanitation facilities will continue to be improved. Programs capacitating teachers
to promote learners’ physical and emotional development will also be enhanced, including capability building
of region and division supervisors on materials development. To ensure operational efficiency, critical support
systems including quality assurance of manuscripts, tracking or monitoring the utilization of learning materials,
and quality control mechanisms for minimizing errors in the learning materials will be prioritized.
Outputs:
• Digital materials for all learning areas developed and made accessible to target learners;
• All schools provided with library and science laboratories;
• Schools implemented feeding program for targeted learners;
• Health and teaching personnel trained on appropriate school health and nutrition standards;
• More schools with health and sanitation facilities;
• More schools implementing learners’ mental health and psychosocial programs; and
• More schools with ideal classroom to student ratio at the Elementary and Secondary levels.
Strategy #3: Improve capacity to retain learners in schools
Dropouts in Kindergarten and Grade 1 represent 50% of the dropouts in elementary, while Grades 7 to 9 account
for 75% of the dropouts in secondary. Current retention strategies especially addressing these grade levels will
be revisited to address the challenges or difficulties faced by learners to stay in school. Making schools available,
especially at the JHS and SHS levels, are very important in improving the transition of elementary learners to
secondary. DepEd will improve its capacities to overcome the limitations revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic to
do online learning and showcase the potential of online and blended learning.
Outputs:
• Teachers and learning facilitators capacitated to implement remediation programs and management of
learners at risk of dropping out;
• More schools implementing school-initiated interventions using flexible learning options;
• Schools implementing remediation programs for struggling learners; and
• Counseling services for all students to address individual concerns provided in all schools.
132
Sub-Intermediate Outcome 1.3: All learners transition to the next key stage
The transition from one key stage to a higher key stage represents a major milestone for learners. From a
learners’ perspective, transition represents changes in the learning environment and uncertainty. As observed,
around 10% of Grade 6 completers failed to transition to Grade 7. Learners who could not transition to the next
level often come from areas where there is no nearby Junior High School (JHS) or Secondary High School (SHS).
Low turnout or transition from Grade 6 to 7 and Grade 10 to 11 affects universal coverage of basic education.
Strategy #4: Strengthen schools’ capacity to ensure learners’ continuity to next stage
The low ratio between public elementary and public secondary schools is a major bottleneck for elementary
completers transitioning to the next stage. In most cases, there is only one national high school in every
municipality in the Philippines. Incoming Grade 7 learners may come from three to four elementary schools.
Private schools that are operated by religious organizations and non-government organizations provide educational
services to learners in hard-to-reach areas. At the JHS and SHS level, additional efforts to strengthen public-
private school complementarity will be put in place, especially in providing access to more modern and equipped
facilities for learners in public schools. The establishment of integrated schools and new schools and CLCs,
particularly in hard-to-reach areas, will be considered.
In 2016, the government relied heavily on private schools to ensure the continuity of JHS completers from public
schools. Support to private schools continues to be a viable strategy in providing access to quality basic education
for learners in the secondary level. Assistance to private schools will be reviewed and improved, particularly the
process of disbursements and communications campaigns. DepEd will strengthen coordination in SHS offerings
to avoid unnecessary competition of learners in many locations. DepEd will also review the issues on transferees
(to public schools) with unpaid fees.
Outputs:
• Integrated public schools established in areas where access to JHS and SHS is difficult;
• Incomplete primary schools converted into complete multigrade schools;
• New secondary schools established in areas with less access to secondary education;
• More private schools participating in the Education Service Contracting scheme;
• SHS course offerings are within standards;
• SHS facilities provided are within standards; and
• Tool for tracing learners’ completing basic education including ALS learners is developed and
operational.
Capacities of schools to facilitate learners’ transition to new learning environments involve strengthening the
academic and guidance and support skills of teachers in the higher level. Secondary teachers’ understanding of
the competencies of incoming learners and how they are taught will play a critical role in the process of transition.
The ability of teachers to bridge the learning gaps, including adjusting teachers’ teaching and assessment styles,
is critical to helping the Grade 7/Grade 11 learners. In addition, schools must be able to implement bridging
strategies for JHS and SHS learners with reading comprehension difficulties as these will affect their ability to
comprehend and apply critical concepts and principles. Recent data show dropouts are highest in Grade 7 and
Grade 8.
133
Transition is also affected by the learners’ backgrounds and situations. The guidance and support skills of schools
and teachers to help Grade 7 and Grade 8 learners adjust to their new situation will also facilitate the bridging
process.
Learners in JHS are in the adolescent years and are undergoing physical, social, and mental changes. Creating a
conducive social school environment improves retention and may help improve the mental health of learners.
Outputs:
• Coordination mechanism between elementary and secondary schools established;
• Mechanism for strengthening the curriculum link between elementary and secondary established and
operational;
• Secondary schools implemented bridging strategies to address learning gaps;
• Teachers trained on identifying learning gaps and remediation strategies; and
• Improved counselling services of schools to address learners’ concerns implemented.
Sub-Intermediate Outcome 1.4: All out-of-school children and youth participate in formal or non-formal
basic education learning opportunities
The last critical milestone for universal coverage focuses on OSC, OSY, and out-of-school adults (OSA). The
COVID-19 lockdown, volcanic eruption, and series of destructive typhoons may have forced many learners to
drop out of school. Amidst the challenges to participation of OSC and OSY, DepEd aims to ensure all OSC, OSY,
and OSA are able to participate in relevant basic learning opportunities. Purposive efforts will be undertaken to
address these target groups and bring them back to formal schools or through
the Alternative Learning System (ALS), as addressing the unique needs and challenges of OSC, OSY, and OSA
requires deliberate programming.
Strategy #5: Strengthen mechanisms for providing access to relevant basic opportunities for OSC and
OSY, and OSA
DepEd will provide a platform for OSC, OSY, and OSA to participate in the teaching and learning process. Priority
initiatives include capacity building of schools and learning centers to locate the whereabouts of OSC, OSY, and
OSA; expanding access through online teaching platforms; strategic placement of learning centers in areas with a
high incidence of OSC, OSY, and OSA; deployment of more ALS teachers and non-DepEd service contracts; and
strengthening the ability to do monitoring and evaluation work including managing databases and M&E processes
and techniques. Alternative Deliver Modes (ADM) will also be available in all grade levels using the K to 12
curriculum.
DepEd’s capacity to locate, monitor, and trace OSC, OSY, and OSA will be enhanced. Strategies include
strengthening ALS’ capability to conduct literacy mapping; implementing a unified M&E system specific
to addressing OSC, OSY, and OSA; engaging stakeholders and service providers; and tracing ALS learners’
whereabouts after successfully completing ALS requirements.
134
Outputs:
• Literacy mapping strategy for identifying OSC, OSY and OSA developed and implemented in divisions
and districts;
• ALS teachers, community ALS implementors, and learning facilitators trained to use online teaching
platforms;
• ALS teachers are deployed in high demand areas;
• New community learning centers (CLCs) are operational in high demand areas;
• Access to print and non-print learning resources in the CLCs improved;
• Selected CLCs are equipped with appropriate learning facilities;
• Service contracting and engagement of non-DepEd ALS providers are expanded;
• ALS internal stakeholders’ access to training on ALS program implementation improved;
• ALS external stakeholders on ALS program implementation improved; and
• ALS M&E system and processes aligned with Basic Education Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
developed and operational in all governance levels.
135
5.2. Equity for Children, Youth, and Adults
in Situations of Disadvantage
By law, every Filipino has a right to accessible quality basic education and free public basic education. The
Philippines committed to the 2030 Agenda, in which document SDG4 aims to achieve education for all by 2030,
with a strong emphasis on equity. This is further highlighted by DepEd’s commitment to the principle of inclusion
as stated in DepEd Order No. 21, s. 2019, Annex 5, where DepEd recognizes the diversity of the country’s
learners, schools, and communities.
“The principle of inclusion promotes institutional sensitivity and responsiveness to the nature, situation, and
realities of our country’s learners and directs the Department to proactively address these through the curriculum
and other interventions” (DO 21, s. 2019, Annex 5, page 141).
However, as shown in section 3.1, in the Philippines there are still children and youth in situations of
disadvantage,138 who are not in school or are at risk of being left behind; who may be overlooked by policymakers;
and in many cases, even if they are in school, whose rights and specific needs are not adequately considered by
the education system. Moreover, the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic could be exacerbating disparities among
children and youth.
The Philippines has long been advancing the rights and protection for persons or groups in situations of
disadvantage in terms of the legal environment. DepEd has established affirmative action initiatives in response
to the existing inequalities, recognizing that there are children, youth, and adults who have experienced societal
exclusion and/or may be in particular circumstances that put them in situations of disadvantage in terms of
education services compared to others. This Plan is evidence of DepEd’s more profound commitment to
improving the education situation of those left behind in previous years. To realize the right to education without
discrimination and based on equal opportunity, DepEd, embracing a rights-based approach to education, will
ensure a more inclusive education system. To achieve the national and international commitments in favor of a
more equitable education system, DepEd will ensure that the right to education is guaranteed for all school-age
Filipinos. In particular, it will emphasize the protection and fulfillment of the rights of those in circumstances of
disadvantage.
138
In the BEDP, the term “situations of disadvantage” refers to the following circumstances that children, youth, and adults encounter
or are in:
- They live in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA), or/and
- They attend (or could attend) a school included in Last Mile Schools, or/and
- They have disabilities, or/and
- They are asylum seekers, refugees, stateless persons, or/and,
- They are persons of concern (POC), or/and
- They belong to groups that continue to experience various forms of collective exclusion or marginalization because of their identity (for
instance, indigenous peoples and some Muslim communities), or/and
- They are at risk of dropping out (considering the categories established by the ADM programs), or/and.
- They are below the poverty line, beneficiaries of the 4Ps program.
136
The Intermediate Outcome #2 of the BEDP has been defined as “School-age children and youth and adults in
situations of disadvantage benefited from appropriate equity initiatives.” Adding a specific intermediate outcome
on Equity139 in the strategic framework of the BEDP is one of the added values of this Plan and emphasizes
DepEd’s commitment to put into practice an inclusive approach and to ensure that in the next decade, decisive
efforts will be undertaken to fulfill the right to quality education of all children and youth in the Philippines,
including those living in situations of disadvantage. This intermediate outcome on Equity will promote DepEd’s
thrust of equitable and inclusive education in the Philippines and will allow DepEd to be provided with new tools,
new data, and human and financial resources to make sure no child nor youth is left behind in the education
system.
The pillar on Equity focuses on one sub-intermediate outcome:
1. Sub-Intermediate Outcome #2.1- All school-age children and youth and adults in situations of disadvantage are
participating in inclusive basic learning opportunities and receiving appropriate quality education.
Through these outcomes, DepEd undertakes initiatives to provide schooling to many more children and youth in
situations of disadvantage, regardless of gender, abilities, psycho-emotional and physical conditions, cultural and
religious identity, and socio-economic standing. DepEd also commits to providing appropriate quality education to
those learners in situations of disadvantage to reach their full potential as active members of their communities
and the Philippine society.
To achieve these outcomes, DepEd will implement the following strategies:
Strategy #1: Improve program management and service delivery
The centrality of Equity in the BEDP, as one of its four pillars, requires that DepEd carry out in-depth situation
analyses of the contexts of school-age children and youth in situations of disadvantage and those not in such
situations, particularly the dynamics of and nature of exclusion. A better understanding of the barriers they face
to access education, their struggle to get an inclusive and contextualized education, and their claims in terms of
their rights and underserved needs, will allow DepEd to elaborate more adapted plans, programs, and projects.
Undertaken and generated through dialogue with the children, youth, and communities who are directly affected,
these situation analyses serve as basis for the co-creation of long-term directions, standards, policies, and other
key equity milestones, thereby concretizing inclusive education and the practice of the rights-based approach.
As this is a collective effort of DepEd, the policies, guidelines, standards, and planning documents elaborated
at the central, region, division, and school level will be aligned with the BEDP and therefore will incorporate an
equity approach to respond to the rights and needs of school-age children and youth and adults in situations of
disadvantage. This equity approach implies that all levels of governance in DepEd will make additional efforts to
bring out-of-school children and youth who are in situations of disadvantage to schools and CLCs, and to make
them rights-upholding schools and CLCs that are sensitive towards the rights of children and youth in situations
of disadvantage.
142
Following DO 21, s. 2019, “Equity refers to the value of securing the right to education of all learners, and their rights within and through
education to realize their potentials and aspirations.”
137
The “Child Find program” will be strengthened to help identify out-of-school children and youth with disabilities
so they can be integrated in the education system.140
The development of equity approaches can only be effectively undertaken by DepEd personnel who are
themselves advocates of inclusion as an institutional obligation of DepEd as duty-bearer, principle, and
perspective and are capable of translating this into policies and practices, thereby concretizing inclusive
education. These equity-promoting program management competencies need to be incorporated in the Learning
and Development plans of all DepEd offices, especially in schools and CLCs. The instructional supervision of
inclusion programs will be strengthened with a coaching and mentoring approach.
In order to implement evidence-based policies, DepEd will reinforce the Enhanced Basic Education Information
System (EBEIS) so data related to groups in situations of disadvantage can be further collected and enhanced.
The M&E Framework in Section 8 includes new indicators to measure progress in the participation and learning
outcomes of groups in situations of disadvantage.
Outputs:
• On improving the situation analysis of school-age children and youth and adults in situations of
disadvantage, including barriers to education:
• Coordination with LGUs and barangay officials on data gathering and analysis towards explicit solutions
to identified barriers to education implemented;
• Mechanism for the enrollment of pre-identified children with disabilities in Kindergarten between and
among ECCD, DSWD, NGOs, and DepEd implemented;
• 10-year Program Assessment of IPEd completed; and
• Baseline information on the needs of all types of learners in disadvantage completed.
• On formulating policies and standards to promote responsiveness of DepEd systems and processes
to learners in situations of disadvantage:
• Policies, standards, and program management on programs responsive to the needs of all types of
learners are developed and implemented; and
• Learning and Development Plan for the capacity development of personnel involved in IPEd
implemented.
• On developing evidence-based regional policies, guidelines, and standards with an equity approach:
• Rights-based and culture-sensitive planning and M&E at various governance levels for IPEd formulated
and implemented;
• Governance framework and partnership mechanisms for IPEd across governance levels developed and
implemented; and
• Program approaches and strategies for various typologies of IPEd-implementing schools formulated
and implemented.
140
According to DepEd Order No. 72, s. 2009, Child Find allows to locate CWD “through the family mapping survey, advocacy campaigns
and networking with local health workers.”
138
• On training school personnel and community learning facilitators on inclusive practices adapted to
learners in situations of disadvantage;
• Teaching, non-teaching, and stakeholders trained on inclusive education; and
• Program approaches and strategies for various typologies of IPEd-implementing schools formulated
and implemented.
• On strengthening instructional supervision of inclusion initiatives:

• Monitoring and Evaluation policy and mechanism on inclusive education developed and implemented.
Strategy #2: Provide an inclusive, effective, culturally responsive, gender-sensitive, and safe learning
environment to respond to the situations of disadvantage
As stated in DO 21, s. 2019, “K to 12 [curriculum] recognizes and values the diverse contexts of learners,
schools, and communities, and this diversity guides the design of delivery of basic education programs and
interventions.” To respond to that diversity, DepEd will set mechanisms to provide learning environments that
recognize and promote the diverse contexts of the learners. DepEd adopts an approach of inclusive education
in which all children learn together in the same schools and CLCs and this implies that additional standards and
policies will set the foundations to promote inclusion, safety, and respect for diversity in schools and CLCs.
Physical infrastructures and facilities will be adapted to make them fully accessible to learners with disabilities
and congruent with the ecological and cultural context of the communities where these are located. Appropriate
learners’ support services including, but not limited to, health, WASH, and nutrition facilities; and youth formation
initiatives will be designed or adapted to respect the rights and address particular needs and contexts of school-
age children and youth and adults in situations of disadvantage.
Outputs:
• On developing and enhancing standards and policies on inclusive and safe learning environments:
• Policies and standards for safe and accessible learning environments for learners with different learning
needs implemented; and
• Contextualized rural farm schools established.
• On improving the physical infrastructure and facilities of schools and CLCs to make them accessible
to learners with disabilities and appropriate to the ecological and socio-cultural context of the
community:
• One Community Learning Center (CLC) per barangay established.
• On customizing learner support services as appropriate to school-age children and youth and adults
in situations of disadvantage, including customized health, WASH, and nutrition facilities:
• Inclusive Learning Resource Center established; and
• Learner support services appropriate for learners with different learning needs implemented.
Strategy #3: Improve gender-sensitive contextualized curriculum and learning delivery
The current pandemic has shown the importance of making blended learning modalities available to all learners.
The design of these modalities will consider the particular context of children and youth who, for instance, do not
have access to computers, internet connectivity, or devices adapted to their situation. DepEd personnel will need
to be better prepared to respond to these challenges.
139
The curriculum at all key stages will be contextualized to better respond to the diverse situations of disadvantage
experienced by children, youth, and adults. Accordingly, teaching personnel in formal and non-formal education
will improve their professional standards.
Some programs to address the concerns of school-age children and youth and adults in situations of disadvantage
are still pending institutionalization and will be regulated in the first years of implementation of the BEDP. The
recent approval of the ALS Act will allow the various ALS programs to be institutionalized so more out-of-school
youth can be enrolled in non-formal education secondary programs.
Outputs:
• On customizing learning delivery modalities appropriate to the contexts of school-age children and
youth and adults in situations of disadvantage:
• Standards, processes, and protocols for the contextualization of the curriculum, and learning delivery
for inclusive education developed and implemented; and
• Programs to address gender-disparities among children are developed and implemented.
Strategy #4: Enhance DepEd platforms for learning resources
Learning resources for all platforms will be contextualized to respond to the different situations in which children
and youth access education. DepEd will adapt teaching and learning resources to be made available for learners
with disabilities and will also ensure that these are respectful of and responsive to the country’s cultural diversity,
mindful of avoiding stereotypes that could undermine the rights of the school-age children and youth and adults in
situations of disadvantage.
To ensure systematized implementation of these equity considerations, standards and protocols in the production
of learning resources will be put in place. Limitations and exceptions to copyright, as provided by laws and rules
to produce assessable format learning resources to benefit learners and personnel with disabilities, will be availed
and maximized.141 Resources will also be appropriately allocated to ensure provision of these to targeted learners.
The use of available resources within the community will also be maximized, especially the resources to enhance
daily life skills like communication development, self-care skills, and socio-emotional skills.
Outputs:
• On enhancing learning resource standards for all platforms and types of learning resources
responsive to the context of each group in situations of disadvantage:
• Standards, processes, and protocols for the contextualization of learning resources for inclusive
education implemented.
141
See RA 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, as amended by RA 10372.
140
• On strengthening and improving ICT platforms:

• DepEd ICT platforms and facilities with accessibility features for inclusive education are provided.
• On increasing the number of teachers and learners with a complete set of inclusive education
teaching and learning resources:
• Standard, processes and protocols for the contextualization of the curriculum, learning delivery, and
learning resources for IPEd (for both formal and ALS) formulated.
Strategy #5: Promote partnerships to benefit education for learners in situations of disadvantage
Consistent with the rights-based approach, DepEd will put in place dialogue mechanisms and platforms
of partnership with the rights-holders themselves—communities and individuals who are in situations of
disadvantage—and ensure their participation in direction setting, formulation of standards, planning and
implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of DepEd’s initiatives related to them. This will include responsive
feedback mechanisms to address concerns and grievances that may arise in implementation of initiatives.
Complementing this partnership with rights-holders and in addition to the interventions directly implemented
by DepEd offices (at central and decentralized levels), a wide range of stakeholders will be involved in improving
the education provided to disadvantaged children and youth. A holistic and rights-based approach to partnership
among DepEd, rights-holders, and other stakeholders will be formulated and will translate to the above-
mentioned improvements in pedagogic aspects, as well as in health, nutrition, psycho-social support, and other
interventions to ensure that children and youth in situations of disadvantage receive an appropriate and inclusive
education.
Outputs:
• On developing a communication and advocacy plan for programs addressing concerns of learners in
situations of disadvantage:
• Communication and advocacy plans for inclusive education are implemented.
• On engaging non-DepEd providers of education for groups in situations of disadvantage:

• Partnership with external providers of inclusive education forged;
• Standards and protocols for the engagement of stakeholders in support of inclusive education
formulated; and
• Involvement of the community in the implementation of the different learning modalities.
141
5.3. Quality of Education Provision
and Learning Outcomes
Section 3.2 discussed the strategies used by DepEd for monitoring and evaluating the learning that takes place
in Philippine schools. The learning outcomes defined as having been met by the end of Grade 12 determine the
quality of an education system as shown by the following intermediate outcome:
Intermediate Outcome: Learners complete K to 12 basic education, having attained all learning standards that
equip them with the necessary skills and attributes and are confident to pursue their chosen paths.
Each of the four key learning stages within the K to 12 program has its own set of learning standards that align
with the maturity and expected capacities of learners, and the knowledge and skills achieved at each stage
accumulate as defined in the following sub-intermediate outcomes:
• Sub-Intermediate Outcome #3.1: Learners attain Stage 1 (K to Grade 3) learning standards of

fundamental reading and numeracy skills to provide a basis for success in the remaining learning
stages;
• Sub-Intermediate Outcome #3.2: Learners attain Stage 2 (Grades 4–6) learning standards in required
literacy and numeracy skills and apply 21st century skills to various real-life situations;
• Sub-Intermediate Outcome #3.3: Learners attain Stage 3 (Grades 7–10) learning standards of literacy
and numeracy skills and apply 21st century skills to various real-life situations;
• Sub-Intermediate Outcome #3.4: Learners attain Stage 4 (Grades 11–12) learning standards equipped
with knowledge and 21st century skills developed in chosen core, applied, and specialized SHS tracks;
• Sub-Intermediate Outcome #3.5: Learners in the Alternative Learning System attain certification as
Elementary or Junior High School and Senior High School completers.
The following five strategies are intended to achieve the outcomes of schooling as shown above.
Strategy #1: Ensure alignment of the curriculum, instruction, and classroom assessment methods in all
learning areas
Student learning outcomes are statements of what a learner is expected to know, understand, and be able to
demonstrate after completion of a process of learning, so it is essential that all syllabus standards are written
in this form. It has important implications for student-based learning, especially in remote learning contexts,
because learning outcomes expressed in this way allow learners to monitor their own progress and determine
for themselves the standard that they hope to achieve. Learning outcomes expressed in this way are especially
relevant for the inclusion of the 21st century skills of problem-solving, information literacy, and critical thinking in
all key subjects of the curriculum. However, there are still many challenges for teachers in developing technical
competencies to integrate 21st century skills across all learning areas,142 as well as changing the framework of
curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment. Pre-service teacher education must link closely to the practices being
followed in schools, so it is essential that regular consultation between teacher education institutions (TEIs) and
curriculum planners takes place and new teachers are prepared accordingly. DepEd will provide a sufficiently
challenging curriculum in all domains, including cognitive, affective, and psychomotor for gifted and talented
learners.
145
UNESCO. Assessment of Transversal Competencies: Policy and Practice in the Asia-Pacific region.
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000368479
142
Outputs:
• Curriculum guides reflecting the socio-emotional and 21st century skills including the appropriate
learning approaches and assessment are developed, disseminated, and implemented;
• Sustainable Development Goals and human rights, including but not limited to children’s rights,
integrated in relevant subjects as early as Stage 1 and until Stage 4;
• Policies and standards on Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education issued and
implemented; and
• Policies, standards, and program management on curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular developed
and implemented.
Strategy #2: : Align resource provision with key stage learning standards
The COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, which prevented all face-to-face teaching in all Philippine public and
private schools for a period of time, required both systems to make a rapid transition to distance learning
modalities through the use of print (photocopied modular materials), audio-visual media (radio and television), and
online delivery through the internet. Strategies for providing computer hardware and software, supportive digital
devices, and both electric power and sufficient internet bandwidth connectivity, especially in rural and remote
schools, became essential to support a successful shift to digital education, particularly for those learners lacking
resources at home. A priority for DepEd is to undertake a mapping of both onsite and offsite learning resources
of schools, teachers, and learners across all divisions so that a framework for a flexible learning future can be
developed that includes facilities for all learners whether at school or some other remote site. Subsidizing the
high costs of both internet connection for users along with other remote learning arrangements (photocopying
costs for printed materials) has become an additional priority. It is essential that resources for Stage 1 learners are
provided as a priority since these learners lack the self-learning capacity and require direct support from teachers
and parents to ensure that basic knowledge and skills are provided for them so that they do not slip behind.
Accompanying all shifts to digital learning is the provision of programs for teachers and learners on digital risk
management and enhanced capacity on safe and responsible digital use to minimize cyber threats to learners’
and teachers’ needs.
Outputs:
• Learning resources for learning standards reflecting the socio-emotional and 21st century skills
provided;
• System for the management of learning resources developed and implemented;
• System for quality assurance of learning resources developed and implemented;
• Researches on curriculum standards, learning management, and learning resources and services
completed and disseminated; and
• Guidelines on safe use of technology in the teaching and learning process formulated and
implemented.
143
Strategy #3: Assess learning outcomes at each key stage transition and for learners in situations of
disadvantage
The Early Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA) to be administered at end of Grade 3 (Stage
1) is the first of three key national achievement tests (NAT) to be administered at the transition points between
Stages 1 and 2, Stages 2 and 3, and Stages 3 and 4. ELLNA and the three NAT tests provide system assessment
snapshots for DepEd through the Bureau of Education Assessment (BEA) to monitor the national achievement
of learning competencies. ELLNA measures Reading and Listening Comprehension at Grade 3 and is the only
test that can be taken in any of the 20 separate mother tongues (including Tagalog) that are currently offered as
part of the MTB-MLE program. Additional MTs may be offered in future years. The 4th NAT or Basic Education Exit
Assessment (BEEA) administered near the end of Stage 4 provides a measure of the learning outcomes over the
whole of the K to 12 program and before graduates move on to post-secondary options of higher education, TVET,
employment, entrepreneurial, or other activity. DepEd is considering replacing the stratified sampling coverage
of the NAT tests with census-based national tests that provide school-based data on students’ learning progress
along with data that can be disaggregated to show gender, class, school, division, and regional differences so that
centers of high performance or under-performance can be more readily identified. Once census-based national
tests are reintroduced, the results will be disseminated to all schools in a timely manner so that feedback about
test performance is provided for schools.
All assessments at Grades 6, 10, and 12 are inclusive for all learners and are adapted for learners with special
needs. The International Large-Scale Assessments (ILSAs) of TIMMS, SEA-PLM, and PISA are administered at
periodic intervals to designated stratified samples of learners and provide an independent benchmark of the
Philippines’ learning proficiency that can be compared to other countries in the ASEAN network and beyond.
DepEd will determine which of the ILSAs it will consistently participate in.
An important additional testing protocol used in the education sector is a psychometric test in Grade 9 that
provides career aptitude assessment for learners. A new and systematic tracking of Grade 12 graduates to gather
data about their post-secondary destinations is proposed as an important marker of how successful the K to 12
program is in preparing graduates for future options. The tracking option should also be extended to learners who
exit at Grade 9, 10, or 11.
The Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) tests for out-of-school learners who complete the Elementary and
Secondary Level ALS programs provide certification of completion of studies, and these credentials can be
used to reenter formal schooling or for accredited entry to TVET or other career pathways. In addition to
the A&E tests, DepEd will continue to explore innovative assessment methods for ALS learners, including
authentic assessments such as portfolio-based assessment, project-based assessment and performance-based
assessment (e.g., writing essay), along with the micro-certification of acquired competencies to help them gain
better employment opportunities.
Having a national census-based pool of student assessment data obtained at the end of each of the 4 stages of
learning will permit the creation of predictive models of student readiness, achievement, and literacy levels
for elementary and JHS as well as work readiness for SHS graduates. These predictive models will make use of
innovations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and analytics to provide useful models for future planning
approaches.
144
Outputs:
• Revised National Assessment Framework developed and implemented;
• Revised assessment programs with design, tools, administration procedures and guidelines developed
and implemented;
• Mechanisms for aggregation of classroom assessment for division-wide learning assessments in place
and operational;
• Tools and mechanism on use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and analytics for creating
predictive models of student readiness, achievement, literacy level, SHS track, and work readiness
developed and implemented;
• System for monitoring Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) level 1 (JHS certificates) and Level 2
(SHS diploma) in the qualifications registry (including the National Competency Standards) presented
for consideration by the PQF National Coordinating Council; and
• Analytical reports on the results of national and international assessments completed and
disseminated.
Strategy #4: Strengthen competence of teachers and instructional leaders in areas such as content
knowledge and pedagogy/instruction, curriculum and planning, responding to learner diversity, and
assessment and reporting
The assessment of student learning is now a greater focus than before for CPD because of the shift away
from content-based teaching and learning in the classroom towards the acquisition of the 21st century skills
of problem- solving, information literacy, and critical thinking. This CPD may take many forms including school-
based professional development using the learning action cell (LAC) approach within each school where the
school staff meets together to reflect on current strategies, plan for better sharing of resources and ideas, and
focus CPD in areas of need identified by the group. Teachers need additional capacity building in using classroom-
based formative assessment of learners since this is a critical strategy for monitoring learning and assessing
understanding. Teachers also need strengthened capacity to use authentic assessments (portfolio, performance-
based, project-based) as well as test instruments. Robust teachers’ needs analysis conducted by school
principals can be identified and targeted by teacher mentoring programs conducted by key school-based mentors
or by division officers whose role is to support school improvement in their divisions and regions. Schools division
offices can also mentor elementary schools in the use of the multi-factored assessment tool (MFAT) so that
designated teachers are able to administer the tool to Grade 1 learners soon after the start of the school year.
Outputs:
• Professional development programs for teachers developed and implemented in identified priority areas
such as, but not limited to:
• Socio-emotional and 21st century skills
• Learning approaches and learning modalities
• Assessment
• Program management on curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular; and
• Professional development programs for instructional leaders (MTs, SHs, PSDS, EPS) to support teacher
PD in various priority areas.
145
Strategy #5: Ensure alignment of curriculum, instruction and assessment with current and emerging
industry and global standards
The roles for both regional and schools division offices in assessing student learning have been reduced since
SY 2012–2013 because of the national regulation discontinuing the conduct of regional (RAT) and division (DAT)
achievement tests. However, the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) initiated following the school closures has
provided the opportunity for the restoration of both regional and schools division tests and the introduction of the
Learning Management System (LMS) that has been enhanced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This offers
an important role for the Quality Assurance Division (QAD) at regional level to monitor both the extent of usage of
the LMS and moderate assessment procedures across all divisions.
The LMS is a software that allows teachers and school heads to create virtual classes where they can assign the
activities that the learners need to go through, monitor whether activities have been completed, submit grades,
and conduct online quizzes to assess comprehension where face-to-face classes are not allowed. Unfortunately,
the LMS is applicable only to learners who have access to laptops or desktops and the internet. Since it is not
feasible to expect all public-school learners to have such access, the LMS has been adjusted to permit access to
web-based learning through smartphones, which have a much higher usage rate among public school learners.
Through this means, DepEd can make web-based learning as widely available as possible. An additional important
role for the LMS is to expose learners to computer-based tests with type questions that resemble those
encountered in the ILSAs.
The effective use of the LMS demands a capacity of both regional and schools division field offices to administer
the systematic measuring of learning outcomes across all schools and to consolidate this data for reporting
it within the framework of an effective M&E system. The ability of all SDOs to track schools’ implementation of
the curriculum will be strengthened. Leading indicators such as competencies covered, contact time, and
competencies mastered will provide SDOs with predictive data on learners performance. A system for monitoring
curriculum implementation will be developed and operationalized at the SDO level. The system will provide the
Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) with a platform for systematically tracking schools’ implementation of
the curriculum and a venue to immediately respond to school heads’ need for technical support on instructional
supervision.
Outputs:
• Policy, platforms, and mechanism for consultations on curriculum, instruction, and assessment
• Policy on alignment between TEI curriculum and school curriculum issued and implemented; and
• Policy and mechanism for tertiary schools on providing the results of college readiness assessment of
SHS graduates established.
146
5.4. Learners’ Resiliency and Well-Being
The Intermediate Outcome #4, for the Pillar on Learners’ Resiliency and Well-Being, is defined as “Learners are
resilient and know their rights and have the life skills to protect themselves and claim their education-related
rights from DepEd and other duty-bearers to promote learners’ well-being, even as they are aware of their
responsibilities as individuals and as members of society.”
DepEd as a duty-bearer, has a legal obligation, under the Philippine Constitution,143 national laws,144 national
commitments,145 international law,146 and international commitments147 to respect, protect, fulfill, and promote
the broad range of inter-dependent children’s148 and learners’ rights not only to accessible and quality education
but also the rights in education including, but not limited to, the right against discrimination,149 right to health,150
right to participation or the right of a child capable of forming an opinion to have one’s views heard and seriously
considered in accordance with his/her age and maturity,151 right to religion,152 right to rest and play,153 and right to
protection against all forms of violence,154 which are categorized within the three inter-dependent dimensions of
rights-based education: the right to access to education, the right to quality education, and the right to respect in
the learning environment, which encompasses the right to respect for identity, right to respect for integrity, and
right to respect for participation.155
With a rights-based education framework and approach, DepEd acknowledges that all the rights of the child to
and in basic education are interdependent and indispensable and must be realized. Thus, it is necessary to uphold
children’s and learner’s interdependent rights in three inter-related dimensions: the right to access to education,
the right to quality education, and the right to respect in the learning environment, which includes the right to
respect for identity and non-discrimination, the right to bodily and mental integrity and protection against physical
and psychological violence, and the right to participation of children in matters affecting them.156
143
The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Article XIV, Sec. 2(2), Article XV Sec. 3(2).
144
RA 9155, “Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001” Sec. 2; RA 10533, “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”.
145
National documents like the Philippine Plan for Action to End Violence Against Children commit DepEd to key result areas under a
multisectoral framework.
146
United Nations. 1989. Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 2(1).
147
The Philippines is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
148
The mandate of DepEd covers not only the rights of children who are persons below 18 years old, but the rights of all learners, including
adult learners or those who are 18 years old and above such as those in the Alternative Learning System program and Senior High School
students, considering that under RA 10533, the required age for enrollment in Kindergarten is 5 years old. Under RA 9155, Sec. 2, the
term “learners” refers to children, youth, and even enrollees who are 18 years old and above. Nonetheless, rights of children are referred
to as most learners are children and there are rights specifically of children that consider their evolving capacity and maturity.
149
United Nations. 1989. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 2.
150
Id. at Article 24.
151
Id. at Article 12.
152
Id. at Article 14.
153
Id. at Article 31.
154
The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Article XV, Section 3.; United Nations. 1989. Convention on the Rights of the
Child. Article 19(1).
155
DepEd is currently developing a policy on child rights.
156
147
Child protection, which covers bullying and child abuse and exploitation, is one of the rights of children and
learners falling under the right to protection157 and under the right to respect in the learning environment under
the three dimensions of rights-based education. The physical and mental health of children are also paramount
concerns for the Department. Child participation, through student governance and consultations with learners, is
also important. Inclusiveness and non-discrimination are also indispensable in education. All these rights to and
in education are inalienable, inter-related, and indivisible and should thus permeate throughout basic education in
the Philippines. As one of the government agencies that mainly cater to children and youth, the Department is in
a prime position to advance the rights of children and youth not only in basic education but also in government by
advocating a more child- and youth-centered approach in governance, in which the best interest of the child and
youth is the paramount consideration in matters affecting them. Learner’s rights will be unabashedly front and
center in the planning, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all projects, programs, and
activities of the Department of Education.
According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), resilience means the ability of a
system, community, or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform, and
recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation
and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions through risk management. At the personal level,
resilience is the ability to thrive in a pressing situation. First, policies, programs, and projects must be in place to
protect DepEd learners and personnel from various natural and human-induced hazards. Addressing these issues
cannot be expected from individuals alone, as systems, facilities, and services are needed to provide the
environment for positive and effective response. Second, individuals need to be in the proper physical, emotional,
and mental state to be able to respond favorably to these hazards. The Department provides all the necessary
protection and opportunities and empowers individuals to reduce risks and build their resilience. Third, Education
for Sustainable Development (ESD) should also be a framework whereby principles, values and practices of
sustainable development are integrated into all aspects of education and learning, encouraging changes in
behavior towards a more sustainable future in terms of environmental integrity, economic viability and a just
society.
Sub-Intermediate Outcome 4.1: Learners are served by a Department that adheres to a rights-based
education framework at all levels
DepEd embraces rights-based education (RBE) but is still in the process of fully implementing it. In rights-based
education, as the term denotes, the performance of the mandate of DepEd, as a duty-bearer, to deliver basic
education services, is based on the inter-dependent rights of the children and learners anchored on the 1987
Constitution and other domestic and international laws. The duty of DepEd and its officials and personnel is a
matter of legal obligation corresponding to the rights of children and learners as rights-holders, and not a matter
of charity or benevolence or addressing needs through delivery of goods and services without a legal obligation.
On the constitutional level, the education right is enshrined in Article XIV, Section 1: “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.”
157
DepEd issued a Child Protection Policy and is in the process of further refining its Child Protection environment.
148
Worthy of emphasis is that the right is not only to any kind of education but to quality education for all. Not all
constitutions of the world enshrine a right to education, much less quality education. The constitutional stature of
the right to quality education in the Philippines, reinforced by the constitutional prescription that the “State shall
assign the highest budgetary priority to education,”158 no doubt reflects the collective sentiment and ethos among
the Filipino people to give primacy to education in Philippine society.
The rights in relation to education, however, are not merely confined to the rights to access to and quality
education but also refer to the broad range of rights in education that should be inculcated among learners. The
1987 Constitution prescribes in Article XIV, Section 3 that “(a)ll educational institutions … shall… foster love of
humanity [and] respect for human rights”159 in its broad sense. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),
enshrining human rights of children specifically, also guarantees the right of the child to an education160 that aims
at, among others, the “development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”161
RBE is in line with the rights-based approach to the development of the Philippines. It is differentiated from a
needs-based or service-delivery approach that views needs as valid claims and whose emphasis is on meeting
needs through delivery of services and attaining outcome goals. In the rights-based approach, the emphasis
is on the realization of rights, which implies obligations of the government, with work being geared towards
both outcome and process goals;162 thus, participation and empowerment—which are rights in themselves—as
process goals are integral to the rights-based approach. To fulfill rights, needs must be met; however, needs can
be met without fulfillment of rights.163 Needs can be met without empowerment, but rights can only be realized
with empowerment.164 While human rights are need-based claims, a human rights approach to development
differs sharply from the basic needs approach, as the latter does not imply the existence of a “duty-bearer” and
rights may therefore be at risk of being neglected or violated.165 Necessarily, in RBE, the active participation
and empowerment of children and learners as rights-holders in their education are key elements. Children and
learners are treated as subjects who are human beings with dignity and rights at every age, and not merely as
objects needing assistance and passively receiving education until they “become” human beings when they
reach 18 years old and become rights-holders.166
158
159
160
United Nations. 1989. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 28(1). Article 26(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR). (Universal Declaration of Human Rights art. 26(1), December 10, 1948, UN GA Res. 217 A). Similarly, the said right is also
recognized under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights art. 2(1), January 3, 1976, 993 UNTS 3[ICESCR], which provides that primary education “shall be compulsory and available
free to all” (ICESCR art. 13(2)(a)) and secondary education “shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate
means.” (ICESCR art. 13(2)(b)) Notably, the Philippine Constitution and its relevant laws take the right to education one step further than
under international law as secondary education, and not just primary education, is also compulsory and free to all in the Philippines.
161
United Nations. 1989. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 29(b).
162
UNFPA, UNFPA/CM/04/7. 2004. A Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming: Practical Implementation Manual and Training
Materials p. 90.
163
UK Interagency Group on Human Rights Based Approaches, The Impact of Rights-Based Approaches to Development, 19. 2007. p. 21.
164
Id.
165
A Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming: Practical Implementation Manual and Training Materials, p. 90, citing T. Obaid, Policy
Note on Implementing a HRBA to Programming in UNFPA, UNFPA/CM/04/7 (2004).
166
United Nations. 1989. Convention on the Rights of the Child. General Comment No. 13, para. 59; UNICEF Private Fundraising and
Partnerships Division. 2014. Child Rights Education Toolkit: Rooting Child Rights in Early Education, Primary and Secondary Schools, First
Edition. Geneva. p. 23.
149
The needs-based or service delivery approaches are implemented more commonly but have been found to have
failed in meeting many global development targets.167 The issuance of DO 3, s. 2021, creating the Child Rights in
Education Desk and the Child Protection Unit as well as elevating the RBE framework and approach into its own
pillar in the BEDP 2030, is a step in the right direction towards the realization of a fully-implemented and genuine
rights-based approach to education in the country. A rights-based approach to education can complement the
current needs-based or service delivery approach as the Department transforms to fully embrace RBE, so long
as the priorities of the Department with respect to children’s rights in education are firmly in place, and legal
standards in fulfilling these rights are a primary consideration in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of
the delivery of services of the Department.
The 2018 PISA results pointed to the relationship between the learning environment and how the learners
feel towards school on the one hand, and access to education as well as the quality of education, on the other
hand. Among the countries that participated in PISA 2018, the information reported by learners shows that the
Philippines has the highest incidence of bullying. A study of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies
(PIDS)168 revealed that bullying in relation to being overage affects access to education. As mentioned previously,
the study showed that when children are older than their cohorts, they lose interest and motivation because
they are embarrassed and at risk of being bullied and of developing attitude issues as they progress to the higher
grades. It is acknowledged that the quality of the learning environment and strategy for addressing different
forms of violence against children affect the quality of student learning. Moreover, PISA 2018 also measured
the students’ perceptions about their performance in reading and their feelings towards school.169 It found that
learners who reported sometimes or always feeling joyful at school scored at least 53 points higher in reading
than other learners. Thus, by creating a school climate or learning environment where students feel safe and
socially connected, educators can more effectively support learning for all students.
In RBE, in addition to the two dimensions of the right to access to and the right to quality education, there is a
third dimension of education, which covers the learning environment—the right to respect in the learning
environment that upholds other rights of the child in basic education. These three dimensions are interlinked and
indispensable.170 RBE necessitates that the broad range of rights of the child in these three dimensions in the
context of basic education is respected, protected, fulfilled, and actively promoted by the duty-bearer.
The third dimension of RBE, the right to respect in the learning environment, includes the right to respect for
identity, which promotes the right to equality and non-discrimination, the right to respect for integrity—both
mental and physical—which prohibits violence and harm against children, and the right to respect for participation
or the right of learners capable of forming an opinion to be heard on matters affecting them and to have their
views taken seriously, in accordance with their age and maturity. Such views can largely contribute to learning
and the learning environment being designed to be more relevant and suitable to their circumstances, which
could, in turn, address another factor for dropping out in school—lack of interest. Realizing the right to respect in
the learning environment helps create the school climate where students feel joyful, safe, and socially connected,
which could, in turn, more effectively support the learning of students and the teaching of teachers.
167
education and rights within education.
168
PIDS Policy Notes No. 2018-17.
169
170
150
Evidence-based studies suggest that in Rights-Respecting Schools (RRS),171 such as some schools in the United
Kingdom, a positive school climate or learning environment is promoted.172 RRS in the United Kingdom have
an impact in these main areas: “improved self-esteem and well-being”; “improved behavior and relationships
(reductions in bullying and exclusions, and improved attendance)” and “positive attitudes towards diversity”;
“improved engagement in learning”; “children’s support for global justice”; “children become more engaged
in discussing, planning and reviewing their own learning”; “teacher developing a greater degree of satisfaction
in their work”; and “parents reporting support for the values and principles of the CRC – this is based on the
beneficial impact they see when their children adopt rights-respecting language and behavior.”173
An articulated framework for Rights-Based Education in DepEd (RBE-DepEd) is not intended to be an “add-on”
or “new program”, but is meant to bring together policies, programs, projects, and activities in a consistent,
cohesive, and commonly embraced framework, which puts the broad range of the rights of the child to and
in education at the center of these policies, programs, projects, and activities, within the three dimensions of
the right to access to education, the right to quality education, and the right to respect in the learning
environment.
Thus, in RBE-DepEd, programs pertaining to child protection, student governance and participation, and gender
sensitivity, for example, are not viewed as extra, disparate, or peripheral programs in basic education. Instead,
these programs are cohesively and consistently treated as an integral part of RBE-DepEd where the right to
access to education, the right to quality education, and the right to respect in the learning environment are
interlinked and indispensable and should all be realized with both the performance of obligations by duty-bearers
and the active participation of children as rights-holders.
The active participation of children as rights-holders in their education is a key element in RBE-DepEd, in line with
the child rights approach. The child rights approach, as defined by the United Nations Committee on the Rights
of the Child, “requires a paradigm shift away from…approaches in which children are perceived and treated as
‘objects’ in need of assistance rather than as rights-holders entitled to non-negotiable rights.”174 In the child rights
approach, children are viewed as rights-holders at every age by virtue of being human beings, and they do not
suddenly become human beings when they reach 18 years old and become rights-holders.175
At the same time that RBE-DepEd provides a cohesive framework, it also provides a lens and guide to DepEd
with other stakeholders in education, as duty-bearers, on how policies, programs, projects, and activities in
DepEd are proposed, planned, implemented, monitored, and evaluated to respect, protect, fulfill, and actively
The RRS finds its roots in 2000 in Canada when a collaboration was forged between the Children’s Rights Centre (Cape Breton University)
171
and the Cape-Breton-Victoria Regional School Board to encourage integration of child rights education into social studies and health core
curricula, and to promote awareness of child rights among professionals working with children. Taking lessons from this experience, the
Hampshire Rights, Respect and Responsibility Initiative was formed with the Hampshire Education Authority in England in 2004. UNICEF
UK then expanded its Rights Respecting Schools Award in 2005–2006, which is the largest and most well-developed RRS model. In
September 2008, the UNICEF Canada RRS initiative was piloted. Other National Committees of UNICEF have also adopted the RRS in
Spain, Slovakia, Germany, and Sweden. (UNICEF Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division. 2014. Child Rights Education Toolkit:
Rooting Child Rights in Early Education, Primary and Secondary Schools, First Edition. Geneva. p. 15).
172
UNICEF Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division. 2014. Child Rights Education Toolkit: Rooting Child Rights in Early Education,
Primary and Secondary Schools, First Edition. Geneva. p. 73.
173
Id. at p. 74.
174
United Nations. 1989. Convention on the Rights of the Child. General Comment No. 13, para. 59.
175
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promote children’s interlinked and indispensable right to access to education, right to quality education, and
right to respect in the learning environment. As a lens and guide, RBE-DepEd may also urge the formulation and
implementation of new or modified policies, programs, projects, and activities that can more effectively respect,
protect, fulfill, and promote the three dimensions of RBE-DepEd. Using the language in DO 3, s. 2021, RBE-
DepEd puts a “child rights and legal lens” to all that DepEd does in fulfillment of its mandate to ensure access to,
promote equity in, and improve the quality of basic education.176
Embedding RBE-DepEd as a framework and lens in DepEd necessitates building the capacity of both the rights-
holder and the duty-bearer. Building the capacity of children as rights-holders to claim and exercise their rights and
the capacity of duty-bearers to fulfill their obligations entails a whole-school approach where children experience
and enjoy their rights in schools and learning centers through learning as a right by accessing education, learning
about rights through the curriculum, learning through rights by experiencing the right to be
heard for example, and learning for rights by becoming an advocate of rights.177 These schools can only succeed
if supported by a whole-of-DepEd, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach that respects, protects,
fulfills, and promotes the rights of the child.
RBE-DepEd may be summarized as follows: Rights-based education in DepEd (RBE-DepEd) is a framework that
provides a lens and guide to DepEd with other stakeholders in education, as duty-bearers, to educate and nurture
happy, well-rounded, and smart children enjoying their rights in schools, learning centers, and other learning
environments served by a learner-centered and rights-upholding Department of Education. RBE-DepEd guides
DepEd on how to formulate, implement, monitor, evaluate, review, and organize policies, programs, plans, and
activities to respect, protect, fulfill, and promote the inter-related right of the child to access to basic education,
right to quality basic education, and right to respect in the learning environment as the three dimensions of rights
in basic education. These rights cover not only the rights to education itself but also the broad range of rights
in education, or collectively, all the rights in the context of basic education. RBE-DepEd employs the child rights
approach, which recognizes children as active participants in their education who are capacitated to claim their
rights in the context of basic education in a positive manner. RBE-DepEd also aims to support all personnel and
stakeholders in DepEd offices, schools, and learning centers to be constructive and to respect, protect, fulfill,
and promote the rights of the child; foster positive relationships between and among learners, teachers, other
DepEd personnel and stakeholders of basic education; and build a positive school climate, culture, and learning
environment. Nonetheless, it is emphasized that DepEd will work to balance RBE with learners’ awareness of
their responsibilities as individuals and as members of society.”
176
As explained above, the right to respect in the learning environment is interlinked with and indispensable to the right to access to
education and right to quality education. Section 6 of RA 9155 or the Governance of Basic Education Act provides for the mandate of
DepEd, viz: “Sec. 6. Governance. – The Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall henceforth be called the Department of
Education. It shall be vested with authority, accountability and responsibility for ensuring access to, promoting equity in, and improving the
quality of basic education. Arts, culture and sports shall be as provided for in Sections 8 and 9 hereof.”
177
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Strategy #1: Integrate children’s and learners’ rights in the design of all DepEd policies, plans, programs,
projects, processes, and systems
To strengthen full adherence of the Department to a rights-based approach to education, it is necessary to ensure
that all policies, programs, projects, and systems include children’s and learner’s rights in their design. This
implies that aside from focusing on the achievement of physical and fiscal targets in every office at all levels of
the organization, an additional layer of analysis that ensures a rights-based approach must be conducted by all
stakeholders. This is expected to take some time before taking root, but it will definitely be a progressive process.
Outputs:
• Laws, policies, plans, rules, and regulations, contracts, programs, projects, and activities containing
commitments towards children’s rights according to rights-based education framework implemented;
• Rights-based education (RBE) framework adopted and implemented;
• Standards and mechanisms on child protection developed and implemented;
• M&E mechanism on rights-based education framework and legal obligations and commitments on
children’s rights implemented;
• Child Rights in Education Desk (CREDe) institutionalized;
• DepEd personnel and stakeholders trained on child rights/RBE;
• Positive discipline measures implemented in schools and community;
• Child Protection Unit and Child Protection Committee structures are established; and
• Child protection policies implemented.
Strategy #2: Ensure that learners know their rights and have the life skills to claim their education-related
rights from DepEd and other duty-bearers to promote learners’ well-being, while also being aware of their
responsibilities as individuals and as members of society
A strong manifestation that the Department adheres to a rights-based approach to education is when learners
know and can freely claim their inalienable rights from duty-bearers—whether an office or person in DepEd—in
a respectful and positive manner. This requires three things: first, that learners know their rights; second, that
the positive climate in the school or other learning environment is conducive for learners to freely express and
claim their rights; and third, that DepEd personnel and processes facilitate the exercise of the rights claimed
by the learner. While claiming these rights does not depend on the performance by children and learners of
responsibilities, it is also important for learners to understand the complex relationship between their own rights
and their respect for the rights of others.
Outputs:
• Child rights education (CRE) integrated in the enhanced K-12 curriculum, extra and co-curricular
programs, learning environment and culture of the school, learning center and other learning modalities;
• Learning resources on children’s and learners’ rights in education utilized;
• School-based guidelines on RBE and CRE implementation developed, with consideration of school-
based management, school improvement plan, and school governance council;
• School personnel and parents trained on child rights education and child protection;
• Mechanism on learners’ participation on education and children’s rights developed and implemented;
and
• Child protection committee in schools established.
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Sub-Intermediate Outcome 4.2: Learners are safe and protected, and can protect themselves from risks
and impacts from natural and human-induced hazards
The first dimension of resilience under this pillar is from external factors. The Department commits to promoting
the appropriate policies, programs, and projects that will protect learners and personnel from natural and human
induced hazards.
Hazard, as defined by the UNDRR, is a process, phenomenon, or human activity that may cause loss of life,
injury, or other health impacts, property damage, social and economic disruption, or environmental degradation.
Hazards can be classified as natural or human-induced. Natural hazards are predominantly associated with natural
processes and phenomena. It includes hydrometeorological hazards such as tropical cyclones, flooding, storm
surges; and geological hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides. On the other
hand, human-induced hazard is defined by UNDRR as induced entirely or predominantly by human activities and
choices. Fire can be a natural or human-induced hazard, depending on the source. Climate change and
environmental degradation are a combination of natural and human-induced hazards. Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management (DRRM) also covers biological, chemical, and technological hazards.
Climate change intensifies extreme weather events like tropical cyclones and floods. Also, it is a major driving
force in slow onset hazards like sea level rise and drought. As climate change affects the environment, the
education sector should brace for the risks and impacts of these hazards to educational investments and effects
to conditions of life, which will lead to increased migration, food and water insecurity, and health outbreaks,
among others. The Department of Education reaffirms its commitment to reduce the contribution of its schools to
greenhouse gasses, equip schools with the adaptation strategies for their specific climate scenario, and empower
learners and personnel for climate action.
Human-induced incidents pertaining to occurrence of armed conflict in the communities affecting schools are
anchored on the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act No. 10121).
Human-induced hazards include negligence, abuse, child labor, and exploitation of learners during or in the
aftermath of a disaster or emergency.
The safety and protection of learners and DepEd personnel from the risks and impacts from natural and human-
induced hazards arising from disasters or emergencies are aimed to be promoted through implementing various
programs, projects, and activities anchored under the four thematic areas of DRRM of RA 10121, namely
Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Rehabilitation and Recovery, and cross-cutting the
three pillars of the Comprehensive School Safety Framework, namely Safe Learning Facilities, School Disaster
Management, and Risk Reduction and Resilience Education.
Strategy #3: Protect learners and personnel from death, injury, and harm brought by natural and human-
induced hazards
Once personnel and learners perform their function in DepEd offices, schools, and/or CLCs, they become
the responsibility of the Department. As such, it is important that the environments they enter and stay in are
safe and protect them from natural and human-induced hazards. Their complete safety cannot be guaranteed
by DepEd, but dangers and risks can be minimized with proper preparedness and prevention and mitigation
measures focusing on risk-informed policy and planning, integration of education for sustainable development
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(ESD) in the curriculum, increasing awareness, capacity building, establishing risk reduction structures and
mechanisms—including social accountability, and equipping offices and schools with safety equipment. Equally
important is the cultivation of a culture of vigilance, acceptance, and peace in all of these facilities.
Outputs:
• DepEd personnel and learners capacitated on providing MHPSS;
• ESD, DRRM, CCAM, and peacebuilding competencies in the K to 12 curriculum integrated;
• Personnel and stakeholders equipped on DRRM, CCAM, and peacebuilding;
• Safety and emergency supplies and equipment provided to DepEd offices and schools; and
• Early Warning Systems (EWS) in DepEd offices and schools established.
Strategy #4: Ensure learning continuity in the aftermath of a disaster or emergency
An established referral mechanism is provided for learners and personnel affected by disasters who might need
specialized care. The State has the duty to protect the fundamental rights of children before, during, and after
disasters and other emergency situations where children are endangered by circumstances that affect their
survival and normal development. There are also specific laws that aim to protect children in cases of natural and
human-induced hazards.178 Relative to this duty of ensuring child protection against all hazards, the government,
through its instrumentalities, recognizes the responsibility to provide learners the access to learning continuity.
Anchored on this responsibility, DepEd ensures the prompt resumption of educational services for children in the
aftermath of a disaster or emergency.
In recognizing the value of returning to normalcy after disasters or emergencies, DepEd established and will
strengthen programs, support services, interventions, and mechanisms to ensure learning continuity. Disaster
response, rehabilitation, and recovery initiatives, including those for Education in Emergencies (EiE) in armed
conflict situations are part of DepEd’s resilience interventions to ensure learning continuity in the aftermath of a
disaster. Responses to pandemics that tend to last for longer periods compared to other emergencies will be
continuously refined based on the experience in implementing the COVID-19 Basic Education Learning Continuity
Plan and on other emerging information on future hazards.
Outputs:
• Internal and external partners for response, rehabilitation, and recovery mobilized;
• Access to relevant responses, rehabilitation, and recovery-related datasets from school enhanced;
• Information, education, and communication (IEC) materials in the aftermath of a disaster or emergency
developed and disseminated;
• Guidelines on immediate response interventions for learning continuity developed;
• MPHSS interventions, including referral mechanisms, for learners and personnel affected by disasters
and emergencies are provided;
• DepEd inter-agency Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP) for disaster and
emergency developed;
• Regions, divisions, and schools equipped in leading multi-stakeholder groups for the implementation of
response, rehabilitation, and recovery;
• Major repair and reconstruction of infrastructure and replacement of non-infrastructure damages due to
disasters/ emergencies for rehabilitation and recovery completed; and
• Feedback and accountability mechanisms for learners on emergency interventions established.
178
RA 10821 and RA 11188, to list a few.
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Strategy #5: Protect education investments from the impacts of natural and human-induced hazards
In ensuring the protection of learners and personnel from risks and impacts of natural and human-induced
hazards, providing safe learning environments and facilities is necessary. A safe learning environment leads to a
more conducive environment and quality learning. Education investments, both infrastructure and non-
infrastructure, must be protected from the impacts of natural and human-induced hazards. This would ensure that
these facilities are available during and even after a disaster or emergency, which supports learning continuity.
The construction of safe school buildings and facilities needs to consider the historical disasters’ topography,
location, and vulnerabilities of the school, personnel, and learners in order to design appropriate prevention and
mitigation measures. This risk assessment necessitates proper consultation with the community and coordination
with the appropriate government agencies and LGUs before any establishment of a school and/or CLC, or any
construction of facilities in the existing school.
Outputs:
• Risk assessment data for DDRM, CCAM, and peacebuiliding established;
• DRRM, CCAM, and peacebuilding plans; contingency plans; and public service continuity plans in all
governance levels developed;
• DRRM, Peacebuilding, and Climate change-related programs, projects, and activities (PPAs), and
budget in DepEd offices and schools annual plans developed;
• Functional DRRM Team organized in all governance levels;
• DRRM, CCAM, and peacebuilding researches published; and
• Regular programs for structural and non-structural hazard prevention and mitigation measures
implemented.
Sub-Intermediate Outcome 4.3: Learners have the basic physical, mental, and emotional fortitude to cope
with various challenges in life and to manage risks
The second dimension of resilience is personal. No matter the gravity of the external hazards that threaten the
learners, their personal capabilities have a significant effect on the quality of their response to these hazards.
These include being physically healthy, having a positive mindset, and developing additional skills that will allow
them to survive, and even thrive, in the face of these hazards.
Strategy #6: Provide learners with basic health and nutrition services
The prolonged school closures disrupt essential school-based services such as immunization, school feedings,
and mental health and psychosocial support. To minimize the impact of the two-year suspension of face-to-face
learning to enrollment and learners’ performance, DepEd will implement a plan to gradually reopen schools for
face-to-face learning safely when allowed by the government. DepEd will initially implement a pilot run for a
limited face-to-face learning modality based on agreed health protocols with the Department of Health (DOH). The
joint DepEd and DOH guidelines are centered on four key elements: 1) safe operations, 2) teaching and learning,
3) including the most marginalized, and 4) well-being and protection.179 The results of the pilot will inform the
expanded reopening and subsequently the full reopening of all schools in the country, in consideration of
179
DepEd-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular No. 3, s. 2021 dated September 27, 2021.
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the COVID-19 risk levels and readiness of schools. Thus, health, WASH, and nutrition services for children will be
critical concerns for the new normal for face-to-face or blended learning delivery in the next five years.
Health, WASH, and nutrition services will also consider the health impacts of climate change, particularly on
increased cases of heat stroke, dehydration, cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, water-borne illnesses,
allergy-related illnesses, and vector-borne diseases brought by rising temperatures, extreme weather, increased
air pollution, changes in precipitation, duration of warm season, and median temperature (APHA and Climate
Nexus, 2016). In addition, school-based programs on improving nutrition accounts for the possible food insecurity
arising due to climate change. The OK sa DepEd Program will serve as a reference for a more comprehensive
discussion of health and nutrition and the WASH in Schools Online Monitoring System (WinS-OMS) will be the
main source of data for this strategy.
Outputs
• Guidelines on health and safety of learners and school personnel, including prevention of COVID-19
• Post COVID-19 tracking of learners’ health and nutrition conditions in schools implemented;
• Health personnel and program coordinators trained on management of risky behavior and child
protection issues;
• Schools’ health facilities including WASH and clinics provided;
• School-community coordination mechanisms for health and safety of learners in schools established;
and
• Policies, guidelines and standards on prevention of COVID-19, health & nutrition, and adolescent health
and development implemented.
Strategy #7: Nurture and protect learners’ mental and psychosocial health
Aside from physical well-being, management of emotions and mental challenges also define the quality of
responses of individuals to various hazards. Different people have different tendencies regarding these, which are
shaped by numerous factors unique to every individual. It is important that DepEd recognizes these and adopts a
two-pronged approach: first, avoid creating situations where learners will be unnecessarily stressed, and second,
ensure that appropriate interventions are available to learners who need help. DepEd will promote the presence
of guidance counselors/mental health professionals in all schools.
The prolonged lockdown and suspension of face-to-face classes also contributed to incidences of mental health
issues among learners. The closure of schools aggravated the stress and anxiety due to loss of peer interaction
and disrupted routines in schools. Schools should be prepared to provide enhanced psychosocial support to
learners as they return to in-person learning.
Outputs:
• Study on effects of student workloads, deadlines and other learning activities completed;
• Teachers trained in handling students experiencing mental and psychosocial health issues; and
• DepEd personnel and learners capacitated on providing MHPSS.
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Strategy #8: Promote learners’ physical and socio-emotional skills development
Aside from all the preemptive and reactive services that should be available to learners, there is intrinsic value in
the developmental aspect of physical, socio-emotional, and mental health. These aspects of life should
be strengthened and enhanced for all individuals. These can be done through intelligently designed physical
activities, competitions, and talent enhancement in clubs/organizations as co- and extra-curricular activities.
These additional skills also provide certain advantages in the face of natural and human-induced hazards. If
learners are free from physical and mental sickness, and have also developed advanced physical, mental, and
emotional capabilities through intelligently designed competitions and activities appropriate for different kinds
of learners, the probability of them being capable of the correct responses to these disasters is higher. These
incremental skills are not always properly developed in everyday life for all learners, yet these could mean the
difference between a good and a bad response to natural or man-made hazards.
Outputs:
• School sports and fitness development program framework developed;
• Standards for school sports and competition programs developed and implemented; and
• Teaching and non-teaching DepEd personnel trained on after-school sports programs.
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6.0
ENABLING MECHANISMS:
GOVERNANCE AND
MANAGEMENT
159
Governance focuses on the structures and processes that are designed to ensure accountability, transparency,
efficiency, responsiveness, rule of law, stability, equity, inclusiveness, empowerment, and broad-based
participation.
Governance is also a state of mind that encourages and promotes these behaviors. Management is the
manifestation of these behaviors in the proper running or operating of an organization. An organization needs both
Governance and Management to be well-run and sustainable.
Enabling mechanisms define the necessary governance structures in terms of leadership, people, investments,
management systems, partnerships, and external relations that will ensure the efficient delivery of basic
education services. These factors working together will create the enabling conditions needed to successfully
achieve the targets set in the four Intermediate Outcomes in Section 5.
The Intermediate Outcome for Governance and Management is stated as “efficient, nimble, and resilient
governance and management processes.”
Efficient means not wasting resources on non-essential processes or activities. Nimble means being able to
pivot quickly to respond to external or internal circumstances. Resilient refers to an ability to withstand or recover
quickly from difficult conditions. The achievement of the four intermediate outcomes is highly dependent on the
quality and responsiveness of management processes, policies, and standards to enable all operating units to
work together to undertake their functions towards achieving a common goal. The enabling mechanisms ensure
that necessary policies and standards are in place, systems and processes are highly efficient and automated,
and clear horizontal and vertical alignment of functions and program management and implementation are
working together.
DepEd, as a key government bureaucracy, requires a set of efficient, nimble, and resilient governance and
management processes to support the implementation of the BEDP.
Enabling Mechanism 1: Education leaders and managers practice participative, ethical, and inclusive
management processes
The changing roles of DepEd’s education leaders and managers means that their capacity to implement
participative and inclusive management processes needs to be strengthened through professional development
programs that are relevant and appropriate to enhance the required skills and competencies.
Within the school system, the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST) provides the criteria for the
recruitment, hiring, and development of teachers, school heads, and supervisors for each level in the system by
defining the competencies required for each position. In the short term (2021–2022), there will be three methods
to review, rebuild, and strengthen the human resource corps of DepEd:
• Reclassification (allows for teachers to be moved more than one level higher in classification without
violating rules);
• Promotion; and
• Scrap-and-build (to reallocate the budget of positions no longer needed to fund the creation of new
required positions).
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School-Based Management (SBM) is the overarching governance model for the implementation of school-level
policies, programs, and processes to ensure transparency, boost accountability, and promote partnerships. SBM
transfers significant responsibilities for governance and management to the school, the most basic unit in the
bureaucracy. Every school is expected to practice SBM starting with a School Improvement Plan (SIP), which
ensures that each school then becomes responsible for its own outcomes in defining quality education. The
consolidation of SIPs
by divisions provides input to the Division Basic Education Plans which are, in turn, consolidated into a Regional
Basic Education Plan.
The SBM rating system for schools is still being finalized, with a plan to rate them in their application of SBM that
will then determine a package of interventions to help schools reach the next higher level. Every school is also
required to have a School Governing Council (SGC), a body of key internal (teachers and parents) and external
(LGU and other community members) stakeholders. The SGC meets regularly to discuss school management
issues and to promote stronger school-community links. DepEd has a major stake in defining the priorities,
strategies, and initiatives on education at the LGU level because it is a co-chair with the local chief executive on
the local school board at all levels (municipality, city, and province).
Programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) are the key elements describing the functions of the different
units. PAPs are seen as the responsibility of the CO as far as reporting is concerned, while the field units are
responsible for the delivery of the PAPs. However, there is no clear division of labor across the levels of
governance. The Planning Unit is drafting a paper outlining a new division of work between the Central Office,
Regions, and Divisions regarding the PAPs, which will resolve the respective roles of the CO, RO, and SDO.
Efficient operations of all functional units in the organization are critical in achieving organizational and sectoral
outputs and outcomes. Confusions in the scope of work and the existence of functional overlaps between and
among units are source of organizational stress, which will lead to inefficiency. Fixing all forms of organizational
and functional issues will allow the DepEd to be more efficient.
Local Government Units (LGUs) have a complex but essential relationship with DepEd through the local school
boards that are not part of DepEd and function in varying degrees of effectiveness depending on the LGUs’
appreciation, prioritization, strategy, and initiatives on education. It is essential that DepEd fosters better
functioning local school boards since this will ensure more compliance with the Special Education Fund (SEF)
rules and more investment from the Local Development Fund (LDF) of LGUs.
Outputs:
• Competency-based hiring and promotion system adopted and implemented;
• SBM policy revised and implemented;
• Policy guidelines for the decentralization of PAPs formulated and implemented;
• Basic education situation analysis and plans submitted to LSBs/RDC and other stakeholders;
• Policy on synchronized planning and budgeting issued and implemented;
• Revised SIP policy developed and implemented; and
• Policy on M&E framework and system issued and implemented.
161
Enabling Mechanism 2: Ensure human resources in all governance levels are sufficient, resilient,
competent, and continuously improving
The priority for professional learning is now shifted from curriculum-related support to raising teachers’ capacity
across the teaching areas and strands of the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST). Although
the PPST maintains a focus on strong content and pedagogic knowledge, the standards are also designed to
strengthen and expand teachers’ career progression across the designated career stages.
NEAP is responsible for coordinating the multiplicity of training programs that flow from the CO to the regions,
divisions, and schools. The institutionalization of the NEAP transformation encompassing its organizational
development, program integration, and upgrading of its training facilities will continue to ensure a fully integrated,
responsive and effective Learning and Development plan. The impact of the Learning and Development plan will
be assessed based on improvements in learners’ quality outcomes.
Additional support to teachers in schools is the provision of non-teaching personnel who can assist with
administrative tasks and provide ancillary services so that teachers can focus on their core role of teaching.
The non-teaching personnel will receive capacity building and professionalization training so that they can be
integrated into the full school complement as valued support staff.
An important issue is the need to review and modernize the Magna Carta Law for Public School Teachers for
teachers and other educators. This review includes reconsidering the welfare benefits available to teachers since
they are often directly affected by disturbances in communities caused by conflicts and natural disasters and
are called upon to provide service above and beyond their role as education providers. The capacity building and
professional development of DepEd personnel that was mentioned earlier must include functional and leadership
competency training to keep them abreast of the rapid changes in both global and local education landscapes,
particularly the required skills set to keep them nimble and resilient to serve learners and their local community
more effectively.
Outputs:
• NEAP transformation deepened and further institutionalized;
• Professional standards linked to employee assessment, development, rewarding, and recognition;
• Employee welfare and benefits standards are developed and implemented;
• DepEd personnel trained on responsive management processes that uphold inclusive and rights-based
education; and
• Learning and Development plan developed and implemented under NEAP leadership.
Enabling Mechanism 3: Ideal learning environment and adequate learning resources for learners ensured
The pandemic has highlighted the gaps in educational resource provision between schools, divisions, and even
regions. The period of recovery post-pandemic must identify the gaps through an urgent inventory of standards.
This will then be followed by the equitable distribution of essential education resources, which includes additional
teachers in areas where the teacher-learner ratio is high; enhanced nutritional support for learners in situations
of disadvantage; and provision of WASH and WinS services to all schools so that viral transmission routes can
be minimized. The wide discrepancy in access to effective digital learning devices between and within the major
cities as well as in the rural and remote marginalized areas demands a management response that restores
162
equity in the provision of such essential services. This will require a transparent and robust national audit of
resources against both quantity and quality in all schools followed by a prioritization of support so that at least the
minimum standards can be reached in every school. The ideal learning environment takes into account not only of
the availability of facilities, equipment, and learning resources, but should also ensure that the culture, practices,
processes, and systems in the school or learning center uphold quality, inclusive, learner-centered, and rights-
upholding climate and environment promoting the well-being of learners.
Outputs:
• Standards for a quality and inclusive learning environment for different learner groups for the new
normal post COVID-19 adopted and implemented;
• Standards for the integration of educational technology in teaching and learning developed and
implemented;
• Standards for learning resource development accessible to all types of learners formulated and
implemented; and
• System for granting access to learning resources developed and implemented.
Enabling Mechanism 4: Improve and modernize internal systems and processes for a responsive and
efficient delivery of basic education services
The efficient, internal financial and procurement, legal, asset, and human resource management systems and
processes of DepEd are essential components of a large functioning bureaucracy, but they must be responsive,
automated, and continuously improving. The decentralization of services to the divisions and schools as
mandated in RA 9155 requires that field offices are closely linked and integrated with the CO through a robust
Basic Education Information System (BEIS) that enables all units to deliver basic education services efficiently and
effectively. This means that M&E systems, performance management, and quality assurance units in the field are
properly equipped and trained to generate and record accurate data that can be shared vertically and horizontally
within the system. Having these units equipped to provide responsive and nimble responses means that the
units responsible for disaster risk reduction whether the disturbances are natural or human-induced are able to
activate their response mechanisms more quickly and effectively.
A critical element of the widely accepted need for evidence-based decision making for policymakers requires
robust data collection by field units. Such data collection is best driven by a research group with trained and
competent researchers who can anticipate issues in advance and can plan research projects to gather data to
inform strategies for solving such issues in a timely manner. This also means that research papers that influence
policy should be widely disseminated and shared in a manner that allows stakeholder access so that the issue
can be discussed in a practical but informed way.
Outputs:
• Guidelines on modern financial management systems and processes developed and implemented;
• Major management processes (planning, budgeting, procurement, M&E, human resource) are
integrated, synchronized, and coordinated in all governance levels;
• Guidelines for performance management and quality assurance systems developed and implemented;
• Disaster risk reduction and response mechanisms established;
• Policy and research agenda formulated and implemented;
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• Human Resource Information System (HRIS) in all governance levels developed and implemented;
• Internal Control System (ICS) framework, guidelines and standards adopted and implemented;
• Guidelines for QMS developed and implemented;
• Asset Management System implemented;
• Helpdesk support system for field procurement operations created;
• DepEd integrated logistics management system implemented; Organic procurement units and plantilla
positions for procurement officers created;
• Contract management system developed and implemented;
• Standards on procurement processes, forms, and documents developed and implemented;
• Supplier’s Registry established;
• Transparency mechanism developed and implemented;
• Guidelines on third-party participation in procurement developed and implemented; and
• Guidelines on customized procurement for selected major programs developed and implemented.
Enabling Mechanism 5: Strengthen active collaboration with key stakeholders
There are a number of key stakeholders for every school, the most important being learners, parents, the LGU,
and local businesses. These stakeholders can add resources to a school, either financially, in kind, or through
voluntary service. It is essential that there is strong collaborative engagement of DepEd with these groups to
ensure that their activities are aligned with DepEd priorities.
The SEF and LSB of the LGU are important because DepEd can specify how additional resources can be released
through these funds for school-based and/or division-based projects and programs. There are ongoing efforts
and initiatives to reexamine the operationalization of the SEF in light of the observations that the use of SEF may
have been vulnerable to misuse. These efforts will feed into policy and strategies toward enhanced efficient and
effective utilization of the SEF.
Other key stakeholders that interact with DepEd through specific channels are line agencies (DSWD, DOH,
DILG). They provide specific resources in support of education. DSWD, through the 4Ps conditional cash transfer
program, provides an incentive to families to keep children in school. DepEd needs to ensure the continued
effectiveness and efficiency of such assistance keeping track of the value added to direct education services.
Three education agencies have a relationship with DepEd that should be nurtured: Early Childhood Care and
Development Council (ECCD Council), Technical and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED).180
ECCD is a critical level as it is the entry point in the education system. DepEd and the ECCD Council will
coordinate their efforts to ensure the readiness of children entering Kindergarten, emphasizing the interrelated
and indivisible components of nurturing care: good health, adequate nutrition, safety and security, responsive
caregiving, and opportunities for learning. Continuous advocacy and support to LGUs will be pursued to
increase access of 3- to 4-year-old children to quality ECE and ensure that these children smoothly transition to
kindergarten.
180
The linkages between BEDP and ECCD Council’s, TESDA’s, and CHED’s strategic plans can be found in Annex 2.
164
The relationship with TESDA is focused on certification. The SHS track on technical-vocational study allows
SHS graduates to receive the first level of National Certification (NC), which makes this track more attractive to
learners. A joint consultative committee has been created for the TVL track to ensure adequate resources are
provided.
CHED has a central role in ensuring the success of teacher development, and a strong link and alignment
between pre-service education and in-service education is critical. Closer linkage and alignment between CHED
and DepEd may address the concern on teacher quality notwithstanding the current efforts to reexamine
the impacts of the trifocalization in the context of further reform to tighten the gap between the “producer”
(CHED) and the “consumer” (DepEd) of teacher education graduates. The relationship with the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) needs more professional courtesy and transparency. The Board Licensure Exam
for Professional Teachers (BLEPT) needs to be improved in terms of content and assessment methodology. The
BLEPT needs to be reconsidered in terms of content and the importance of 21st century skills with regard to
coherence with the pre-service teacher education program designed by DepEd.
Regarding the engagement of the stakeholders in basic education, the Philippine Forum for Inclusive Quality Basic
Education (Educ Forum) convened through DepEd Order No. 010, s. 2021 will be the privileged platform.
Outputs:
• Framework for stakeholder engagement developed and implemented;
• Guidelines on the use of SEF revised and implemented;
• School Governing Council policy revised and implemented;
• Policy on the use of partnership information system issued and implemented;
• Multisectoral youth development alliances established and operationalized in support of ALS
implementation; and
• Educ Forum actively engaged as multi-stakeholder platform for consultation, collaborative research and
analysis, and high-level advice on strategic basic education policy.
Enabling Mechanism 6: Enhance and strengthen public and private education complementarity
Section 4 of the Constitution stipulates that “the State recognizes the complementary roles of public and private
institutions in the educational system and shall exercise reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational
institutions.”
It is important that private education is viewed as a partner and not a competitor of public education. Private
education provides an element of choice and offers an alternative set of additional subjects that learners and their
parents seek, but which are not available in public education. The idea of private education complementing public
education supports the notion of a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education under the 1987
Constitution.
Public and private education systems should work more collaboratively under a dynamic and responsive
complementarity framework. This should include small non-government schools such as faith-based and NGO-run
schools, some of which are still not registered or licensed to operate by DepEd but that serve a social good in
such far-flung and remote areas of the country, that should be registered under the supervision of DepEd as basic
education institutions.
165
DepEd will consider a strategy to help these small non-government schools become recognized through more
responsive requirements in applying for Permits to Operate such as the ones granted to private schools catering
to indigenous peoples (DO 21, s. 2014) and providing support so that they will be able to provide quality basic
education services, especially in areas that are difficult to reach by the public school system.
The Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) provides government
assistance to private schools through an education contracting scheme and voucher system that currently
targets JHS and SHS. There is scope for it to be expanded to the Kindergarten and Elementary years, particularly
for vulnerable groups. The GASTPE law (Republic Act No. 6728, s. 1989) also has a subsidy provision for private
school teachers—an annual salary subsidy is provided to qualified teachers in ESC-participating schools with the
aim to improve the quality of private JHSs. Qualified teachers are called teachers’ salary subsidy (TSS) recipients.
RA 10533181 further expanded the coverage of E-GASTPE. The said law provides for additional forms of assistance
and additional beneficiaries and allows the Department to develop other forms of financial arrangements
consistent with the principles of public-private partnership.
The increasing gap between private and public school teacher salaries invites DepEd to continue to study these
provisions to ensure that private education remains viable.
The existing SHS Voucher program provides eligible SHS students with a funding voucher to allow them to
choose their preferred SHS school (private or public) and its continuation serves as an incentive for JHS students
to continue to SHS study.
Outputs:
• Public-private complementarity framework is developed and implemented;
• Manual of regulations for private schools enhanced and implemented; and
• Organizational and human resource support to qualified personnel in private schools are in place.
181
The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.
166
7.0
BEDP IMPLEMENTATION
MONITORING AND
EVALUATION
7.1. BEDP Implementation Plan
7.2. BEDP Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adjustment Strategies
7.3. Policy and Research Agenda
7.4. Education Futures
7.5. Communication Strategy
167
7.1. BEDP Implementation Plan
7.1.1. Implementation Strategy
The implementation of the whole BEDP from 2022 to 2030 will be divided into two major phases. The scope of
Phase 1 is from 2022 to 2026 and Phase 2 covers 2027 to 2030.
Phase 1 includes the response to the immediate challenges of COVID-19 and lays the necessary foundation:
• Post COVID-19 Recovery and Transition. DepEd will focus on mitigating the negative impacts of the
sudden shift from face-to-face to pure distance learning and bridging the learning gaps caused by the
COVID-19 lockdown, while deepening the gains compelled by the COVID-19 response;
• Improving Access, in particular for groups in situations of disadvantage;
• Focus on Quality as a priority:
- Strengthen programs on reading, numeracy, socio-emotional learning, and 21st century skills,
reskilling teachers;
- Sharpen skillsets of teachers in contextualization to address the concerns of diverse learners; and
- Strengthen instructional leadership and supervision to improve teaching quality.
- Increase alignment with international literacy standards.
• Partnership Building: Focus on strengthening partnerships and collaboration with community-based
partners, the private sector, and cross-sector government services for children, and sustaining the Educ
Forum as a national multi-stakeholder platform;
• Co-creation of an integrated concept of learning spaces for the future;
• Review of programs and updating of situation analysis;
• Formulation of enabling policies, standards, processes, and systems;
• Ensure internet connectivity of all schools;
• Strengthen DepEd’s schools division capability on assessment with focus on classroom-level
assessment;
• Strengthen or establish mechanisms on equity, learner’s rights, and resilience;
• Capacity building on planning, education futures, M&E, research, and technical assistance;
• Develop a legislative agenda to implement the strategies identified in the BEDP; and
• Mid-term review and analysis of Phase 1 results to inform refinements in BEDP strategies.
Phase 2 focuses on sustaining and evaluating programs:
• Continuation of programs and projects on access, quality, equity, learner’s rights, resilience, and Rights-
Based Education;
• Operationalization of the strategies initiated under the Education Futures Programme;
• Maintenance and enhancement of existing information systems;
• Evaluation of programs and projects;
• Impact Evaluation;
• Development of new programs to address emerging education issues and opportunities; and
• End of Plan assessment and evaluation.
168
7.1.2. Operationalizing BEDP
Each governance level will formulate their respective basic education plans that should all lead towards achieving
the common goals and outcomes of DepEd articulated in the BEDP. While each Region, Schools Division, and
School contextualizes its plan based on its actual situation, strategies must all contribute or complement the
national directions, targets, and strategies outlined in the BEDP. The intermediate outcomes in the BEDP will be
operationalized at each governance level, specific to their mandates and accountabilities.
Figure 30: Mainstreaming BEDP Strategies in DepEd
International
SDG Goals 2030 National
AmBisyon Natin
Region
2040
BEDP 2022-2030
Regional
Division
Development Plan
RBEP 2022-2028
DEDP 2022-2028 School/CLC
BEDP - Basic Education Development Plan,

CLC - Community Learning Center,
DEDP - Division Education Development Plan, SIP 2022-2025
RBEP - Regional Basic Education Plan, SDG - Sustainable Development Goal,
SIP - School Improvement Plan
Source: DepEd. SIP 2025-2028
Achievement of intermediate outcomes serves as critical progress markers towards ensuring Filipino learners are
holistically developed in basic education, acquire 21st century skills that will enable them to manage oneself, build
connections, inquire and innovate, stay nimble, and serve beyond self.
169
Efficient implementation of plans and policies is a function of clear roles and responsibilities of each governance
level to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure synchronicity and fully aligned implementation. It is important to go
back to the real intent of RA 9155 otherwise known as Governance of Basic Education Act, which clearly outlines
the roles and responsibilities of each level and will have an impact on how each governance level will interplay in
the implementation of the BEDP 2030.
Central Office. Will primarily focus on formulating national policies, plans, education standards; assessment of
learning outcomes; conducting studies and research; program development; human resource management;
monitoring and evaluation; and alignment and synchronicity of policy, programs, standards, and partnership
building.
Regional Office. Consistent with the national educational policies, plans, and standards, the region will focus
on policy implementation; monitoring and evaluation; conduct of regional studies and research; human resource
management; development of education projects that will resolve unique education issues in the region; quality
assurance; ensuring synchronicity of programs, projects, and activity implementation; and building partnerships.
Schools Division Office. Consistent with the national educational policies, plans and standards, the schools
division office will focus on efficient policy and plan implementation, equitable and efficient deployment and
utilization of resources, human resource management, progress monitoring, providing targeted technical support
to schools and learning centers, ensure synchronicity of activities, and building partnerships.
District Supervisors. Will focus on providing professional and instructional advice and support to the school
heads and teachers/facilitators of schools and learning centers and curriculum and instructional supervision.
Schools / CLCs. Will focus on school plan implementation, curriculum implementation, creation of ideal learning
environment, resource management, teacher professional development, improvement of instruction, classroom
assessment, and building local partnerships.
The Office of the Regional Director and School Division Superintendent will rationalize the technical assistance
(TA), administrative report requirements, and other activities being provided and cascaded to schools. Education
supervisors including district supervisors will ensure alignment and relevance of any activity or TA that will be
given to schools in any given time. It is important to maintain an optimal contact time of teachers on teaching and
learning engagement and less of non-essential activities to allow schools to focus on the delivery of curriculum.
Central, Regional, and Schools Division Offices will endeavor to minimize the administrative tasks being imposed
on schools through streamlining requirements for administrative reporting, automation of submission, and
providing non-teaching personnel.
170
DepEd will mainstream and operationalize the BEDP strategies and outputs through the following (Figure 30):
• Regional Education Development Plan (REDP) – A six-year education development plan developed at
the Regional level that contains strategies on how priority directions, policies, programs, quality assurance
measures, and equity-driven systems will be implemented in their respective regions, considering the unique
learning situation of learners. The REDP will also be used to influence the education priorities of the Regional
Development Council (RDC). Priorities and strategies set forth in the BEDP will be articulated in the Region’s
REDP 2022–2028;
• Division Education Development Plan (DEDP) – A six-year plan developed at the Division level that contains
strategies on how assistance to schools and learning centers will be implemented. As an example, one of
the crucial mandates of the SDOs is to manage effective and efficient use of all resources, including human
resources. Operationally, teacher deployment and appointment of school heads, as well as professional
development, are within the responsibility of the Division. It is within their mandate to: 1) build the capacity
of the school head so that the school heads can provide instructional supervision and implement school-
based management, and 2) ensure that teachers and learning facilitators are better qualified to deliver the
curriculum. These will be included in the intermediate outcomes of the SDO. The DEDP will also show
disaggregation of school data and key performance indicators at the levels of legislative district, province, city,
and municipality so that it can influence the education priorities of provincial and city/municipal development
plan. In the current set up, the learning centers for Alternative Learning System (ALS) is part of district
planning. Since the districts are lodged under the Schools Division Office (SDO), planning for learning centers,
including those set up and operated by external partners, will be part of the DEDP. It will also establish the
complementation of public-private school services. DEDP 2022–2028 will operationalize the strategies and
outputs outlined in the BEDP; and
• School Improvement Plan (SIP) provides a roadmap that lays down specific interventions that a school,
with the help of community and other stakeholders, will undertake within the period of three consecutive
years. At the school level, the SIPs must be able to articulate the school’s strategies on making the teaching
and learning process more effective and inclusive and strengthening the learning environment to uphold the
rights of children and learners. It should also contain strategies on participative management, stakeholders’
collaboration, School Governance Councils, and SBM. The schools and learning centers are the front liners—
directly contributing to the intermediate outcomes. Given the COVID-19 experience, the SIPs will strengthen
its focus on cross-sector collaborations for health, WASH, and social protection support for children. In
2022, the schools will prepare their SIP 2022–2025. CLCs are also expected to develop their respective ALS
implementation plan as a compliment to School Improvement Plan (SIP).
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7.1.3. BEDP Implementation Arrangements
The Planning Service will lead the operationalization of BEDP. At the CO, the Planning Service will provide
technical support to bureaus’ and services’ preparation of annual plans including their programs, activities, and
projects (PAP). Each ExeCom lead will ensure policies, programs, projects, standards, and activities are
consistent with the priorities in the BEDP and adhere to the planning parameters set internally and by oversight
agencies. The BEDP will be cascaded through the Region’s Policy, Planning, and Research Division (PPRD), and
the SDO’s School Governance and Operations Division (SGOD). DepEd’s planning offices will ensure all education
plans, programs, and projects are consistent with the priorities and strategies in the BEDP. The Planning Service
will ensure that annual budget priorities are consistent with the priorities in the BEDP and adhere to the planning
parameters set by oversight agencies. DepEd’s planning offices will ensure all education plans, programs, and
projects are consistent with the priorities and strategies in the BEDP and informed by evidence-based research
on program effectiveness as they become available to support the annual budget process. The Planning Service
will also coordinate with the DepEd Offices responsible for fund sourcing from local and international bilateral and
multilateral development organizations to ensure complementation and relevance of external support with BEDP
priorities.
7.1.4. Capacity Building Plan
DepEd will continue to build the capability of DepEd management and staff on strategic planning and program
management to ensure vertical and horizontal integration of BEDP strategies. In the first year of implementation
of the BEDP, DepEd will elaborate a capacity building plan. It will include, among others, the following
components:
• Strengthen the capability of all planning units in DepEd on managing the strategic planning anoperational
planning processes including research, data analysis, policy analysis, and use of a rights-based framework
and lens. The planning units’ ability to facilitate and provide technical assistance to DepEd staff on education
planning is critical to ensuring the mainstreaming of BEDP targets and strategies in the bureaus, regions,
divisions, and schools;
• Strengthen the capability of DepEd technical staff on rights-based and inclusive program management. This
includes designing programs that are learner-responsive and uphold their rights, demand-driven, equity-
focused, and consistent with the BEDP strategies and targets. More specifically, DepEd technical staff need
to be trained on situation analysis, stakeholder relations, advocacy work, formulating results frameworks,
formulating indicators, targeting setting, forecasting, costing and budgeting, and preparing operational plans
consistent with the results framework;
• Strengthen the capability at CO level on external partnerships and resource mobilization. This will have to be
linked with evidence-based program design preparation, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure that external
funding will have the greatest impact towards the target outcomes;
172
• Strengthen the capacity of DepEd CO and RO on program and policy level collaborations with TESDA,
CHED, DSWD, DILG, and DBM for stronger cross-sector support for skills development, teacher pre-service,
children’s protection, use of local funds, and increasing overall investments for basic education, respectively;
• Strengthen the capability of the RO on contextualizing regional plans to address unique or local contexts and
demands of communities in the region. Skills on planning should not be limited to planning officers but to
all staff in the region, particularly managers or coordinators of national programs and projects, including the
conduct of quality assurance measures;
• Strengthen the capability of SDO staff on providing technical assistance to schools on SIP preparation with
a rights-based approach to education. The SIP is the most important plan in DepEd as its content directly
targets and affects learners’ performance. SDO staff including district supervisors must have the necessary
technical competencies in synthesizing division/district issues, setting priorities, and assisting schools to
prepare strategic education plans and annual plans. The SDO staff must be able to quality assure the schools’
SIPs; and
• Strengthen the capability of the school heads and school planning team on the education plan, particularly
in articulating learners’ performance and curriculum concerns in the SIP. Schools’ SIPs need to evolve from
focusing on improving physical facilities to improving learners’ and teachers’ performance and creating
and strengthening a school climate and learning environment that upholds the learners’ rights and well-
being in adherence to rights-based education. Given the COVID-19 experience, the role of communities,
LGUs, parents, and cross-sector government agencies for children’s health, safety, and well-being will be
strengthened.
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7.2. BEDP Monitoring, Evaluation
and Adjustment Strategies
DepEd will implement a system-wide monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment (MEA) strategy to ensure timely
decisions and improvements or adjustments in the BEDP are undertaken, and to facilitate immediate response to
operational bottlenecks and external issues that may affect the efficient and effective implementation of BEDP
strategies. The BEDP MEA will serve as the platform for integration and collaboration between and among DepEd
offices and stakeholders. The BEDP MEA puts into operation a systematic process for collection, collation, and
analysis of key education data and information that will allow DepEd’s decision makers, implementers at each
DepEd governance level, and other stakeholders to collectively appreciate both achievement and challenges
in the basic education sector. The main objective of the BEDP MEA is to facilitate decision making for a more
relevant and responsive delivery of basic education services.
7.2.1. Objectives of the BEDP MEA
M&E is a critical element of successfully implemented plans and programs. The ability of DepEd to efficiently
implement and at the same time make important and necessary adjustments in the BEDP strategies during
implementation will ensure more relevant, responsive, and sustainable basic education services of DepEd. The
ability to adjust and respond quickly effectively hinges on the operationalization of a robust M&E system.
The BEDP MEA will allow DepEd and its stakeholders to:
• track all learners’ access to quality basic education. The BEDP MEA is an inclusion strategy designed to
ensure all children of school age and out-of-school youth (OSY) including learners from groups in situations
of disadvantage are able to access basic learning opportunities. DepEd will track learners in school as well as
out-of-school children and youth, monitor performance standards in school, and ensure programs and support
programs that address the different and unique learning needs of all learners are sufficiently implemented;
• ensure continuing relevance and responsiveness of strategies and education programs outlined in the BEDP.
The BEDP MEA will provide the necessary infrastructure for different DepEd offices and implementers to
receive up-to-date data and information on learners’ performance; the progress and status of education
programs; the efficiency of different DepEd offices; and the respect, protection, fulfilment, and promotion of
the rights of the child and youth in basic education;
• facilitate integration of education programs and projects. The BEDP MEA will serve as the venue for different
program managers, field implementers, and stakeholders to collectively appreciate and understand the scope
and objectives, implementation requirements, and accomplishments of different programs, and understand
the difficulties or operational bottlenecks of each program;
174
• identify and locate problems and implementation issues. One of the main objectives of the BEDP MEA is
to help DepEd offices identify both operational and strategic concerns influencing or affecting the delivery
of basic education services using lead and lag indicators (sub-intermediate outcomes and intermediate
outcomes) for guidance;
• determine areas of strengths and weaknesses in DepEd. Effective implementation of BEDP strategies relies
on the efficiency of the different levels of governance in DepEd—schools and community learning centers
(CLCs), Schools Division Offices (SDOs), Regional Offices (ROs), and the Central Office (CO). Different
governance units operate under different but complementing mandates, so limitations or weaknesses in one
governance level will affect the efficiency of the other levels. The BEDP MEA will help CO decision makers to
detect and locate operational issues in the field and proactively address concerns affecting education policies
and strategies; and
• prepare education plans and programs. All outputs of the BEDP MEA will be used as inputs to education
plans. Results of the monitoring or evaluation work will be used to improve annual implementation plans
(AIPs), school improvement plans (SIPs), division education development plans (DEDPs), and regional
basic education plans (RBEPs). M&E results will also be used to inform adjustments to existing policies,
formulation of new policies, and provides a basis for designing the next cycle of the BEDP.
7.2.2. Guiding Principles
The following principles are adopted and considered in the design of the BEDP MEA:
• Inclusiveness. To be effective, DepEd’s M&E should be equity-focused, able to determine (i) how many
learners (total number), (ii) diversity of learners, (iii) their level of performance, and (iv) where learners are
located;
• Outcome-driven. Focus will be on DepEd’s key performance indicators (KPIs) as articulated in the four
pillars (intermediate outcomes) of the BEDP, which include access, equity, quality, and empowerment and
resilience. All M&E strategies will be designed around these pillars;
• Rights-upholding. DepEd through the MEA will ensure the rights of all learners to access to education,
quality basic education, and respect in the learning environment are addressed. M&E will track learners’
empowerment including their access to quality facilities; safe, secure, and nurturing learning environments
that uphold learners’ rights and well-being; consultation mechanisms with children and learners; redress
mechanisms for violations of their rights; and access to physical, emotional, and social support.
• Utilization-focused. The main purpose for M&E work is to inform planning. All activities, reporting
requirements, and M&E outputs will be used to improve the scope and quality of education plans, develop
demand-responsive basic education policies, improve the design of programs and projects, and recalibrate
DepEd’s enabling mechanisms as needed;
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• Participatory. The M&E system must serve as the platform for bringing internal and external stakeholders
together to collectively appreciate performance and collaboratively address issues or mitigate threats
systemically and systematically;
• Timely response. The time or timing of decisions is key to successful M&E initiatives. DepEd’s KPIs are
time- or period-specific. This must be tracked, analyzed, and (when necessary) addressed as they occur. M&E
strategies should be designed to “catch” the issues as these occur to prevent escalation; and
• Decentralized. While M&E is decentralized, it is integrated into one system and uses common standards.
The design of the M&E system must be adapted to the requirements of the organization, or more specifically
to the accountabilities of the major units in the organization. Accountabilities for each governance level are
different and unique. The M&E system must be able to address the accountabilities of the schools and CLCs
(teaching and learning), SDOs (equitable provisions of technical services), ROs (adoption or customization of
policies), and CO (direction setting through policies and programs).
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7.2.3. BEDP MEA Framework
The BEDP MEA Framework outlines the scope (outcomes, intermediate outcomes, strategies, and enabling
mechanisms) of the M&E from 2022–2030 and defines the indicators that will be used to verify performance and
the processes that will be used to validate the achievements and accomplishments of DepEd. The BEDP MEA
Framework is aligned with the Results Framework presented in Section 5.
Figure 31: Upper Levels of the Results Framework
GOAL
All Filipinos are able to realize their full potential and contribute
SECTOR OUTCOME
Basic education Filipino learners have the physical, cognitive, socio-emotional and moral preparation for civic
participation and engagement in post-secondary opportunities in their local, national and global communities
1. ACCESS 2. EQUITY 3. QUALITY 4. RESILIENCE
All school-age children, School-age children Learners complete K-12 Learners are resilient
out-of-school-youth, and youth, and adults basic education, having and aware of their
and adults accessed in situations of successfully attained rights, and have the
relevant basic learning disadvantage benefited all learning standards life skills to protect
opportunities from appropriate equity that equip them with themselves and their
initiatives the necessary skills and rights while being aware
attributes to pursue of their responsibilities
their chosen paths as individuals and as
members of society
ENABLING MECHANISMS- GOVERNANCE

Modern, efficient, nimble, and resilient governance and management processes
Tables 16–20 outline the scope of the BEDP MEA Framework.
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a. Pillar 1 – Access
Table 16 below highlights the key performance indicators (KPIs) on access including DepEd’s targets in 2026 and
2030. Access indicators are expanded to cover school-age children, learners in school, out-of-school children
(OSC), and out-of-school youth (OSY). Most KPIs are currently verifiable in the Enhanced Basic Education
Information System (EBEIS) except indicators pertaining to incidences of OSC and OSY. Targets pertaining to OSC
and OSY will be set when mechanisms for determining baseline information are established and operational.
Table 16: MEA Framework for Pillar 1 – Access
Results Physical Target

Baseline Frequency
Statement / Means of Responsible M&E
(SY 2019- Phase 01 Phase 02 of Data
Key Performance Verification Body Strategy
2020) (2022- (2026- Collection
Indicator
2026) 2030)
Intermediate Outcome (IO) #1 All school-age children, out-of-school youth, and adults
accessed relevant basic learning opportunities
1. Percentage of school-age children in school - Net Enrollment Rate (NER)
Annual
Planning Implementation
ELEMENTARY - NER 93.87% 94.66% 99% EBEIS Annually
Service Review (AIR)
Mid-Term Review
(MTR)
Planning Outcome
SECONDARY – NER 83.27% 91.13% 98% EBEIS Annually Evaluation (OE)
Service
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Baseline Frequency
2020) (2022- (2026- Collection
Indicator
2026) 2030)
2. Incidence of OOSC & OSY
ELEMENTARY
Planning Annual
Out-of-school rate 2.10% 2.00% 1.50% EBEIS Annually
Service Implementation
Review (AIR)
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Planning Mid-Term

4.70% 4.00% 3.00% EBEIS Annually
Out-of-school rate Service Review (MTR)
Outcome
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Planning Evaluation (OE)
9.10% 6.00% 4.00% EBEIS Annually
Out-of-school rate Service
IO1.1- All five-year-old children in school
Quarterly
Program
Implementation
3. Percentage of five-year-
Planning Review (QPR)
olds in school - Net Intake 63.43% 99% 100% EBEIS Annually
Service
Rate (NIR)
Annual
Implementation
Review (AIR)
IO1.2 - All learners will stay in school and finish key stages
4. Percentage of enrollees (Elem, JHS, SHS) in a given school year who continue to be in school the following school
year- Retention Rate
ELEMENTARY - Planning
98.94% 98% 98.50% EBEIS Annually Quarterly
Retention Rate Service
Program
Implementation
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL - Planning Review (QPR)
94.63% 96% 97% EBEIS Annually
Annual
Implementation
Review (AIR)
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL - Planning
94.53% TBD 100% EBEIS Annually
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Baseline Frequency
(SY 2019- of Data
Key Performance Phase 01 Phase 02 Verification Body Strategy
2020) Collection
Indicator (2022- (2026-
2026) 2030)
5. Percentage of currently enrolled learners but did not finish/complete the school year – Dropout Rate (DR)
Quarterly
ELEMENTARY - Planning
1.07% 0% 0% EBEIS Annually Program
Dropout Rate Service
Implementation
Review (QPR)
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Planning
2.42% 0.63% 0% EBEIS Annually
-Dropout Rate Service Annual
Implementation
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Planning Review (AIR)
0.66% 0% 0% EBEIS Annually
Dropout Rate Service
IO1.3 - All learners transition to the next key stage
6. Percentage of K/G6/G10 completers proceeded to next key stage - Transition Rate
KINDERGARTEN
Planning
- Transition Rate 98.12% 99% 100% EBEIS Annually
Service
(K to Grade1)
Quarterly
ELEMENTARY
Planning Program
(Grade 3 to Grade 4)
Review (QPR)
Annual
ELEMENTARY
Planning Implementation
Service Review (AIR)
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL -

Planning
Transition Rate 96.91% 98% 99% EBEIS Annually
Service
180

Baseline Frequency
2020) (2022- (2026- Collection
Indicator
2026) 2030)
IO1.4- All out-of-school children and youth participate in and complete formal or non-formal basic education
learning opportunities
7. Percentage of OSC and OSY who returned to school or participated in ALS – Participation Rate of OSC and OSY
*Baseline
OUT-OF-SCHOOL Quarterly
to be *to be Planning
CHILDREN - TBD TBD Annually Program
established developed Service
Participation Rate Implementation
Review (QPR)
*Baseline Annual
OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH- to be *to be Planning Implementation
TBD TBD Annually Review (AIR)
Participation Rate established developed Service
8. Percentage of completers in ALS- completed session -ALS
*Baseline Bureau of
OUT-OF-SCHOOL
to be *to be Alternative
CHILDREN - TBD TBD Annually
established developed Education
Completed Sessions - ALS
(BAEd) Quarterly Program
Implementation
*Baseline Bureau of Review (QPR)
OUT-OF-SCHOOL
YOUTH - TBD TBD Annually
established developed Education Annual
(BAEd) Implementation
Review (AIR)
*Baseline Bureau of
OUT-OF-SCHOOL
CHILDREN - TBD TBD Annually
established developed Education
(BAEd)
All indicators of the BEDP will be disaggregated by gender, learners in situation of disadvantage, regions and provinces, and types of schools,
whenever possible.
181
b. Pillar 2 – Equity
The MEA Framework of Pillar 2 highlights DepEd’s commitment on inclusion. Table 17 contains the KPIs that
will be used to measure involvements and performance of learners or groups in situations of disadvantage.
Table 17 also outlines the indicators, proposed means of verification (MOV), and the M&E strategies to be used
in validating the outcomes under Equity. To date, no targets on Equity are committed pending the completion
of baseline information on learners in situations of disadvantage and development of systems that will “tag”
learners in situation of disadvantage.
Table 17: MEA Framework for Pillar 2 - Equity

Baseline Frequency
2020) (2022- (2026- Collection
Indicator
2026) 2030)
Intermediate Outcome (IO) #2. School-age children and youth, and adults in situations of disadvantage
benefited from appropriate equity initiatives
1. Proportion of learners in situation of disadvantage transition to next key stage
Annual
ELEMENTARY *Baseline **to be Implementation
Planning
- % Disparity in to be TBD TBD incorporated Annually Review (AIR)
Service
transition rate established in EBEIS
Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
SECONDARY *Baseline **to be
Planning
- % Disparity in to be TBD TBD incorporated Annually Outcome
Service
transition rate established in EBEIS Evaluation (OE)
2. Gender participation-disparity in completion
Annual
ELEMENTARY Implementation
Planning
Gender Parity 1.03 1.0 1.0 EBEIS Annually Review (AIR)
Service
Index Completion
Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
SECONDARY -
Planning Outcome
Gender Parity 1.03 1.0 1.0 EBEIS Annually
Service Evaluation (OE)
Index Completion
182

Frequency
Statement / Baseline Means of Responsible M&E
Phase 01 Phase 02 of Data
Key Performance (SY 2019- 2020) Verification Body Strategy
(2022- (2026- Collection
Indicator
2026) 2030)
IO2.1 - All school-age children and youth and adults in situations of disadvantage are participating in basic learning
opportunities and receiving appropriate quality education
3. Percentage of learners in situation of disadvantage continue to participate in basic education
Quarterly
ELEMENTARY *Baseline to be EBEIS Planning Program
TBD TBD Annually
- Retention Rate established (for tagging) Service Implementation
Review (QPR)
Annual
SECONDARY *Baseline to be EBEIS Planning Implementation
TBD TBD Annually
- Retention Rate established (for tagging) Service Review (AIR)
4. Percentage of learners in situations of disadvantage (disaggregated by group) achieved at least a fixed level of
proficiency/mastery in (a) functional literacy, (b) numeracy, and (c) 21st century skills
Functional Literacy- Bureau of

% of learners at with at *Baseline to be NAT Education
TBD TBD Annually
least proficient level or established (for tagging) Assessment
better (BEA)
Quarterly
Program
Implementation
Numeracy- Bureau of
Review (QPR)
TBD TBD Annually
Annual
better (BEA)
Implementation
Review (AIR)
21st century skills- Bureau of

TBD TBD Annually
better (BEA)
183
c. Pillar 3 – Quality
The MEA Framework for Pillar 3 outlines the KPIs on quality. The overall target on quality is set at “learners
attaining nearly proficient level or better.” The national achievement test (NAT) administered by DepEd’s Bureau of
Education Assessment (BEA) will be used to verify learners’ attainment. The Accreditation and Equivalency Test
(A&E) will be used to verify performance of learners in the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
Table 18: MEA Framework for Pillar 3 - Quality of Learning

Frequency
Indicator
2026) 2030)
Intermediate Outcome (IO) #3. Learners complete K-12 basic education having attained all learning
standards that equip them with the necessary skills and attributes to pursue their chosen paths
1. Percentage of learners pursued their chosen paths
**Tracer Study
% proceeded *Baseline to be To be
TBD TBD (to be Annually
to college established developed
developed)
**Tracer Study
% proceeded *Baseline to be To be
to employment established developed Outcome
developed)
Evaluation (OE)
**Tracer Study
% proceeded to *Baseline to be To be
entrepreneurship established developed
developed)
**Tracer Study
% proceeded to middle *Baseline to be To be
level skills training established developed
developed)
2. Percentage of learners in a cohort who completed Grade 6 / Grade 12- Completion Rate - (CR)
Planning Annual
ELEMENTARY - CR 96.56% 95% 97% EBEIS Annually
Review (AIR)
Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
Planning Outcome
SECONDARY – CR 76.71% 86% 90% EBEIS Annually Evaluation (OE)
Service
184
IO3.1 - Learners attained Stage 1 learning standards of fundamental reading and numeracy skills
3. Percentage of learners attaining nearly proficient level or better in Reading and Listening Comprehension
increased
Annual
Implementation
Review (AIR)
Bureau of
Percentage of learners Frequency
Education
achieving nearly proficient 56.03% 68.91% 82.71% NAT 3 to be Mid-Term
Assessment
or better in English determined Review (MTR)
(BEA)
Outcome
Evaluation (OE)
Percentage of learners
Bureau of
achieving nearly proficient Frequency Annual
Education
or better in Mother 35% 50% 65% NAT 3 to be Implementation
Assessment
Tongue (excluding Tagalog determined Review (AIR)
(BEA)
speakers)
Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
Bureau of
Percentage of learners Frequency
Education Outcome
achieving nearly proficient 27.07% 47.95% 77.95% NAT 3 to be
Assessment Evaluation (OE)
or better in numeracy determined
(BEA)
IO3.2 - Learners attain Stage 2 (Grade 6) learning standards of literacy & numeracy skills and apply 21st century skills
to various situations
4. Percentage of learners
Bureau of
attaining proficient level or Frequency
Education
better in Stage 2 literacy 17.69% 47.55% 84.15% NAT 6 to be
Assessment Annual
standards determined
(BEA) Implementation
(increase: 4 pp/yr)
Review (AIR)
Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
Outcome
5. Percentage of learners Evaluation (OE)
Bureau of
attaining proficient level or Frequency
Education
better in Stage 2 numeracy 17.57% 45.43% 80.43% NAT 6 to be
Assessment
standards determined
(BEA)
(increase: 4 pp/yr)
185
IO3.3 -Learners attain Stage 3 (Grades 7-10) learning standards of literacy & numeracy skills and apply 21st century
skills to various situations
6. Percentage of G10 Bureau of

Frequency Annual
learners attaining nearly Education
36.37% 55.24% 85.24% NAT 10 to be Implementation
proficient level or better in Assessment
determined Review (AIR)
Stage 3 literacy (4 pp/yr) (BEA)
Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
7. Percentage of G10
Bureau of Outcome
learners attaining nearly Frequency
Education Evaluation (OE)
proficient level or better 13.05% 46.30% 85.05% NAT 10 to be
Assessment
in Stage 3 numeracy determined
(BEA)
standards (4 pp/yr)
IO3.4 - Learners attain Stage 4 (Grades 11-12) learning standards equipped with knowledge and 21st century
competencies developed in their chosen core, applied and specialized SHS tracks
Annual
Implementation
Review (AIR)
8. Percentage of Grade 12
Bureau of
learners attaining nearly 10% Frequency
Education Mid-Term
proficient level or better in (2018 BEEA) 28% 70% NAT 12 to be
Assessment Review (MTR)
Stage 4 core SHS areas (6 determined
(BEA)
pp/yr)
Outcome
Evaluation (OE)
IO3.5 - Learners in the Alternative Learning System attain certification as Elementary or Junior High School
completers
9. Percentage of ALS learners pass the A&E test
Annual
Implementation
Review (AIR)
Bureau of
*Baseline to be Education Mid-Term
ALS A&E Passing Rate TBD TBD A&E Test Annually
established Assessment Review (MTR)
(BEA)
Outcome
Evaluation (OE)
186
d. Pillar 4 – Learners’ Resiliency and Well-Being
The MEA Framework for Pillar 4 shows the KPIs to be used in planning learners’ resiliency and well-being.
Together with Equity, Pillar 4 highlights DepEd’s commitments to advance the rights and well-being of learners.
Currently, the mechanisms for verifying KPIs under Pillar 4 will need to be established and set up. As of this
period, no targets are set for most KPIs.
Table 19: MEA Framework for Pillar 4 – Learners’ Resiliency and Well-Being
Physical Target
Results
Frequency
Indicator
2026) 2030)
Intermediate Outcome (IO) #4. Learners are resilient and know their rights and have the life skills to protect
themselves and claim their education rights from DepEd and other duty-bearers to promote learners’ well-being
1. Percentage of affected
*Baseline to be **EBEIS Planning
and displaced learners TBD 100% Annually
established (for tagging) Service
retained
2. Percentage of learners Child

Annual
** to be
who reported violence Protection Unit
Implementation
developed -
committed against them by *Baseline to be - Office of the
Review (AIR)
TBD 100% Survey Annually
other learners (bullying) or established Undersecretary
(random
adults (child abuse) based for Field
Mid-Term
sampling)
on intake sheets of schools Operations Review (MTR)
Outcome
3. Percentage of learners Evaluation (OE)
who are happy and
Child Rights
satisfied with their basic Learner
*Baseline to be in Education
education experience in 95% 98% Satisfaction Annually
established Desk – Legal
relation to the enjoyment Rating (LSR)
Affairs
of their specific rights in
school and learning centers
4. Percentage of learners Child Rights

Learner
who know their rights TO *Baseline to be in Education
95% 98% Satisfaction Annually
and IN education, and how established Desk – Legal
Rating (LSR)
to claim them positively Affairs
5. Percentage of schools
Child Rights
and learning centers Learner
significantly manifesting 95% 98% Satisfaction Annually
indicators of RBE in the Rating (LSR)
Affairs
learning environment
187
Frequency
of Data
Key Performance (SY 2019- 2020) Phase 01 Phase 02 Verification Body Strategy
Collection
Indicator (2022- (2026-
2026) 2030)
Child Rights
6. Learners Satisfaction
*Baseline to be **to be in Education
Rating on Rights-based TBD 100% Annually
established developed Desk – Legal
Education
Affairs
IO4.1 Learners are served by a Department that adheres to a rights-based education framework at all levels
7. Percentage of CO Diagnostic Child Rights

offices, ROs, and SDOs *Baseline to be Tool on RBE in Education
95% 98% Annually
significantly manifesting established for DepEd Desk – Legal
indicators of RBE offices Affairs
8. Percentage of DepEd Diagnostic

personnel in CO, RO, Tool on RBE
SDO, and schools/learning for DepEd
Child Rights
centers who know the Offices and
rights of children and 95% 98% Schools, Annually
learners in relation to RBE, Reports
Affairs
and are able to infuse them of training
in their respective jobs/ on RBE
duties completed
IO4.2 Learners are safe and protected, and can protect themselves from risks and impacts from natural and
human-induced hazards
9. Percentage of learners
CSS
equipped with capacities Annual
*Baseline to be Monitoring
on what to do before, 50% 100% Annually DRRMS Implementation
established Tool and
during, and after a disaster/ Review (AIR)
EBEIS
emergency
Mid-Term
CSS Review (MTR)
10. Percentage of learners *Baseline to be Monitoring
30% 100% Annually DRRMS
in safe schools established Tool and
EBEIS
IO4.3 Learners have the basic physical, mental, and emotional fortitude to cope with various challenges in life
Bureau of
11. Percentage of students Learners Annual
*Baseline to be ** to be
with improved health TBD TBD Annually Support Implementation
established developed
statistics Services Review (AIR)
(BLSS)
Mid-Term
Bureau of Review (MTR)
12. Percentage of learners Learners
*Baseline to be ** to be Outcome
with improved physical TBD TBD Annually Support
established developed Evaluation (OE)
fitness level Services
(BLSS)
188
e. Enabling Mechanisms – Governance and Management
To ensure more inclusive and complete enabling mechanisms, DepEd expanded the criteria for measuring
success of governance and management strategies. Table 20 enumerates the KPIs to be used in verifying the six
mechanisms under governance. These include: (i) participative and inclusive management processes, (ii) strategic
human resource management, (iii) investments in basic education, (iv) internal systems and processes, (v)
stakeholders’ participation, and (vi) public and private education complementarity.
Table 20: MEA Framework for Enabling Mechanisms – Governance and Management
Physical Target
Results
Baseline Frequency
Statement / Phase Phase Means of Responsible M&E
(SY 2019- of Data
Key Performance 01 02 Verification Body Strategy
2020) Collection
Indicator (2022- (2026-
2026) 2030)
Enabling Mechanism #1. Education leaders and managers practice participative and inclusive
management processes
1. Proportion of schools achieving higher levels of SBM practice
Bureau of
Human
Annual
*For SBM Level Resource &
Elementary TBD TBD Annually Implementation
verification of Practice Organization
Review (AIR)
Development
(BHROD)
Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
Outcome
*For SBM Level
Secondary TBD TBD Annually BHROD Evaluation (OE)
verification of Practice
Enabling Mechanism #2. Strategic human resource management enhanced for continuing professional
development and opportunities
2. Proportion of offices across governance levels with very satisfactory and higher rating in the Office
Performance Commitment and Review Form (OPCRF)
Annual
Implementation
*For
Elementary TBD TBD OPCRF Annually BHROD Review (AIR)
verification
Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
*For Outcome
Secondary TBD TBD OPCRF Annually BHROD
verification Evaluation (OE)
189
Physical Target
Results
Baseline Phase Phase Frequency
(SY 2019- 01 02 of Data
2020) (2022- (2026- Collection
Indicator
2026) 2030)
Schools *For
TBD TBD OPCRF Annually BHROD
Division Office verification
Annual
Implementation
Review (AIR)
Mid-Term
Regional *For Review (MTR)
Office verification
Outcome
Evaluation (OE)
Central *For
Office verification
Enabling Mechanism #3. Investments in basic education provide learners with the ideal learning
environment
3. Proportion of schools achieving ideal ratio on:
*For Physical
Classroom TBD TBD Annually
verification Facilities
*For Planning
Teachers TBD TBD Annually
verification Service
Annual
Bureau of Implementation
*For Review (AIR)
Textbooks TBD TBD Annually Learning
verification
Resources
Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
*For
Seats TBD TBD Annually Procurement Outcome
verification
Evaluation (OE)
Science and *For

TBD TBD Annually Procurement
Math equipment verification
ICT Package *For

TBD TBD Annually ICTS
/E-classroom verification
190
Physical Target 145
Results
Baseline Frequency
Statement / Phase Means of Responsible M&E
(SY 2019- Phase 01 of Data
Key Performance 02 Verification Body Strategy
2020) (2022- Collection
Indicator (2026-
2026)
2030)
4. Proportion of elementary schools with:
Annual
*For
Functional library TBD 100% Annually Implementation
verification
Review (AIR)
Connection to *For Physical Mid-Term

TBD 100% Annually
electricity verification Facilities Review (MTR)
Outcome
Connection to internet *For
TBD 100% Annually ICTS Evaluation (OE)
functional library verification
5. Proportion of secondary schools with:
100%
*For schools
Functional library 100% Annually Annual
verification with
Implementation
electricity
Review (AIR)
Connection to *For Mid-Term

TBD 100% Annually Review (MTR)
electricity verification
Outcome
Connection to internet *For Evaluation (OE)
100% 100% Annually ICTS
functional library verification
6. Proportion of SDOs achieving ideal interquartile ratio (IQR) *on teacher deployment
% SDOs achieving ideal *For Planning

TBD TBD Annually
interquartile ratio (IQR) verification Service
Enabling Mechanism #4. Improve and modernize internal systems and processes for a responsive and efficient
financial resource management
7. Client satisfactory rating of DepEd offices’ respective stakeholders (internal & external)
OUF, OASF-FS,
ICTS, Planning
***To be
Service, Usec Annual
*Baseline to be developed
School TBD TBD Annually for Field Implementation
established Survey
Operations, Review (AIR)
Results
ROs, SDOs,
and schools
191
Physical Target 145
Results
Baseline Phase Frequency
Statement / Phase 01 Means of Responsible M&E
(SY 2019- 02 of Data
Key Performance (2022- Verification Body Strategy
2020) (2026- Collection
Indicator 2026)
2030)
OUF, OASF-FS,
ICTS, Planning
***To be
Service, Usec
SDO TBD TBD Annually for Field
established Survey
Operations,
Results
ROs, SDOs,
and schools Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
***To be
*Baseline to be developed Outcome
RO TBD TBD Annually
established Survey Evaluation
Results (OE)
***To be
CO TBD TBD Annually
established Survey
Results
Enabling Mechanism #5. Key stakeholders actively collaborate to serve learners better
8. Percentage of financial contribution of international and local grant development partners vis-a-vis
national education budget (including adopt a school, brigada eskwela)
*Baseline to be **To be
Local - % contribution TBD TBD Annually
established developed
Annual
Implementation
Review (AIR)
International - % *Baseline to be **To be Mid-Term

TBD TBD Annually
contribution established developed Review (MTR)
Outcome
Evaluation (OE)
Special Education Fund

69.8% TBD TBD Annually
Utilization rate
192
Physical Target 145
Results
Baseline Frequency
Statement / Phase Phase Means of Responsible M&E
(SY 2019- of Data
Key Performance 01 02 Verification Body Strategy
2020) Collection
Indicator (2022- (2026-
2026) 2030)
9. Proportion of schools with functional SGC
*For
Elementary Annually BHROD Annual
verification
Implementation
Review (AIR)
Mid-Term
*For Review (MTR)
Secondary Annually BHROD
verification
Outcome
Evaluation (OE)
Enabling Mechanism #6. Public and private education operate under a dynamic and responsive complementarity
framework
10. Proportion of private Annual

*Baseline to be **To be Implementation
schools receiving TBD TBD Annually
established developed Review (AIR)
government assistance
Mid-Term
Review (MTR)
11. Proportion of teachers
*Baseline to be **To be
in private schools receiving TBD TBD Annually
established developed Outcome
teacher subsidy
Evaluation (OE
193
7.2.4. Operationalizing BEDP MEA Framework
The BEDP MEA Framework will be operationalized into six distinct but integrated strategies. These are stand-
alone processes designed to validate the achievement of different levels of results (outputs, intermediate
outcomes, and outcomes) in the BEDP, and designed to support the decision-making needs of different levels of
governance that will allow them to efficiently and effectively manage the implementation of the BEDP. The six
strategies are integrated by design. The findings or outputs of one M&E strategy will be used as input to the other
M&E strategies. The six include: (i) establishments of baseline, (ii) quarterly program implementation review,
(iii) annual implementation review, (iv) mid-term review, (v) results monitoring and evaluation, and (vi) impact
evaluation. These strategies are designed to ensure a more systemic and systematic approach to monitoring and
tracking, evaluating, and enhancing the BEDP implementation. Figure 32 presents an overview of the BEDP MEA
Strategies.
Figure 32: BEDP MEA Strategies

Results Monitoring Impact
& Evaluation (RME) Evaluation
BASELINING
Basic BEDP Phase 1 IMPLEMENTATION BEDP Phase 2 IMPLEMENTATION

Education
Development
Plan (BEDP) 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual Annual

Implementation Implementation Implementation Implementation Implementation Implementation Implementation
Review (AIR) Review (AIR) Review (AIR) Review (AIR) Review (AIR) Review (AIR) Review (AIR)
MID-TERM
REVIEW
(MTR)
ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL

PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN
(Operations Plan - Activities & Inputs)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Program Program Program

Implementation Implementation Implementation
Review (PIR) Review (PIR) Review (PIR)
Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly

Date Collection Date Collection Date Collection Date Collection
194
a. Establishment of Baselines and Verification Mechanisms
M&E will be playing an important role in implementing the BEDP. The ability of DepEd to readily set up and
operationalize M&E will provide immediate benefits to DepEd management and stakeholders with early
indications of progress (or lack thereof) and manifestations that strategies and programs are delivering the
desired results as intended. In this regard, important requisites for implementing a systemwide M&E must be in
place in the early phase of BEDP implementation.
In this regard, immediate mobilization of DepEd to do MEA work and operationalize verification processes
must be prioritized. The capability and capacity of DepEd to do M&E work takes priority before full-blown
implementation of BEDP strategies. The following BEDP MEA startup activities will be implemented:
• Capacity building of DepEd staff assigned to do M&E work. M&E process owners in different governance
levels will be trained on how to setup M&E, how to perform M&E work, and how to manage the M&E
system and its processes;
• Establish baseline information on learners. M&E is an important element of inclusion. DepEd’s ability
to respond to varying needs of all children and all learners will depend on its capability to do M&E. To be
able to do this, DepEd needs to immediately have an estimate of its target groups including location and
learning needs, gender, and socio-economic profile. Baseline information on the number of learners in a
disadvantaged setting will immediately benefit both the planning and M&E processes. Failure to establish
these mechanisms compromises DepEd’s ability to track, monitor, and evaluate DepEd’s initiatives in these
areas. Therefore, to “mainstream” these learners in the indicators and M&E reports of DepEd, the following
five strategies for setting up baseline information will be explored and considered:
- Mapping strategy. The practices of schools and CLCs on mapping learners will be reviewed.
Currently, the process involves teachers going house-to-house to count and document target
learners. This process is tedious and is an additional responsibility imposed on teachers. The strategy
should be simplified, and coverage be expanded;
- Participation of stakeholders. This includes partnering with local government units (LGUs), day care
centers, and barangay health workers at the field level. Partnering with Early Childhood Care and
Development (ECCD), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of
Health (DOH), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and National
Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) at the national level and with parents’ associations and
learners themselves will help triangulate, develop a precise estimate of learners and learning needs,
and frame the provision of basic education services in light of upholding the rights of learners as
children and youth;
- Early registration of learners. Access to reaching schools should be enhanced. This includes
improving access to schools using the internet, social media, and other non-conventional means for
targeting learners;
- Information sharing and collaboration of information dissemination especially with national agencies
like the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); and
- Database buildup on learners.
195
The following baseline will be conducted: (i) estimated number OSC and OSY; (ii) 5-year-olds in the community;
(iii) estimated number of LWDs, IP learners, and Muslim learners in a disadvantaged situation; (iv) learners from
GIDA; (v) estimated number of learners in conflict and disaster affected areas; and (vi) others. Establishment of
baseline information will be completed by the end of 2023. This will allow DepEd to set targets for indicators
without baseline data by SY 2025–2026.
• Formulate M&E processes and M&E tools and techniques. With different accountabilities and operational
requirements from each governance level, DepEd will develop M&E processes that are mandate-appropriate.
This means customizing M&E processes for schools, divisions, regions, and the CO. Different M&E
processes will be integrated (vertically) DepEd-wide and horizontally across units;
• Information campaign on the scope and benefits of the BEDP MEA System. To minimize resistance and
encourage utilization of the BEDP MEA facility, DepEd will conduct a nationwide campaign on the scope of
the BEDP and the importance of M&E in sustaining an efficient and effective implementation of the BEDP.
b. Quarterly Program Implementation Review (QPIR)
The QPIR will serve as a platform for documenting the learners’ situation at the field-level, giving schools and
SDOs immediate feedback on the effects of programs and projects in terms of learners’ access to education,
learners’ performance in school, and how learners’ rights are enforced. Field-level review will also highlight the
needs or performance of groups in situations of disadvantage. The quarterly review will enable the schools and
SDOs to assess performance and “catch issues” as they happen, and to immediately make corrective actions
on bottlenecks affecting the implementation of the curriculum and respond to barriers hindering learner’s
performance.
At the SDO level, the QPIR will be used as an integrating mechanism by both the Schools Governance and
Operations Division (SGOD) and Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) to synchronize technical support to
schools and CLCs. It will also identify or locate schools and CLCs needing immediate and substantive assistance.
This will allow the SDO to restrategize assistance and refocus resources to communities and schools with the
utmost needs.
The QPIR will focus on verifying outcomes at the sub-intermediate level. Operational issues raised in the QPIR
should be immediately resolved by the schools, CLCs, and SDOs. Policy- or program-level concerns will be
forwarded by the SDOs to the ROs to be used as inputs to their own quarterly reviews.
c. Annual Implementation Review
Annual or end-of-year review will focus on verifying the achievement of Intermediate Outcomes. The review
will provide schools and SDOs with overall feedback on the effectiveness of strategies, outputs, and activities
as contained in the Annual Plan. It will also show the efficiency of the schools and SDOs in delivering their
commitments outlined in the annual plans. DepEd at all levels, development partners, and other education
stakeholders will participate in the AIR.
196
The review findings will be used to refocus scope and targets based on emerging needs and recalibrate proposed
strategies or programs for the next implementation period. The annual review will be used to highlight areas for
improvements in policies and national level programs at the RO and CO level. The annual review results can also
be used as the basis in reprioritizing targets for the following year. Intermediate outcomes will be assessed and
compared (year to year) to determine progress towards achieving the desired intermediate outcomes.
d. Mid-Term Review
The mid-term review will be undertaken by the ROs and the CO in 2026. The mid-term review aims to determine
if the critical milestones or targets set for 2026 are realized or achieved nationally and per region and if 2030
targets are still feasible. The review will determine the performance of the 16 DepEd regions, identify regions
where policies and programs are working, determine disparities in regional performance, and identify major
adjustments in the implementation of policies or in the content or scope of existing policies.
The results of the mid-term review will be used to review 2030 targets, and to recalibrate BEDP strategies from
2026 to 2030. DepEd stakeholders will participate in the conduct of mid-term review.
e. Outcome Evaluation
Outcome evaluation is the final review and will be undertaken in or before 2030. The focus of the evaluation will
be on two aspects: (i) documenting stories about Filipino learners, and (ii) evaluation of the BEDP results
framework to determine strategies to continue, strategies to stop, and new strategies to undertake for the next
cycle of the BEDP.
f. Impact Evaluation of Policy and Programs
The conduct of impact evaluation will be policy- or program-specific. DepEd will undertake evaluation of programs
that have been completed or when there is a need (trend, new situation, or challenges) to review education
policies. The implementation will be based on demand, especially when there is a need to review the
effectiveness of DepEd policies and programs and determine the effects of new policies and programs to existing
DepEd policies and to DepEd operations. The conduct of impact evaluation will provide flexibility for DepEd to
immediately address the intended and unintended effects. The results of the evaluation will be used as inputs
to improve designs of ongoing programs, identify new programs, enhance existing policies, and develop new
policies. The CO and RO will initiate impact evaluation of programs as needed.
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7.2.5. Decentralized M&E System
The Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001 (RA 9155) establishes the accountabilities and responsibilities for
ensuring access to, promoting equity of, and improving the quality of basic education. The powers, duties, and
functions of the CO, RO, SDO, and school were defined with clear boundaries and accountabilities. In addition,
the mechanism for a decentralized approach to basic education was established to ensure relevant, efficient,
and effective provision of quality basic education services to all learners. DepEd will strengthen its monitoring,
evaluation, and adjustment work to ensure each governance level can efficiently and effectively perform its
mandated roles and responsibilities.
An integrated M&E system composed of four M&E sub-systems will be operationalized. These include:
School M&E System
A school-level system for doing M&E work will be established for use by the school head, teachers, community
stakeholders, and learners to manage the learning process inside the classroom and school. The school M&E
system will be designed to address the school’s decision-making needs and information requirements and
those of its stakeholders. M&E processes, tools and templates, and reports will be designed based on school
needs and mandates. A customized school M&E system will allow the school managers, teachers, learners, and
stakeholders to:
• Track and evaluate the progress and achievement of all learners;

• Improve and enhance the curriculum delivery, school programs, and projects based on learners’
needs and according to demands in the community. Timely information and feedback will allow school
managers and teachers to make the necessary and responsive adjustments or improvements in the
school programs and projects;
• Manage school resources and external resource mobilization more efficiently and effectively;
• Track and proactively respond to issues in the school’s environment that may affect learners’
participation, rights, health, and safety. The school M&E system can be a mechanism for mobilizing
community support to address issues like disasters, social and health issues, and threats to learners’
rights; and
• Meet the information, reporting, and documentation requirements of DepEd. A functioning school
M&E system will provide important information needed by SDOs in providing needs-based technical
assistance to schools.
All sub-intermediate outcome indicators in the BEDP MEA Framework will be tracked and evaluated by the school
every quarter (QPIR) and end-of-school year (EOSY) through the AIR. These will be used as inputs to evaluate the
schools’ curriculum implementation, and inputs to the preparation of the annual improvement plan.
ALS M&E System
Recognizing the critical role of the ALS in addressing access and learning needs of OSC and OSY, DepEd will
establish and operationalize a monitoring system specifically devoted to ALS concerns and its target groups. To be
established at the District level, the ALS M&E system will be used to:
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• Track learners, through the CLCs, who have dropped out of the formal system. These include OSC and
OSY;
• Improve and enhance the curriculum delivery, and capacity of the learning facilitators in managing and
facilitating the teaching and learning process in the community;
• Track the effectiveness of ALS learning modalities and explore other modalities to expand OSC’s and
OSY’s access to learning;
• Manage the participation of community stakeholders and the Barangay LGU (BLGU) especially in
tracking OSC and OSY. The M&E system will be used for generating needed learning resources for
OSC and OSY in the community, and to ensure efficient and effective resource mobilization;
• Track and proactively respond to issues in the learners’ environment that may affect learners’
participation, rights, health, and safety. The ALS M&E system can be a mechanism for mobilizing
community support to address issues like disasters, social and health issues, and threats to
empowerment; and
• Meet the information, reporting, and documentation requirements of DepEd. A functioning ALS
M&E system will provide important information needed by SDOs in providing needs-based technical
assistance to community learning centers.
All sub-intermediate outcome indicators pertaining to ALS will be tracked and evaluated by the district supervisors
every quarter (QPIR) and end-of-school year (EOSY) through the AIR. These will be used as inputs to evaluate the
CLCs’ implementation of the curriculum, and inputs to the district supervisors’ technical assistance plan.
Division M&E System
SDOs are mandated to provide timely and demand-responsive technical support to all schools and CLCs. To
effectively perform its mandated tasks in the governance of basic education, it will require a functioning division-
level M&E system. The system, including processes, tools and templates, and reporting requirements, will be
designed to address the accountabilities of the SDO management and technical staff.
The Division M&E system will be used to integrate SDOs’ operations with schools and CLCs. It will provide
timely data, information, and insights on the technical support requirements of schools and timely feedback on
the effectiveness of support programs of the SDOs to schools and CLCs. It sets in motion a series of managerial
responses, adjustments, and realignments to create a sustained impact to schools’ and CLCs’ performance. The
system will allow the SDOs to:
• Prioritize schools and CLCs needing immediate technical assistance. The Division M&E system will be
able to identify and locate schools and CLCs that are affecting the overall performance of the SDO on
access, equity, quality, learner’s rights and resilience, and implementation of RBE;
• Identify and provide immediate support to schools and CLCs having issues implementing the
curriculum and experiencing bottlenecks in managing the curriculum support systems;
• Provide demand-responsive technical support on SBM based on enrollment, retention, completion,
and learners’ achievements. This will facilitate profiling of schools based on needs, performance, and
resources;
• Improve training support to school heads on instruction support and school-based management, and
deployment and training of teachers and learning facilitators;
• Facilitate stakeholders’ support to areas or schools needing technical and logistical support. The M&E
can be used as a mechanism for managing, directing, and maximizing external support to areas with
greater needs or performance issues;
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• Ensure schools’ compliance to and implementation of the School M&E system. Through the Division
M&E system, the SDO will provide technical assistance to schools to properly apply and implement the
application of M&E principles, tools, and techniques;
• Track and proactively respond to issues affecting the health, safety, and security of all learners and
school personnel. This includes identifying and tracking schools located in calamity- and disaster-prone
areas, groups of all learners, and school personnel that may threaten learners’ health and safety in
times of calamities and disasters;
• Manage the Division Education Development Plan (DEDP) implementation. The M&E system will be
used to assess the internal efficiency of the SDOs, especially in the delivery of support programs and
projects; and
• Provide timely feedback to the RO on the appropriateness and impact to field operations and
performance of national education policies and DepEd programs and projects.
In collaboration with schools and district supervisors, the sub-intermediate outcome indicators in the BEDP
MEA Framework will be tracked and evaluated quarterly and annually. The indicators will be used by the SDO to
calibrate and prioritize its technical assistance to schools and CLCs.
Region M&E System
The responsibility for ensuring national policies, programs, and systems conform to and reflect the communities’
values, needs, and expectations is with the DepEd ROs. The regions provide the necessary link between
DepEd’s operational capabilities in the field level with the policy and system environment in the agency. Tracking
the appropriateness and responsiveness of policies and programs should be undertaken regularly. This means
evaluating the demand-responsiveness of existing policies and programs and assessing the intended and
unintended effects of new policies and programs to current DepEd efforts and to learners’ performance. The
Region M&E system must provide the RO management and technical staff with timely information and insight on
the efficacy of education policies and programs and how these impact learners in the region.
The Region M&E system addresses the management requirements of the RO in policymaking and program
implementation. It will serve as a venue to discuss and improve programs and provisions in existing policies
between and among the different functional units in the RO. Specifically, this will facilitate the ROs to:
• Identify areas (divisions or geographical areas) where policies and programs are working and not
working. The system will enable the RO to sustain benefits from areas where performance is good, and
address limitations in the policies or programs in areas where these are not making an impact;
• Ensure assessment results and regional evaluation results are utilized by the different RO functional
units and SDOs as inputs to improving curriculum implementation and improving the design of
education plans and programs;
• Determine SDOs’ efficiency and effectiveness in providing technical support to schools and CLCs.
The M&E system will help identify and prioritize SDOs requiring policy, system, and capacity building
support from the different units in the RO;
• Ensure SDOs’ compliance to and implementation of the SDOs’ M&E system. Through the Region M&E
system, the RO will quality assure the SDOs’ application of M&E principles, tools, and techniques;
• Track and proactively respond to issues affecting all learners’ and school personnel’s health, safety,
security, and exercise of learners’ rights. This includes ensuring related national and regional policies
on health, safety, security, and learners’ rights are enforced and customized to the unique needs of
learners in the region;
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• Ensure efficient management of the RBEP implementation. The M&E system will be used to assess
the internal efficiency of the ROs, especially in the customization of policies, the conduct of research
and evaluation of policies and programs, and ensuring the capabilities of the SDOs on technical
assistance; and
• Provide timely feedback to the CO on the appropriateness and effectiveness of national education
policies and DepEd programs and projects.
Using the Region M&E system, the RO will track all intermediate outcome indicators every year, mid-term, and
impact evaluation. Indicators or results will be used to enhance regional policies and programs and develop new
programs and projects appropriate to the situation in the region.
CO M&E System
The central-level M&E system will serve as the integrating mechanism for the different M&E sub-systems.
The CO will ensure the vertical integration of the different M&E sub-systems and the horizontal integration of
the M&E processes with planning, program management, technical assistance, and other processes in the
Department. The CO M&E system will draw heavily from the reports and inputs coming from the Region M&E
system.
The CO M&E system will supply the decision-making and information needs of the Secretary, Executive
Committee Members, Management Committee, and key external stakeholders with feedback on the
effectiveness of national policies and programs. In addition, technical staff from CO units (bureaus and
services) can draw heavily from the findings and results of the CO M&E system of DepEd and use the same for
improvements in provisions or designs of the program.
The main focus of the CO M&E system is on validating results—learners’ participation, performance, and
observance of their rights. The CO M&E system will allow the central policymakers, program designers, and
technical staff to:
• Identify information and insights on policies, programs, or interventions that worked or didn’t work, and
determine the environment or situation to which these policies are most appropriate and relevant;
• Make immediate adjustments in policy or program implementation. Feedback and experiences shared
by program managers and implementers will be used to draw lessons and inputs for other programs;
• Track and monitor the efficient implementation of all national programs and projects;
• Pinpoint or locate bottlenecks in DepEd’s management systems or operations. This will help identify
duplication or overlaps in CO initiatives; and
• Ensure efficient management of the BEDP implementation. The M&E system will be used to assess
the internal efficiency of the CO units, especially in policy formulation, the conduct of research and
evaluation of policies and programs, and building the capabilities of the ROs on policy formulation and
implementation, research and evaluation, assessment, and development of human resources.
The CO M&E system will draw heavily from the results of evaluation activities conducted by the ROs and the
evaluation of programs and projects by the CO bureaus and units.
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7.2.6. BEDP MEA Scope and Responsibilities
Primary stakeholders involved in the implementation and management of the BEDP MEA are: (i) Planning Service,
(ii) Quality Assurance Division (QAD) in the region, (iii) SGOD in the division, and (iv) Lead M&E staff (to be
assigned), representing each CO bureau and service unit. As primary stakeholders, the units mentioned above
will lead the conduct of MEA strategies and manage the BEDP MEA strategies.
Planning Service
The Planning Service will handle the overall management of the BEDP MEA Framework. As lead unit, the
Planning Service will manage the BEDP MEA Framework, particularly the indicators and targets and the
verification of actual accomplishments. More specifically, the Planning Service will be responsible for the
following:
• Manage the scope of the BEDP MEA. This includes updating the intermediate outcome indicators and
targets set for 2026 and 2030. All changes or updates will be handled by the Planning Service;
• Quality assure the verification of accomplishments including technical correctness of reports and
supporting documents;
• Mobilize DepEd in monitoring the BEDP implementation. This includes engaging M&E lead persons
from bureaus and services in the CO, the Quality Assurance Division (QAD) in the regions, and SGOD
in the divisions. These individuals and functional units will manage the implementation of the BEDP
MEA in their respective units;
• Oversee the implementation of the different BEDP MEA strategies in the CO, RO, SDO, and school;
• Prepare and implement a capability building plan on planning, monitoring, evaluation, and decision
making. Focus will be on understanding DepEd’s KPIs, knowledge and understanding of the scope of
the different education plans in DepEd, improving competencies on how to do M&E, how to manage
the M&E system, and how to conduct evaluation;
• Manage the implementation of the mid-term review, including overseeing adjustments in the BEDP
resulting from the review. The Planning Service will oversee the QAD’s implementation of the mid-term
review in the region;
• Conduct or manage the implementation of the outcome evaluation. The work includes formulation of
evaluation design, request for proposals, selection of service providers, managing service providers,
and quality assurance of outputs; and
• Implement impact evaluation of policies and national programs as needed.
Schools Governance and Operations Division (SGOD)
• Overall implementation of MEA in the SDO will be handled by the SGOD; and
• As lead unit in the SDO, the SGOD will oversee the conduct of monitoring at the SDO level and the
school’s implementation of quarterly monitoring. The SGOD will also train and provide technical support
to schools in doing M&E in schools.
Schools and their School M&E Team
• Schools will conduct quarterly program implementation review focusing on school-level performance
indicators.
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7.2.7. Capacity Building on M&E
Customized training programs on M&E will be delivered for designated process owners; program implementers
from the CO, RO, and SDOs; and for the school M&E team.
BEDP MEA Process Owners
The Planning Service, Lead M&E Coordinators of CO Bureaus and Services, QAD, and SGOD will be trained
on how to do monitoring and evaluation work, and how to manage the BEDP MEA Strategies. Specifically, the
process owners will be trained and equipped on the following:
• Implementing planning and M&E in a decentralized setting. This will provide participants with a system
understanding of the requirements to operationalize M&E in a decentralized setting. The participants
will be able to explain the scope and boundaries of M&E per governance level, common pitfalls and
mistakes in integrating M&E with the planning process, and the operational requirements needed to
sustain M&E in DepEd;
• Understanding key performance indicators in basic education. This will provide participants with basic
understanding of lead and lag indicators in basic education, and how to interpret and use KPIs in
making adjustments and decisions;
• Basic concepts and principles of M&E. This will equip the participants with key concepts and principles
in implementing and managing M&E. These include preparing M&E framework, formulating objectively
verifiable indicators, identifying means of verification, and formulating and using verification and
validation tools;
• Managing a MEA session, including quarterly reviews, annual reviews, and mid-term reviews. The
participants will be taught how to manage and facilitate the conduct of reviews; and
• Preparing performance dashboards and management reports. The process owners will be taught
visualization techniques to prepare education performance dashboards. They will also be taught how to
write management reports.
Program Implementers from CO, RO, SDO
To prepare program implementers for M&E work, the following sessions will be provided:
• Formulating M&E framework. Program implementers from the CO, RO, and SDO will be trained on
how to develop M&E frameworks for their respective programs, and how to use the same in evaluating
program results. Participants will be oriented on different M&E framework tools including logframe,
results-based framework, and theory of change;
making program adjustments and decisions;
validation tools;
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• Data analysis and data collection. This will enhance the capacities of program implementers on data
collection, analysis, and utilization of education data and information on improving policies, design of
programs, and adjusting technical assistance; and
• Developing a research agenda. This will equip the participants with the consciousness to seek
evidence-based results of the various innovations, programs, or new policies.
School M&E Team
School heads and members of the School M&E Team will be trained on the following:
making adjustments in the SIP and making school-level decisions;
validation tools;
• Data analysis and data collection. This will enhance the capacities of schools on data collection,
analysis, and utilization of education data and information to ensure the effectiveness of DepEd
programs, and schools’ initiated interventions; and
ALS M&E Team
Capability building of ALS personnel (teachers, District ALS Coordinators, District Supervisors, ALS Education
Program Specialists for ALS-EPSAs, ALS Division/Region Focal Persons) on M&E will also be addressed. ALS
personnel will be trained on the following:
• Understanding Key Performance Indicators in basic education. This will provide participants with basic
making adjustments in the SIP and making school-level decisions;
validation tools;
• Data analysis and data collection. This will enhance the capacities of schools on data collection,
analysis, and utilization of education data and information to ensure the effectiveness of DepEd
programs, and schools’ initiated interventions; and
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7.2.8. Information Systems and Databases
Critical components to functional and responsive M&E systems are the information systems and databases that
will facilitate access to key data and information to analyze performance, prioritize concerns, and make decisions,
with due consideration of the requirements on data privacy under Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act.
To ensure timely and relevant provision of data and information, the following mechanisms will be enhanced:
• Basic Education Information System (BEIS). The BEIS contains the master list of schools. It is used
to establish new schools and update the profile of existing schools. It is also used to gather the annual
school survey, which collects data on enrollment demographics, personnel, utilities, budget utilization,
equipment, school site information, disaster incidence, health and nutrition data, school sports data,
travel details, and school location. These data are used to prepare the budget proposal, compute
performance indicators, and guide policy formulation and program implementation;
• DepEd Commons. The DepEd Commons is a repository of Open Educational Resources that learners
can use to learn independently. The platform contains resources in multiple formats, including pdf files,
interactive e-books, and videos from DepEd TV. In addition, it allows users to rate the resources, so
over time, users are guided on the best resources to look at;
• DepEd Enterprise Resource Planning System (DERPS). The DERPS is an integrated system that
will be used to automate the core business processes of DepEd. It will cover the following business
processes: 1) Asset Management, 2) Issue Management, 3) Procurement, 4) Project Management, 5)
Payroll, 6) Human Resources, and 7) Finance.
Information gathered from these processes will eventually replace the classroom and equipment data
gathered in the annual survey of the BEIS and provide real-time data that will be used for planning and
budgeting the required investments in physical and human resources. This system will monitor the
budget utilization of the Department and will address the commitment to put in financial management
reforms that would hasten budget utilization and eliminate underspending;
• Document Management System (DMS). The DMS will be used to track, manage, and store a
digitized copy of all the documents in the Department. It will allow users to search for a document
using key words and pattern matching, and it will also be used to define workflows that will dictate
how documents will flow throughout the organization;
• Geographic Information System (GIS). The GIS will be used to manage geographical information
of schools and offices, including digital parcel maps based on land titling information from the Land
Registration Authority (LRA). It will be used to overlay information onto the maps and provide visual
information that decision makers can use to plan and implement education programs. The system will
be used to assess areas that need new schools as well as facilitate the logistics of delivering materials
needed by the schools. It will monitor the status of classroom construction as well as rapidly assess
the effect of typhoons and other disasters using satellite images that would be overlaid in the school
maps;
• Learner Information System (LIS). The LIS maintains the registry of learners enrolled in formal and
non-formal systems of basic education. It is used to issue the unique Learner Reference Number
(LRN) for all learners. It currently contains a personal profile of each learner and is envisioned to
cover educational and health information. The LIS also generates the school forms that are regularly
submitted by schools. It will be expanded to cover registration, class scheduling, and a facility that will
allow public school graduates to apply for their permanent record online;
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• Learning Management System (LMS). This LMS will be used to provide the following requirements
needed to provide better education services: 1) Lesson Planning and Delivery, 2) Education
Assessment, 3) Curriculum Mapping, and 4) Learning Resources. It will be the primary system that
DepEd will use to implement ICT-assisted teaching by allowing teachers to access e-learning resources
that are mapped against the curriculum and ICT-assisted learning by allowing students to know about
competencies they need to strengthen and recommending e-learning resources that would help them
understand the concepts;
• Learning Resources (LR) Portal. The LR Portal is used by teachers to access e-learning resources to
enhance the teaching-learning process. It is also used to quality assure the learning resources that are
being uploaded into the system and to map these against the curriculum so that users who are looking
for a reference material for a particular competency will automatically be provided the recommended
e-learning resources for the said competency; and
• Monitoring Apps.182 The Monitoring Apps will be used as the primary platform for implementing
systems that will run on mobile devices. It will be used to deploy short surveys that can be used for
client feedback as well as monitoring instruments that will be used to track deliveries and monitor the
implementation of various DepEd programs. The Monitoring Apps project will allow DepEd the flexibility
to deploy systems that can use mobile devices in locations with limited internet connection rather than
being fully dependent on web-based systems.
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For procurement.
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Table 21: Existing DepEd Information Systems
Source Data and Information Process Owner
Learner Information Enrollment by region, SDO by school, CO – Planning Service

System (LIS) by grade level, by section, by special program; RO – PPRD (Planning)
school forms SDO – SGOD (P&R)
School – School Head
Personal Information:
• First Name, Last Name, Middle Name
• Birthdate, Address
• Father’s Name, Mother’s Name
• Religion, Ethnicity, Mother Tongue
• Date of First Attendance
Basic Education • School Profile: School Name, School ID, Address, CO – Planning Service
Information system School District, Legislative District RO – PPRD (Planning)
(BEIS) • Contact Number, Website, E-Mail Address, Date of SDO – SGOD (P&R)
Establishment School – School Head
• Annex/Extension, Curricular Offering Classification
• Human Resources Data (Number of Teachers,
Specialization of Teachers, Plantilla Positions, etc.)
• Learner with Disabilities Data (Number of Adaptive
and Assistive Devices, Number of Functional
Equipment, etc.)
• Disaster Risk Reduction Management Data
(Disaster/Calamities, Disaster Incidences, School
Disaster Management, etc.)
• School Health and Nutrition Data (Mental Health,
Oral Health, BMI, Availability of Water Supply,
Number of Wash Facilities, etc.)
• Youth Formation Data (School Government
Program, Supreme Student Government, etc.)
National School Building • Existing Building/Structure CO – Planning Service

Inventory (NSBI) • Existing Rooms per Building RO – PPRD (Planning)
• Temporary Learning Structure (TLS) and Makeshift SDO – SGOD (P&R)
Rooms
• Existing Number of Water and Sanitation Facilities
• Existing Furnitures
• Other Facilities (Gymnasium, Covered Court,
Entrance Gate, Perimeter Fence, Playground,
School Garden)
Program Management Work and Financial Plan (budget, activities, physical CO – Planning Service
Information System (PMIS) and financial targets, program profile), obligation, RO – PPRD (Planning)
disbursements, available balance SDO – SGOD (P&R)
Source: Planning Service/DepEd
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Continuing build-up of the following database:
• The Assessment Database will contain an item bank that will be used to generate test questions for
the conduct of National Achievement Tests, quizzes, and periodical exams. It will also contain all the
results from tests taken by learners from public and private schools as well as tests taken by DepEd
employees;
• The Assets Database will contain records of all the information coming from the stock card, property
card, inspection and acceptance report, among others. It will cover the inventories of fixed assets,
equipment, and small value items;
• The Curriculum Database will contain all the competencies found in the curriculum mapped against the
appropriate grade level and subject area. It will also contain the date/s when a particular teacher has
delivered the said competency to his/her classes;
• The Documents Database will contain all the documents received by the organization as well as the
workflows that dictate the flow of documents through the organization;
• The Employee Database contains all the records of both permanent and contractual personnel,
including the personal information, family background, educational background, civil service eligibility,
work experience, voluntary work, training programs attended, and other personal information;
• The Financial Database contains all the financial transactions of the organization, including allotments,
obligations, journal entries, and cash disbursements;
• The Learner Database contains the master list of learners in all public and private schools including
the basic profile, education, and health records. The database will also contain data for the permanent
record;
• The Learning Management Database contains lesson plans that include the activities and e-learning
resources assigned for a particular date, tagged against the competency that is being taught;
• The Learning Resources Database contains all the e-learning resources that teachers and students can
use in the teaching-learning process. It will also contain usage statistics as well as satisfaction ratings
for each e-learning resource; and
• The School Database maintains the master list of schools. It contains all information regarding the
school including its enrollment demographics, personnel, utilities, budget utilization, equipment, school
site information, disaster incidence, health and nutrition data, school sports data, travel details, titling,
and GPS data.
All DepEd information systems will be expanded and modified to address information and data in the ALS. This
includes integration of ALS enrollment and A&E examination data.
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Table 22 below lists the information systems for development:
Table 22: Information Systems for Development
System Data and Information Process Owner
Human Resource Envisioned to capture all HR-related information CO: BHROD

Information System including training and development provision, welfare, RO: HRDD
and benefits. SDO: SGOD
Professional The system will capture the professional development CO: NEAP
Development and career progression record of all teachers and RO: NEAP in the Regions
Information System school leaders.
Asset Management The system will capture all assets of DepEd including CO: Admin Service
System tools and equipment and semi-expendable items. RO: Admin Division
SDO: Admin Services
School: School Head
Financial Management The system will connect all operating units that will CO: Finance Service
Information System provide management with real-time data on financial RO: Finance Division
matters. This will be linked to the financial system of SDO: Finance Services
School: School Head
oversight agencies.
Other Systems The need for a modern information system will Development of new systems
continue to evolve as global technology continues to will be proposed by strands
advance. The need for other systems will be identified concerned, approved by
Execom, and coordinated with
when BEDP implementation is underway.
ICTS at the CO
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7.3. Policy and Research Agenda
Evidence-based decision making for policymakers requires that the data collection activity of the field units is
given importance. Such data collection is best driven by a research group in the Central Office with trained and
competent researchers who can identify and plan research projects to address issues that occur in the field.
However, it is important that the entire DepEd develop an awareness of the importance of gathering data about
an issue so that there is evidence to support any changes in policy that might be made.
Recognizing this, DepEd adopted the Basic Education Research Agenda (BERA),183 which provides guidance
to DepEd and its stakeholders in the conduct of education research and in the utilization of research results to
inform the Department’s planning, policy, and program development aligned with its vision, mission, and core
values. The Research Agenda is expected to build on gains from existing research, generate new knowledge on
priority research areas, focus DepEd’s attention on relevant education issues, and maximize available resources
for research within and outside the Department.
Research can be carried out at any level and can vary greatly in complexity. Teachers in classrooms can conduct
small-scale research into their own teaching and into the way that the learners respond to it, especially if they
can enlist the assistance of a mentor-colleague who can observe a lesson and make targeted observations. This
“paired research” is a powerful tool for improvement, especially when there is a bond of trust between the two
or three colleagues who collaborate to improve their teaching. School leaders who already have higher degrees in
research should be prime movers of such action-research projects at school level.
A second level of research can be done as collaborative projects between CHED and DepEd where the teacher-
as-researcher gains credits towards a higher degree by working closely with TEI academic staff to design, carry
out, and analyze a research topic of mutual interest. Such research should also be accredited as contributing
towards professional development requirements for DepEd staff.
A third level is when external researchers (from TEIs, DepEd, or international organizations such as OECD or UN
agencies) propose research topics into broad issues concerning learners in various contexts. Such research must
be carefully planned to ensure all ethical and privacy issues are controlled and that participants are fully aware of
their involvement in such research.
It is essential that the results of any form of research in schools or the system are shared with the participants
and are widely disseminated, especially when policy changes are implemented as a result of the research
findings. The publication of the research must also be accessible to all education stakeholders, and in particular to
teachers, so that they have a rapid and easy access to the data and are more likely to apply the findings in their
own classrooms.
183
Department of Education. 2016. Adoption of the Basic Education Research Agenda, DO 39 s. 2016.
210
The BERA described above is funded through the Basic Education Research Fund (BERF), which currently
allocates around P2 million to each region to conduct studies of various scales and scopes. National and regional
research committees have been set up within the Policy, Planning, and Research Divisions at each level, and
they will lead the local research management and monitor the progress of the Agenda to ensure the efficiency
and effectiveness of the process. Specific criteria (including timetables and financial guidelines) for accessing the
funds are set out in the BERA/BERF for DepEd personnel and for external institutions. It is expected that external
partners collaborating with DepEd in research projects will work within the research agenda guidelines.
The initial BERA was designed for a period of six years (2017–2022) and was based on four themes and three
cross-cutting areas that dovetail closely with the structure of the BEDP 2030. The four themes in the BERA
are Teaching and Learning, Child Protection, Human Resource Development, and Governance, with the three
cross-cutting concerns of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Inclusive Education, and Gender and
Development. The BERA is undertaking some research topics that have not yet been completed. Initial analysis
of the research produced under the BERA shows that more attention was given to the teaching and learning
aspect than the other themes. The positive trend that emerged from the analysis was a strong focus on literacy
and problem-solving, which are both fundamental skills that cut across disciplines. Hence, the nature of research
in DepEd is about knowledge creation in schools, for schools. Teachers based in schools initiate research that
subsequently benefits the school. Moving forward, DepEd needs to broaden its research scope and explore the
following topics further:
• System-level research;
• Programmatic approaches more than piecemeal interventions;
• Scalability of best practices; and
• Longitudinal patterns and trajectories.
In addition, the Basic Education Sector Analysis (BESA) conducted prior to the preparation of the BEDP contains
references to a number of topics and areas of interest that lacked data and might provide some focus areas for
further research in order to fully understand their impact on the education sector.
Some of these topics are listed below:
• Learning loss and learning gains in the time of COVID-19;

• Effectiveness of distance learning modalities;
• Teachers’ needs analysis conducted at school level;
• Analyzing supply and demand of teachers;
• Tracking of Senior High School graduates;
• Why students lose interest in education;184
• Why are lower numbers of males enrolling?;
• Why are males underperforming in learning standards?;
• In-depth review of the adequacy of the current language policy;
• Effectiveness of MTB-MLE on improving learning outcomes, including a longitudinal analysis of
learners’ performance (i.e., NAT Grade 6 and Grade 10) by the language of instruction at the early
grades;
184
Philippine Statistics Authority. 2019. 2019 FLEMMS, Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey, Final report.
211
• Comparison of performance on the language of testing (English) against the language of instruction
(Filipino) in high stakes NAT-type tests;
• Do School Improvement Plans have any impact on learning outcomes?;
• Mapping and analysis of the integration of socio-emotional learning in classroom activities/lessons;
• Effectiveness analysis on integration of 21st century skills in classroom activities/lessons;
• Study on bullying in schools to understand why it is higher in the Philippines in comparison with all the
rest of PISA 2018 countries;
• Public Expenditure Review – to determine efficiency and effectiveness of education delivery;
• Analysis of the SHS tracks – to determine effectiveness to support learner’s success in next level of
engagement;
• Analysis of the education system’s resilience to environmental changes and shocks;
• Investment case analysis for scale-up of digital learning and other education futures programs;
• Analysis of parental engagement to support access and quality learning outcomes – includes
addressing smooth transition of young children from pre-school/Child Development Center to
kindergarten and low enrollment in kindergarten;
• Evaluation of the quality of learning resources; and
• Others.
To encourage greater participation in research activity, the procedures in accessing the BERF will be
simplified to encourage more researchers to apply for funding. Allowing larger grant amounts might also
facilitate studies with wider scale and scope, which could potentially improve the external validity of the
findings. This requires a larger allocation for research, but this may prove to be effective in evidence-
gathering in the longer term. At present, the BERF is governed by national financial rules that restrict the
creativity and innovation in utilizing the grant for educational purposes. Alternative and more flexible funding
arrangements could incentivize researchers to engage in projects if there was provision available for them
to be compensated for the additional work required to undertake research outside of their regular duties.
212
7.4. Education Futures
The initiation of Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones of the Education Futures Programme (Educ Futures) to
bring futures thinking to the fore of the Department’s policy and research agenda is a response to the need for
readiness to confront the rapid changes, challenges, and opportunities of the future. Futures Thinking, “a
method for informed reflection on the major changes that will occur in the next 10, 20, or more years in all areas
of social life”,185 allows planners and policymakers to respond effectively to opportunities and challenges faced by
society without discounting present concerns. It “offers ways of addressing, even helping to shape the future”
by illuminating “the ways that policy, strategies, and actions can promote desirable futures and help prevent
those…” that are considered undesirable.186
Educ Futures seeks to serve as an innovation center. It will produce outputs founded on strong research and
consideration of global trends and best practices while staying grounded in the work of other DepEd offices,
bureaus, services, and other relevant government agencies. It will mainstream futures and multidisciplinary
approaches to education policy and research. It will engage experts but will consult and collaborate with various
education stakeholders.
Guided by the future goals of education,187 Educ Futures intends to work on the following key areas, to evolve the
education perennials188 in the next 10 years under this plan:
• Maximizing technologies for remote learning. The urgency of maximizing a multitude of technologies
for remote learning has been highlighted by COVID-19. Technologies will not be limited to high-tech
devices. It will be contextualized in the circumstances of schools and learners to ensure equitable
access;
• Reframing the curriculum, to prioritize essential/cross-cutting knowledge, skills, and mindsets, including
21st century skills, durable skills, and capacities that can help confront the future;
• Anticipating educational opportunities from innovations to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and
dispositions/mindsets in preparation for the adoption of different technologies and design capacity-
building programs and materials;
• Reinforcing learning sciences, assessments, analytics, and knowledge mobilization. Reinforcing
the science of learning will provide insights on how learners develop competencies, expertise, and
dispositions in either physical or remote learning spaces. On the other hand, progressive forms of
assessments will be explored, diverging from traditional pencil and paper and venturing into micro-
credentialing and ladderized/stackable approaches. The potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in
• assessing student readiness, achievement, literacy level, career track, and work readiness will also be
studied. Using analytics in education will introduce techniques and tools for collecting, interpreting, and
communicating data to ensure evidence-driven decision making. Its structure, approaches, supportive
185
OECD “Futures Thinking in Brief”
186
Ibid.
187
Educ Futures identified the future goals of education as the visions of education for every learner to achieve human flourishing, proactive
citizenship, work readiness, and agency
188
Education perennials refer to the perpetual components that make up education: curriculum and instruction; learning sciences and
assessment; new literacies, multiliteracies, and fluencies; professional and leadership development; educational leadership and
governance; knowledge mobilization and analytics; and education resources
213
environment, ethical considerations, and applications in specialized fields, policies, and programswill
also be unpacked. Knowledge mobilization will facilitate the translation of actionable knowledge
and making it available to a broader audience. It may include useful knowledge products or portals/
platforms; and
• Co-creating learning spaces for the future. The COVID-19 constraints have compelled us to look again at
the broader learning ecosystem beyond the confines of physical classrooms. The ecosystem consists
of the community of individuals, organizations, and institutions, both public and private, that interact to
support learning, alongside the resources, tools, and technology for learning. The co-creation process
will consult multidisciplinary experts and stakeholders in coming up with an integrated concept or
design of future learning spaces.
In maximizing its contribution to policy and research in the Department, a roadmap for the Education Futures
Program will be further developed.
214
7.5. Communication Strategy
The BEDP reflects DepEd´s commitment to its vision, mission, and values, and serves as the blueprint for the
next 10 years in the basic education sector. An effective communication of the proposed results framework, M&E
framework, and financial framework is crucial for a successful implementation of the Plan. A communication and
information strategy will be developed in the first two years of implementation of the BEDP that will connect
all stakeholders in the education sector and provide updated information about the progress of the plan’s
implementation.
The communication strategy will include:

1. marketing of the BEDP, especially Equity (to groups in situations of disadvantage), Quality (to all
publics), and Access outcomes (to LGUs);
2. public information (key messages, infomercials); and
3. public events (such as young readers month, science week, etc.) to get the messages across to
different publics.
The BEDP’s initial presentation by the Secretary of Education in a national release will be accompanied by an
advocacy campaign to highlight the importance of basic education for all Filipinos. The BEDP will be disseminated
across all social media platforms and TV/radio networks in Filipino, other major local languages, and English, as
well as formats for those persons with disabilities.
The BEDP will be disseminated to all schools, regional and schools division offices, and the key linked education
agencies of the ECCD Council, TESDA, and CHED to ensure that its key elements can be incorporated in their
strategic plans. The BEDP will be widely disseminated to NEDA and all relevant government ministries, as well
as with development partners. The BEDP will be central to the policy dialogue with development partners when
proposals for funding support are being considered.
A key component of the BEDP will be the strategies for monitoring and evaluating the progress of
implementation, as well as the short- and long-term effects on the key indicators that define educational success.
Communicating the results achieved each year should be a focus of the annual implementation review.
215
8.0
FINANCIAL
FRAMEWORK
8.1. Funding Education in the Philippines
8.2. Forward Estimates of Resource Requirements and Budgetary Impact
8.3. Funding the BEDP and Calculating the Funding Gap
216
8.1. Funding Education in the Philippines
A. The Budget Process in the Philippines
The Department of Education, along with all other agencies of government, follow a budget cycle that has four
stages—preparation, legislation, execution, and accountability. The process starts with the budget call, which
sets the parameters to guide agencies in preparing their proposed budgets. Budgets are prepared in two tiers:
Tier 1 for forward estimates of existing programs and projects and Tier 2 for new programs and projects or the
expansion of existing ones. The budget is also categorized into personnel services, maintenance and other
operating expenses (MOOE), and capital outlays. The proposed budgets of the agencies are consolidated into a
national budget that is deliberated in Congress and the Senate. Budget legislation ends when the President signs
the General Appropriations Act (GAA) into law. The budget is executed in a multi-step process whereby
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) allots the budget to the agencies, the agencies obligate the
government as they enter into contracts, the DBM authorizes the agencies to pay, and payments are disbursed
by the Treasury. Accountability consists of performance targets, public disclosure, internal monitoring, periodic
reports and reviews, and formal audits. The findings in the accountability mechanisms feed into the next budget
cycle.
Because agency budgets involve many stakeholders, the final allotments can be quite different from what the
agencies prepared. Macroeconomic conditions, historical capacities to utilize funds, political interests, and fiscal
space all influence the final allotment. For example, the DBM can still revise budgets already enacted into law as
the GAA as it balances the need for resources against fiscal space.
In 2019, the Philippines shifted to a cash-based budgeting system or CBS. CBS requires that projects be obligated
and completed within the budget year with payments also made in the year or shortly thereafter. CBS helps
ensure the efficient and timely delivery of public services. Previously, disbursement for obligated funds could
extend for longer periods of time, leading to lower utilization rates and a spike in contracts towards the end of
the year. Still, differences in timing between the school year and the fiscal year creates execution challenges for
DepEd.
DepEd’s own budgeting process has its own particulars that are worth noting. First, the appropriation for new
construction and renovation of school facilities are transferred from DepEd to the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) for execution. The transfers are done in recognition of DPWH’s expertise in construction and
related activities. These transfers can be significant and erratic, depending on the need for school infrastructure.
DepEd also provides assistance and subsidies to the private sector in the delivery of educational services through
its Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or GASTPE, in particular, the Education
Service Contracting (ESC), the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP), and the Teacher Salary Subsidy
(TSS).
217
The basic education sector has revenue sources other than the DepEd budget. Local government units collect
the Special Education Fund (SEF), a 1% tax on the assessed value of real properties in addition to the basic real
property tax. This dedicated revenue source, while not transferred to DepEd, is nonetheless used to support
certain expenditures in education. RA 7160 specifies that the SEF will be allocated for the operation and
maintenance of public schools; construction and repair of school buildings, facilities, and equipment; educational
research; purchase of books and periodicals; and sports development as determined and approved by the local
school board.189 Republic Act No. 10410 further provides that LGUs will include allocations from their SEF for the
ECCD Program.190 Finally, a recent joint circular of DBM, DepEd, and DILG further provided that the SEF may be
used for feeding and dental health programs.191
SEF collections vary greatly across LGUs, leading to questions on inequity and how these may be resolved.
External partners and the private sector also provide material and financial support to strengthen the
development of public education in the Philippines. For example, DepEd’s Adopt-a-School Program allows private
entities to assist and provide support to public schools in various forms. While DepEd gets its schools improved,
the adopting private entity in return may obtain tax incentives, strengthened corporate image, and goodwill
within the school community. Finally, the immediate community, through its parents, teachers, and community
associations, contributes to basic education through donations and such programs as Brigada Eskwela and the
senior high school work immersion.
B. Trends in Education Spending in the Philippines
Appropriations for the education sector increased consistently in nominal terms from 2010 to 2018 and as a
percentage of national government appropriations from 2010 to 2017. Even so, the share of education as a
percentage of total government appropriations has for most years been below the recommended Education
Framework 2030 Agenda benchmark of 15–20%.192 K to 12 reforms accounted for a large portion of this increase.
It is also lower than that of several of the Philippines’ neighboring countries based on the latest years where
information is available.
The composition of education sector appropriations has evolved to reflect the priorities of the Government of the
Philippines of increasing opportunities in skills development and post-secondary education with relatively greater
shares of appropriated resources being allocated to Higher Education (CHED) and Vocational/Technical Education
(TESDA). During that same period, the percentage of the appropriation for basic education fell from about 96% of
national government appropriation in 2010 to 80% in 2020.
189
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 7160. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1991/10/10/republic-act-
no-7160/
190
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 10410. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/03/26/republic-act-
no-10410/
191
Department of Budget and Management. Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2020-001 (DepEd-DBM-DILG). https://www.dbm.gov.ph/index.
php/issuances/dbm-issuances/joint-memorandum-circular/265-latest-issuances/joint-memorandum-circular/joint-memorandum-circular-
2020/1715-joint-memorandum-circular-no-2020-001-deped-dbm-dilg
192
SDG 4 - Education 2030. Financing for SDG4: Making Global Education a Reality. https://www.sdg4Education2030.org/financing-sdg4-
making-global-Education-reality-sdg-ed2030-sc-november-2017
218
Table 23: Appropriations to the Education Sector

(in Php billions and as a percentage to GDP)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
GDP in Php
9,399 10,145 11,061 12,051 13,207 13,944 15,132 16,557 18,265 19516.39 17975.98
billions
Total appropriation to
203 237 271 335 361 420 500 656 704 66 693
education in Php billions
Education appropriation /
2.2% 2.3% 2.5% 2.8% 2.7% 3.0% 3.3% 4.0% 3.9% 3.4% 3.9%
GDP in %
Source: General Appropriations Act(s) 2010–2020, International Monetary Fund

(https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/PHL), and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (https://www.bsp.gov.ph/SitePages Statistics/ExchangeRate.
aspx)
The Mandanas ruling provides that, from 2022, LGUs will be entitled to 40% of the national internal revenue
taxes and this allotment will be automatically released to them. Attendant to this larger share of revenue is the
devolution of functions for essential public services to LGUs. The ruling transfers the locus of spending yet is
silent on the amount of spending.
The DBM prefers full devolution to mitigate the fiscal impact of the ruling. It foresees that devolved functions
are permanently taken out from national agencies to empower the LGUs to assume them. The role of national
agencies is envisioned as setting national policy and service delivery standards and assisting, overseeing, and
monitoring LGUs.193 In the national budget call for fiscal year 2022, only local infrastructure services—which
include school buildings and other facilities for public elementary and secondary schools—were devolved from
DepEd to the LGUs.194
193
Implementation of the Supreme Court Decision in the Mandanas Case. https://dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/Our%20Budget/2021/
mplementation-of-the-Supreme-Court-Decision-in-the-Mandanas-Case.pptx
194
Department of Budget and Management. 2021. National Budget Memorandum No.138. https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/
Issuances/2021/National-Budget-Memorandum/NATIONAL-BUDGET-MEMORANDUM-NO-138.pdf
219
8.2. Forward Estimates of Resource
Requirements and Budgetary Impact
Several considerations need to be discussed at the outset in estimating the resource requirements and budgetary
impact of the BEDP. First, the obtained estimates are only for public expenditures in basic education. It includes
spending on basic education regardless of the government unit that disburses the funds. As mentioned, DepEd
transfers its appropriation for school infrastructure to the DPWH for execution and LGUs spend for education
from the SEF. Also included are the government assistance and subsidies for private schools, which include ESC,
SHS VP, TSS, and provision for in-service training.
The estimates do not include spending for private schooling. Neither do they include household spending on
other costs of schooling such as transport, food, or the opportunity cost of staying in school over gainful
employment. These costs are significant; thus, the total investment in basic education is much higher than the
estimates obtained for public expenditures.
Second, the estimates are obtained only at the national or systems level. It does not address concerns at the
more granular levels of region, division, or school.
Third, the estimates did not consider the impact of COVID-19 save for its known effect on GDP. This is because
the effects of the pandemic on basic education are largely indeterminate at the time of writing this report. For
example, the dip in enrollment was much less than anticipated and it is unclear whether the migration to public
schools and the dropout rates in SY 2020–21 are permanent. With this caveat in mind, the parameters of 2019 are
brought forward to 2021 as the baseline for the BEDP.
Fourth, projections of the budgetary impact of the BEDP include only cost drivers that affect spending levels.
There are some strategies and outputs in the results framework that are not expected to have significant impact
on the budget as they may only reflect changes in practice or priorities and thus can be accommodated with
current spending. For example, the strategy of “aligning curriculum and instruction methods in all subjects” under
the Quality pillar represents a significant change in priorities. However, the structure, manpower, and processes
to achieve the strategy may already exist in the different bureaus of the Curriculum and Instruction strand.
A. Methodology – The Philippine Education Simulation Model
The Philippine Education Simulation Model (PESM) is a customized costing model based on UNESCO’s Education
Policy and Strategy Simulation Model. This model is a result of collaborative partnerships among the Department
of Education (DepEd), UNESCO Bangkok, UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), and
UNICEF.
The PESM is divided into four levels—Kindergarten and Elementary, Junior High School, Senior High School, and
alternative education and education for learners with disabilities. Each level is divided into three sections. Section
1 projects enrollments from the population, given targets on intake and flow rates (e.g., gross intake, transition,
promotion, repetition rates). Section 2 translates enrollment into resource requirements given standards or
averages of resource utilization (e.g., pupils per classroom, pupil to teacher ratio, textbooks per pupil, etc.).
220
Section 3 translates the resource requirements into their financial effects using cost-related data and other
budgetary parameters. The cost of programs, interventions, and supervision that are not captured in the first two
sections are also included here as cross-cutting expenditures.
The schematic below illustrates the process just described.
Figure 33: Structure of the Philippine Education Simulation Model
FLOW DIRECTION
Graduates
from cycle or level
of education
School -age
population + Teachers
and other
School Different personnel; Macro-
Intake rate, Educational
enrolments +classrooms economic and
enrolment modalities of expenditures
at different and other
ratios and flow resource budgetary
rooms; (recurrent and
education utilization indicators
School -age rates + Educational investment)
population for levels
materials and
first grade of equipment
primary
education
ITERATIVE PROCESS
Source: UNESCO, Education Policy and Strategy

Baseline data Parameters / hypothesis Results
Simulation Model (EPSSim) Version 2.1 User’s Guide
In sum, when certain parameters are specified, the model works out the numbers through to their financial
effects.
B. Key Macroeconomic Parameters
Different scenarios are constructed by changing the parameters of the PESM. To isolate the effects of the
interventions (or lack thereof), the following macroeconomic parameters are held constant for all scenarios.
• Real GDP growth is held at 6.5% from 2022 onwards. The IMF forecast this growth rate for the
Philippines up to 2026 and this growth rate is extended through to 2030 in the PESM;
• National government spending in 2022 and 2023 are kept at the same amount as 2021 as government
balances efforts to pump-prime the economy with limited fiscal space. National government spending
is kept at 21.7% of GDP for 2024 to 2030, which is the average spending in 2018 to 2021; and
221
• Spending for education other than basic education grows along with GDP at 6.5% per year. As noted
in Section 3, more resources are now poured into higher education in the form of free tuition in state
universities and colleges and the Tertiary Education Subsidy. The formulation ensures a just share
of spending for levels other than basic education. At the same time, it decouples spending in other
education levels from spending in basic education.
C. Estimating the Annual Cost of the BEDP
a) Financial Scenario Development – Steady-State Scenario
A steady-state scenario using the PESM was developed by DepEd with support from UNESCO in 2019. During
the BEDP development process, the steady-state parameters were reviewed and updated. The “steady-state”
scenario merely allows the sector to continue under its current policies and operational approaches with no
improvements or deterioration in the coverage of education services, the quality of education services, or equity
of this service provision. It represents the “budget floor” for sector requirements as they were in 2019 projected
forward to 2030.
Presented below are two tables on the steady-state scenario. The first shows cost estimates by cost type
over the covered period and the second compares the cost to projections of GDP and national government
spending. Because there is no change in indicators of participation and internal efficiency, variations in the annual
cost estimates in 2022–2030 are the result of demographic changes in that period. For example, the gradual
decline in total costs from 2027 to 2030 is the result of declining 5-year-old populations, the targeted intake
for Kindergarten. These declining cohorts worked their way up the different grades until their cumulative effect
lowered total costs.
Table 24. Projected Cost Estimates by Cost Type, Steady-State Scenario

(in Php millions)
SCHOOL YEAR
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
TOTAL COST 598,534 597,071 598,518 602,301 607,242 580,173 577,345 573,717 573,203
RECURRENT COSTS 569,792 569,344 569,697 572,254 577,920 577,661 574,169 568,868 568,631
CAPITAL COSTS 28,742 27,727 28,821 30,047 29,322 2,513 3,176 4,849 4,571
Source: General Appropriations Act(s) 2018–2021, International Monetary Fund (https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/PHL),

and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (https://www.bsp.gov.ph/SitePages/Statistics/ExchangeRate.aspx)
222
Table 25. Projected Spending in Education and Basic Education as a Percentage of GDP
and Total Government Spending, Steady-state Scenario
SCHOOL YEAR
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
GDP (in Php billions) 18,635 19,846 21,136 22,510 23,973 25,531 27,191 28,958 30,840
Education as % of GDP 4.1% 3.9% 3.8% 3.6% 3.5% 3.2% 3.0% 2.9% 2.8%
Basic Education as % of GDP 3.2% 3.0% 2.8% 2.7% 2.5% 2.3% 2.1% 2.0% 1.9%
Government Budget
4,506 4,506 4,594 4,893 5,211 5,550 5,910 6,294 6,704
(in Php billions)
Government budget as % of GDP 24.2% 22.7% 21.7% 21.7% 21.7% 21.7% 21.7% 21.7% 21.7%
Education as % of Total Government

17.1% 17.3% 17.3% 16.6% 15.9% 14.7% 14.0% 13.4% 12.8%
Budget
Basic Education as % of Total
13.3% 13.3% 13.3% 12.3% 11.7% 10.5% 9.8% 9.1% 8.6%
Government Budget

As one may expect, recurrent costs make up the bulk of spending in the steady-state scenario as no interventions
other than what already exists are added. More importantly, the proportion of spending for education in general,
and for basic education in particular, follows a general path of steady decline in proportion to both the GDP
and national government budget. While there is some reduction in education spending under this scenario, the
greater cause is the increase in the GDP. Clearly, there is fiscal space for increased investment in education if the
discussed key macroeconomic parameters hold.
223
b) Projecting the Budgetary Requirements of the Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP)
The steady-state scenario is contrasted with a new scenario incorporating the strategies in the results framework
and the targets in the monitoring and evaluation framework of the BEDP. The strategies and targets reflect the
pivot from access to improvements in equity, quality, resilience, and well-being as the country aspires to make all
Filipinos realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to a cohesive nation.
The BEDP was developed through a highly participatory approach that involved numerous rounds of
consultations. The collective effort brought about a sea change in targets, resource utilization parameters, unit
costs, and interventions. Nonetheless and as previously discussed, not all changes are expected to affect
financial requirements at the systems level. Presented below is a high-level view of the costs to implement the
BEDP by cost type.
Table 26. Projected Cost Estimates by Cost Type, BEDP

(in Php millions)
SCHOOL YEAR
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
TOTAL COST 737,370 792,155 822,059 845,036 894,799 924,209 921,201 927,250 940,594
RECURRENT COSTS 637,362 656,067 676,648 694,864 721,503 739,065 745,700 750,452 761,437
CAPITAL COSTS 100,008 136,088 145,411 150,172 173,296 185,143 175,502 176,798 179,157

A number of observations may be gleaned from the table above and a closer inspection of its components.
First and foremost, the magnitudes are much higher than the budgetary requirements in the steady-state
scenario. Recurrent costs still account for the bulk of the total cost. However, a significant portion of the BEDP
interventions is developmental in nature and this is reflected in the huge increase in capital outlay, both in
absolute terms and as a proportion of the total costs of implementing the BEDP. The chart below illustrates the
increasing role of capital outlays in the overall cost structure.
224
Figure 34: Projected Cost Estimates by Cost Type, BEDP

(in Php millions)
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Total costs all levels Capital costs all levels Recurrent costs all levels
Source: PESM
The tables that follow further disaggregate recurrent and capital costs at each key level, in amounts and in
percentages. These breakdowns reflect the priorities and targets of the BEDP. As examples, the accelerated
construction of school facilities for senior high school and community learning centers for alternative education
are evidenced by the ramp up in capital spending at these levels. Projected spending in alternative education
is 2–2.5% of a much larger budget compared to 0.75% or less before the BEDP. Finally, we draw attention to
the high capital spending in education for learners from disadvantaged groups as DepEd works towards greater
inclusion in education.
225
Table 27. Projected Cost Estimates by Key Level and Cost Type,BEDP
(in Php millions)
SCHOOL YEAR
BEDP costs by level and 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
cost type school year 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
Kindergarten and Elementary
Recurrent 300,043 317,721 328,821 337,714 354,570 363,225 367,071 370,768 374,328
Capital 39,335 68,213 54,698 44,149 79,881 112,103 113,298 112,475 111,738
Junior High School
Recurrent 178,177 172,137 173,822 180,033 181,385 186,799 185,203 181,759 184,604
Capital 22,665 21,838 44,975 61,581 45,496 48,023 34,206 34,206 34,206
Senior High School
Recurrent 69,055 72,286 75,974 80,239 86,324 86,882 88,171 89,407 90,514
Capital 23,694 24,343 24,126 23,914 26,308 9,,823 11,601 11,626 11,306
Alternative Education
Recurrent 6,776 8,304 9,796 9,894 10,022 10,164 10,325 10,510 10,730
Capital 7,908 10,914 10,914 7,380 7,380
Education for learners in
disadvantaged groups
Recurrent 3,140 3,611 4,334 4,618 4,699 5,207 5,716 6,225 6,737
Capital 2,286 4,274 4,604 4,041 4,640 5,752 7,016 9,020 12,475
Cross-cutting Expenditure
Recurrent 76,638 78,475 80,368 82,367 84,503 86,789 89,215 91,783 94,524
Capital 7,653 10,040 9,628 9,107 9,592 9,442 9,380 9,472 9,432
TOTALS 737,370 792,155 822,059 845,036 894,799 924,209 921,201 927,250 940,594
Source: PESM
226
Table 28. Projected Cost Estimates by Key Level and Cost Type as a Percentage
of Total for Each Key Level
SCHOOL YEAR
BEDP costs by level 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
and cost type 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
Kindergarten and Elementary
Recurrent 88.4% 82.3% 85.7% 88.4% 81.6% 76.4% 76.4% 76.7% 77.0%
Capital 11.6% 17.7% 14.3% 11.6% 18.4% 23.6% 23.6% 23.3% 23.0%
Junior High School
Recurrent 88.7% 88.7% 79.4% 74.5% 79.9% 79.5% 84.4% 84.2% 84.4%
Capital 11.3% 11.3% 20.6% 25.5% 20.1% 20.5% 15.6% 15.8% 15.6%
Senior High School
Recurrent 74.5% 74.8% 75.9% 77.0% 76.6% 89.8% 88.4% 88.5% 88.9%
Capital 25.5% 25.2% 24.1% 23.0% 23.4% 10.2% 11.6% 11.5% 11.1.%
Alternative Education
Recurrent 46.1% 43.2% 47.3% 57.3% 57.6% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Capital 53.9% 56.8% 52.7% 42.7% 42.4%
Education for learners in
disadvantaged groups
Recurrent 57.9% 45.8% 48.5% 53.3% 50.3% 47.5% 44.9% 40.8% 35.1%
Capital 42.1% 54.2% 51.5% 46.7% 49.7% 52.5% 55.1% 59.2% 64.9%
Cross-cutting Expenditure
Recurrent 90.9% 88.7% 89.3% 90.0% 89.8% 90.2% 90.5% 90.6% 90.9%
Capital 9.1% 11.3% 10.7 10.0% 10.2% 9.8% 9.5% 9.4% 9.1%
Source: PESM
227
Second, a closer inspection of the costs per key level reveals that the main driver is enrollment. As can be seen
from the chart below, Kindergarten and Elementary with its seven grade levels account for the bulk of spending
followed by Junior High School with its four grade levels and Senior High School with its two grade levels.
Nonetheless, the BEDP’s drive for more inclusion and equity has seen greater spending in alternative education
and education for learners in disadvantaged groups. Annual spending in these groups, for example, increased
almost fourfold in the period.
Figure 35: Projected Costs by Key Level, BEDP

(in Php millions)
1,000,000
900,000
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
All levels KG and Elementary JHS SHS
Source: PESM ALS ELD Cross-cutting
228
This section ends with the resources and interventions that are the major cost drivers in the BEDP. What is the
money spent on? An incremental approach is taken to answer the question, that is, only the added resources and
their costs as compared to SY 2021–22 are considered. It turns out that only four cost drivers account for the bulk
of spending in the BEDP. While few, they reflect the four pillars in the BEDP results framework. The table below
provides details on these cost drivers.
Table 29. Incremental Quantities and Costs of Major Cost Drivers, BEDP (cost in Php millions)
SCHOOL YEAR
Total
incremental
Major cost drivers 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
cost
(in incremental units) 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
(in Php
millions)
Teachers (cumulative) 15,775 39,150 63,278 91,080 128,301 140,166 144,999 146,391 157,376 750,073
New classrooms built 4,213 14,567 17,491 19,164 27,232 10,178 7,143 7,558 8,431 289,944
E-classroom packages installed 19,000 22,115 24,012 26,524 29,044 19,716 19,205 19,280 19,347 235,777
Classrooms retrofitted 42,576 42,576 42,576 42,576 42,576 124,180 124,180 124,180 124,180 816,040
Total incremental cost of drivers 2,091,835
Total incremental cost of BEDP 2,409,469

Source: PESM
Teachers and classrooms are expected major cost drivers.195 In the BEDP framework, these costs reflect not
only inputs required to improve access, they also reflect inputs required to increase quality as standards for class
sizes, learner-to-teacher ratio, and classroom-to-classes ratio are met. Installing e-classroom packages in all levels
is evidence of a determined drive to instill 21st century skills and narrow the technological divide. The cost of
e-classroom packages is significant not only because of their high unit costs but also because they need to be
replaced more often. Finally, classrooms are retrofitted to address hygiene requirements, be more inclusive to
disadvantaged groups, and withstand natural disasters.
In summary, the cost of implementing the BEDP is substantial, adding some 45% to the cost of the steady-state
scenario. A significant portion of the BEDP interventions is developmental in nature and this is reflected in the
huge increase in capital outlay. Enrollment is the main determinant on the need for resources and, therefore,
cost. Nonetheless, the BEDP’s drive for more inclusion and equity has seen greater spending in alternative
education and education for learners in disadvantaged groups than has been true in the past.
195
Unlike the other cost drivers, the quantities of teachers are measured cumulatively because of the recurrent nature of their salaries and
benefits.
229
In terms of resources, teachers and classrooms continue to account for a large portion of the cost. Yet
e-classroom packages and retrofitting classrooms account for an equally large portion of the cost of the BEDP
to reflect the increasing importance of quality, equity, and resilience. These requirements for non-traditional
resources suggest new mechanisms for implementation and monitoring.
c) Financial Scenario Development – Next Normal Scenario
The declaration of a state of public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated significant
changes to how learning provision and public services are delivered. Face-to-face classes were suspended in SY
2020–21 and remain suspended for SY 2021–22. To mitigate the effects of schools’ closure, DepEd implemented
the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP). The suspension of classes contributed to the acceleration
of blended learning, highlighting the potential of combining online knowledge as a critical strategy for access.
The government’s vaccination drive is an essential requisite to going back to normal. However, the limited supply
of vaccines may lengthen the return to face-to-face classes. Back to classroom sessions may be implemented
in phases to ensure the safe return of learners and teachers. Necessary health protocols need to be established
and observed to prevent breakthrough cases. Priorities will strengthen schools’ capacity to manage and provide
health and sanitation services, including improving school infrastructures such as clinics, water systems, toilets,
and handwashing facilities.
DepEd is implementing the pilot face-to-face classes in areas with minimal risk for COVID-19. Operational
guidelines on the pilot implementation provide health and safety standards in terms of personal protective
equipment, sanitation, detection and referral, ventilation, contact tracing and quarantine, coordination, and
contingency measures. The pilot implementation will provide DepEd with important details on the requirements
to sustainably implement face-to-face classes in the next normal.
DepEd will also sustain schools’ experience with blended learning and especially with the use of online modality.
DepEd will continue to strengthen its capacity and capability to maximize returns from blended and online
learning. Investments in ICT will be a priority, including computers for teachers, software and applications,
internet connectivity, and other gadgets useful in teaching learnings. Teachers’ digital literacy and their ability to
integrate ICT with teaching and knowledge will be a priority.
Health and sanitation facilities and ICT capability will play a critical role in the new normal scenario. Investment
requirements in the short term may shift from classroom facilities to establishing infrastructure related to health,
sanitation, and ICT.
230
8.3. Funding the BEDP and Calculating

the Funding Gap
The cost of implementing the BEDP is a significant increase from current appropriations. By far the major source
of funding for education is the tax take on the economy and the subsequent national budget that may be
developed in conjunction with macroeconomic forces. This section compares the cost of the BEDP to projections
on the economy as measured by the GDP and on national government spending. The table below provides
forward-looking proportions of prospective education spending to the GDP and national government spending.
Table 30. Projected Spending in Education and Basic Education

as a Percentage of GDP and Total Government Spending, BEDP
SCHOOL YEAR
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
GDP (in Php billions) 18,635 19,846 21,136 22,510 23,973 25,531 27,191 28,958 30,840
Education as % of GDP 4.9% 4.9% 4.8% 4.7% 4.7% 4.5% 4.3% 4.1% 4.0%
Basic Education as % of GDP 4.0% 4.0% 3.9% 3.8% 3.7% 3.6% 3.4% 3.2% 3.0%
Government Budget (in Php billions) 4,506 4,506 4,594 4,893 5,211 5,549 5,910 6,294 6,703
Government budget as % of GDP 24.2% 22.7% 21.7% 21.7% 21.7% 21.7% 21.7% 21.7% 21.7%
Education as % of total Government Budget 20.2% 21.7% 22.2% 21.5% 21.4% 20.9% 20.9% 19.0% 18.3%
Basic Education as % of total Government Budget 16.4% 17.6% 17.9% 17.3% 17.2% 16.7% 16.7% 14.7% 14.0%

231
The Education 2030 Framework for Action is specific in its recommendation on education spending. To quote,
“Governments must allocate 4–6% of their gross domestic product and/or 15–20% of total public expenditure to
education, ensuring efficient spending and prioritizing the most marginalized groups.”196 In this light, the BEDP
results in education spending that is well within the recommended GDP allocation band. The BEDP results in
education spending that is above the allocation band for total public expenditure for some years. However, this
looks to be the investment necessary for the country to achieve the desired outcomes in education.
The BEDP represents a material rise from historical spending patterns in education. Between 2010 and 2020, the
Philippines has underspent on education. As shown in Table 23, education spending as a percentage of GDP has
been below the recommended allocation band in all but one year. In like manner, education spending as a
percentage of total public expenditure has been below the recommended allocation band in all but two years with
the government allocating an average of 13.55% of the national budget to education in 2010 to 2020. Devoting
more of the national budget to education is a major challenge for the Government of the Philippines yet also
demonstrates its commitment to investing in education and future generations.
Apart from DepEd’s appropriated budget, the following can help fund the BEDP: (a) Special Education Fund
(SEF) from local government units; (b) support from external partners and the private sector; and (c) community
contributions. Adding these sources to the budget appropriated for basic education lessens the funding gap.
DepEd recommends that the Government of the Philippines commit to appropriate around 20% of its national
budget to education, with 80% going to basic education. With this, the projected funding gap can be estimated.
Table 31. Projected Estimates of the funding gap, BEDP

(in PhP billions)
SCHOOL YEAR
Calculating the funding gap 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
(in Php billions) 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
National government budget 4,506 4,506 4,594 4,893 5,211 5,549 5,910 6,294 6,703
Government spending in basic education (est) 613 613 625 665 709 755 804 856 912
LGU contribution (Special Education Fund) 26 28 30 32 34 36 39 41 44
External partners 4 4 4 4 4
Grants 3
Total Funding 646 645 659 701 747 791 842 897 955
Cost of BEDP 737 792 822 845 895 924 921 927 941
Funding gap -91 -147 -163 -144 -148 -133 -79 -30 14
Source: Calculations made for the BEDP
196
SDG 4 - Education 2030. Financing for SDG4: Making Global Education a Reality. https://www.sdg4Education2030.org/financing-sdg4-
making-global-Education-reality-sdg-ed2030-sc-november-2017
232
It is important that the funding gap is addressed; otherwise, some targets in the BEDP may not be met.
DepEd will do its part by doing more with less, substituting resources with less expensive options, or by being
creative and innovative. Alternatively, certain programs can be prioritized over others in view of what looks to be
some fiscal space towards the end of the BEDP period. The national government is likewise enjoined to spend
more on education. Raising the appropriation to 18% or 19% of national spending is within the recommended
allocation band of SDG4 and is more at par with the education spending of Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. The
Government of the Philippines may have to source external financing beyond these options.
The GDP growing less than projected looks to be the key risk in funding the BEDP. At the time of writing this
Plan, the Philippine Statistics Authority announced that the country’s GDP shrank 4.2% in the first quarter of
2021, confirming experts’ fears that the economy will recover much slower than expected.197 It is unclear how
quickly and how much the economy can rebound from this point.
Another risk is a lower propensity of government to spend on education. The pandemic has increased the
need for government support in many areas and the education sector will have to compete more aggressively
for scarce funds. This risk is mitigated by the constitutional provision that education is assigned the highest
budgetary priority.
Even when the risks identified above do not materialize or are mitigated, the funding gap remains. Thus, the third
risk is a lower appetite to fund basic education in the Philippines. While official development assistance and
funding from multilateral financial institutions have been forthcoming in the past, the risk nonetheless exists. It is
hoped that the BEDP’s pivot from access to quality, equity, and resilience will warrant external funding support. It
is further desired that external funding be structured as program loans released directly to DepEd to fund BEDP
interventions. This ensures that funds are used for their intended purposes.
197
Philippine Statistics Authority. 2021. GDP posted a growth of 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2021. https://psa.gov.ph/national-accounts
233
9.0
COSTED
OPERATIONAL PLAN
2022-2026 198
198
A more detailed and updated Costed Operational Plan will be prepared in the first six months of BEDP implementation. DepEd’s Planning
Service will conduct detailed implementation planning with BEDP Technical Working Groups to finalize operational targets and determine
implementation details (major activities), timelines, and cost requirements.
234
In the previous section on the financial framework, the cost of the BEDP was disaggregated into their cost
types—whether recurrent or capital—and the cost at each key level. In this section, the costed operational plan
disaggregates the cost of the BEDP into the strategies of the results framework for the first five years of the Plan.
These different ways of examining costs provide a holistic view of the investment required in the BEDP.
The costed operational plan is developed along the lines adopted in the financial framework where an incremental
approach is taken. It starts out with a steady-state scenario, which merely allows the sector to continue under its
current policies and operational approaches. Variations in the annual cost estimates are the result of demographic
changes in that period. The incremental cost of the strategies itemized in the results framework add to the
steady-state scenario and result in the fully costed operational plan.
The incremental approach draws parallels on how budgets are prepared by the agencies of the Government of
the Philippines. All instrumentalities of the national government prepare their budgets in two tiers. Tier 1 is for
forward estimates of existing programs and projects and as such are no longer fully elaborated. Tier 2 is for new
programs and projects or the expansion of existing ones. In this light, the steady-state scenario can be thought
of as Tier 1 and the added cost of BEDP interventions as Tier 2. Thus, strategies and outputs in the results
framework that are not expected to have significant impact on the budget and can be accommodated by the
steady-state scenario are no longer costed.
The costed operational plan details the cost of the strategies for the first five years of the BEDP or the 2022–2026
period. The strategies emanate from four pillars or intermediate outcomes of the results framework, which are
access, equity, quality, and empowerment and resilience. These are supported by the enabling mechanisms of
governance and management. Presented below is a macro view of the costed operational plan at the pillar level.
Table 32. Costed Operational Plan, Pillar Level

(in PhP millions)
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Pillar totals
Access 52,604 86,911 97,620 104,821 130,806 472,762
Equity 19,070 21,986 23,489 23,676 24,826 113,048
Quality 37,643 53,822 70,061 81,956 98,711 342,192
Learners’ Resilience and Well-Being 22,025 22,410 22,789 23,195 23,613 114,032
Enabling Mechanisms 7,496 9,961 9,591 9,101 9,619 45,768
Annual Incremental Totals 138,838 195,091 223,550 242,749 287,574 1,087,802
Add: Steady-state scenario 598,534 597,071 598,518 602,301 607,242 3,003,666
Annual total cost of BEDP 737,372 792,161 822,068 845,050 894,816 4,091,468
Source: BEDP Operational Plan (Annex 3)
235
Figure 36: Percentage of a Pillar’s Incremental Cost to
Total Incremental Cost, 2022–2026
4.2%
10.5%
43.5%
31.5%
10.4%
Access Equity Quality Resilience Enabling Mechanisms
Source: BEDP Operational Plan (Annex 3)
Access still dominates as may be expected from the millions of learners for which DepEd must deliver
educational services. However, the growing importance of the other pillars, in particular in Quality, are reflected
in the non-negligible amounts devoted to implementing their strategies. The costed operational plan in Annex 3
provides the details.
236
10.0
RISK
MANAGEMENT
237
The implementation of any strategic plan entails a number of risks that are external factors beyond the control
of DepEd and that could impact the development of the BEDP. The following matrix identifies the major risks in
achieving the outcomes proposed in the Results Framework, and the strategies to mitigate their impact.
Figure 37. Risk Analysis Matrix on Impact and Probability
IMPACT High 3 4 5
Medium 2 3 4
Low 1 2 3
Low Medium High
PROBABILITY
238
Table 33: Risk Analysis Matrix on Risk Severity
Severity
Mitigation
Identified Risk Strategies
Probability Impact
Overall Rate
High/Medium/Low High/Medium/Low
Institutional Risks
Prioritize additional distance

Schools remain
learning strategies for
closed in the new
Medium High 4 implementation at regional,
school year 2021–
schools division, and school
2022
levels
The new
administration in
Validate the BEDP in Congress
2022 decides not Medium High 4
as a non-partisan national policy
to implement the
BEDP
Lack of support
Provide advocacy programs
from stakeholders
Low Medium 2 to mobilize members of the
to implement the
Education Forum
BEDP
Limited coordination
between DepEd
Activate existing joint
and other agencies
committees and memoranda of
for interventions Medium Medium 3
agreement, and create more as
related to equity,
needed
empowerment, and
resilience
Once the BEDP is approved, all

BEDP monitoring
indicators and targets need to
is not given
be included in the annual Q&A
prominence in Medium Medium 3
document and other official
official DepEd
reports to ensure they are being
documents
monitored
Reading and
Listening Intensive foundational instruction
Comprehension and delivered across K to Grade 3 to
Numeracy Low High 3 ensure that basic reading and
proficiency continue numeracy skills are in place as a
to decline at Stage 1 basis for future learning
assessment
The Philippines Strong advocacy to ensure

decides to withdraw that the need for international
from International Low High 3 benchmarks for student
Large-Scale achievement are a strong
Assessments incentive for improvement
239
Severity
Mitigation
Probability Impact
Overal Rate
Operational Risks
Inadequate digital learning Seek LGU and private

options available to support High Medium 4 support for provision of
continued school closures additional digital devices
Teachers and support staff

who are already coping Enhance provision of non-
with new initiatives have digital modes for areas and
Medium High 4
low morale and confidence schools without sufficient
to implement BEDP 2030 connectivity
priorities
Twenty-first century skills

training is not sufficiently
Develop and implement
implemented to quickly
Medium High 2 a sector capacity
impact on student learning
development plan (CPD)
outcome standards in NAT
and ILSAs.
Financial Risks
Reduction of the education

budget at the central level
due to the pandemic (GDP
contraction and/or
Reprioritize activities
reduced Government of
Medium High 4 and budget according to
the Philippines financial
available funds
commitment to the
BEDP due to a change of
priorities)
Work towards issuing an

updated joint circular from
DepEd, DILG, and DBM
(and others as needed) to
Local governments have
define education priorities
competing priorities in
Medium High 4 and eligible expenses based
spending the Special
on BEDP 2030
Education Fund
Institute mechanisms for
greater equity so that
schools in poorer LGUs get
more funding
240
Severity
Mitigation
Probability Impact
Overal Rate
Reduced funding and Establish regular roundtable

in-kind assistance from Low Medium 2 meetings with development
development partners partners
Capacity Risks
Increase capabilities of financial

Procurement
managers per office and advance
performance continues Medium High 4
procurement timelines and
to languish
release of program guidelines
Environmental factors
Select training venues for
provide barriers to
teachers in hazardous areas on
continuing CPD for Medium High 4
the basis of ease of access and
teachers in hazard-
reliable power sources
prone areas
Environmental Risks
Natural disasters Develop and implement a

exacerbated by climate disaster risk resilience strategy;
change destroy Invest in proper construction,
High Medium 4
educational buildings, reconstruction, and retrofitting of
equipment, and buildings, as laid out in Pillar 4
materials
Make special provisions to

Natural disasters
ensure that remote and isolated
cause a breakdown
Medium High 4 communities are well-resourced
in telecommunication
with reliable IT access
access
241
11
ANNEXES
11.1. Results Framework
11.2. Linkages of DepEd and BEDP to Other Education Agencies
11.3. Operational Plan
11.4. Steering Committee and Thematic Working Group Members
11.5. References
242
11.1
RESULTS
FRAMEWORK
243
Pillar No. 1 Access
IO#1- All school-age children, out-of-school youth, and adults have access to relevant
basic learning opportunities
IO#1.1- All five-year-old IO#1.3- All learners transition IO#1.4- All out-of-school children & youth
IO#1.2- All learners stay in school
children attend school to the next key stage participate in formal or non-formal basic
education learning opportunities
Strategy #1 Strategy#2 Strategy#4 Strategy#5

Improve access to universal kindergarten Improve learners’ access to quality and rights- Strengthen schools’ capacity to ensure learners’ Strengthen mechanism for providing access to
education upholding environment continuity to next stage basic learning opportunities for OOSC, OSY and
• Digital materials for all learning areas OSA
• Standard on kindergarten facilities developed developed and made accessible to target • Integrated public schools established in areas
and implemented (include facilities, LR, learners where access to JHS and SHS is difficult • Literacy mapping strategy for identifying OSC,
Teachers and other components) • All schools provided with library and science • Incomplete primary schools converted into OSY, and OSA developed and implemented in
• Operational Guidelines on parental laboratories complete multigrade schools divisions and districts
engagement in Kindergarten developed and • Schools implemented feeding program • New secondary schools established in areas • ALS teachers, community ALS implementors
implemented • Health and teaching personnel trained on with less access to secondary education and learning facilitators trained to use online
• Tripartite partnership with Barangay LGUs, appropriate school health and nutrition • More private schools participating in the teaching platforms
pre-school centers, and public schools standards Education Service Contracting scheme • ALS teachers are deployed in high demand
strengthened • More schools with health and sanitation • SHS course offerings within standards areas
• DepEd’s acceleration policy developed and facilities • SHS facilities provided are within standards • New community learning centers (CLCs) are
implemented • More schools implementing learners’ mental • Tool for tracing learners’ completing basic operational in high demand areas
• Existing Catchup program for five-year-old health and psychosocial program education including ALS learners is developed • Access to Print and Non-Print Learning
children or above not attending kindergarten and operational Resources in the CLCs Improved
reviewed and reformulated Strategy #3. • Selected CLCs are equipped with appropriate
• Coordination mechanism between elementary
Improve capacity to retain learners in schools
• Strategy for mapping whereabouts of five- and secondary schools established; learning facilities
• Teachers and learning facilitators capacitated
year-old children developed and implemented • Mechanism for strengthening the curriculum • Service contracting and engagement of non-
to implement remediation programs and
in schools link between elementary and secondary DepEd ALS providers expanded
management of learners at risk of dropping
• Research studies on the effectivity of established and operational; • ALS Internal stakeholders’ access to training
out
stakeholders’ involvement in strengthening • Secondary schools implemented bridging on ALS program implementation Improved
• More schools implementing school-initiated
kindergarten program completed strategies to address learning gaps • ALS external stakeholders’ on ALS program
interventions using flexible learning options
• Teachers trained on identifying learning gaps implementation improved
• Schools implemented remediation programs
and remediation strategies; and, • ALS M&E system and processes aligned with
for struggling learners
• Improved counselling services of schools to Basic Education Monitoring and Evaluation
• Counseling services for all students to
address learner’s concerns implemented Framework developed and operational in all
address individual concerns provided in all
governance levels
schools.
244
245
Pillar No. 2 Equity

School-age children and youth, and adults in situations of disadvantage
benefited from appropriate equity initiatives
SIO#2.1- All school-age children and youth and adults in situations of disadvantage are participating in inclusive basic
learning opportunities and receiving appropriate quality education
Strategy #1 Strategy #2 Strategy #3 Strategy #4 Strategy #5

Improve program management and service Provide an inclusive, effective, Improve gender-sensitive Enhance DepEd platforms for Promoted partnerships to benefit
delivery culturally responsive, gender- contextualized curriculum and learning resources education for learners in situations
sensitive and safe learning learning delivery of disadvantage
• Coordination with LGUs and barangay officials environment to respond to the • Standards, processes, and protocols
on data gathering and analysis towards explicit situations of disadvantage • Standards, processes and protocols for the contextualization of learning • Communication and advocacy
solutions to identified barriers to education for the contextualization of the resources for inclusive education plans for inclusive education are
implemented • Policies and standards for safe and curriculum, and learning delivery for implemented implemented
• Mechanism for the enrollment of pre-identified accessible learning environments for inclusive education developed and • DepEd ICT platforms and facilities • Partnership with external providers of
children with disabilities in Kindergarten between learners with different learning needs implemented with accessibility features for inclusive inclusive education forged
and among ECCD, DSWD, NGOs, and DepEd are implemented • Programs to address gender- education are provided • Standards and protocols for the
implemented • Contextualized rural farm schools disparities among children are • Standards, processes, and protocols engagement of stakeholders in
• Ten-year Program Assessment of IPEd completed established developed and implemented for the contextualization of the support of inclusive education
• Baseline information on the needs of all types of • One Community Learning Center curriculum, learning delivery, and formulated
learners in disadvantage completed (CLC) per barangay established learning resources for IPEd (for both • Involvement of the community in
• Policies, standards and program management on • Inclusive Learning Resource Center formal and ALS) formulated the implementation of the different
programs responsive to the needs of all types of established learning modalities
learners are developed and implemented • Learner support services appropriate
• Learning and Development Plan for the capacity for learners with different learning
development of personnel involved in IPEd needs implemented
implemented
• Rights-based and culture-sensitive planning
and M&E at various governance levels for IPEd
formulated and implemented
• Governance Framework and partnership
mechanisms for IPEd across governance levels
developed and implemented
• Program approaches and strategies for various
typologies of IPEd implementing schools
• Teaching, non-teaching, implementers and
stakeholders trained on inclusive education
• Program approaches and strategies for various
typologies of IPEd-implementing schools
• M&E policy and mechanism on inclusive education
Pillar No. 3 Quality
Learners complete K-12 basic education having attained all learning standards that equip them with
necessary skills and attributes and are confident to pursue their chosen paths
IO#3.1-Learners attain Stage 1 (K-Grade • IO#3.2- Learners attain Stage 2 (Grades IO#3.3- Learners attain Stage 3 (Grades IO#3.4- Learners attain Stage 4 (Grades • IO#3.5- Learners in the Alternative
3) learning standards of fundamental 4-6) learning standards in required 7-10) learning standards of literacy, 11-12) learning standards equipped Learning System attain certification
reading & numeracy skills to provide literacy & numeracy skills apply 21st numeracy skills and apply 21st century with knowledge and 21st century skills as Elementary or Junior High School
basis for success in the remaining century skills to various real-life skills to various real-life situations developed in chosen core, applied and completers
learning stages situations specialized SHS tracks
Strategy #1 Stage #2 Stage #3 Stage #4 Strategy #5

Ensure alignment of the curriculum, Align resource provision with key stage Assess learning outcomes at each key Strengthen the competence of teachers Ensure alignment of curriculum,
instruction, and classroom assessment learning standards stage transition and for learners in and instructional leaders in areas such instruction, and assessment with
methods in all learning areas • Learning resources for learning situations of disadvantage as content knowledge and pedagogy/ current and emerging industry and
• Curriculum guides reflecting the standards reflecting the socio- • Revised National Assessment instructrion, curriculum and planning, global standards
socio-emotional and 21st century emotional and 21st century skills Framework developed and responding to learner diversity, and • Policy, platforms, and mechanism
skills including the appropriate provided implemented assessment and reporting for consultations on curriculum,
learning approaches and assessment • System for the management of • Revised assessment programs • Professional development programs instruction, and assessment
are developed, disseminated and learning resources developed and with design, tools, administration for teachers developed and developed and implemented
implemented implemented procedures, and guidelines implemented in identified priority • Policy on alignment of TEI
• Sustainable Development Goals • System for quality assurance of developed and implemented areas such as but not limited to: curriculum and school curriculum
and human rights, including but not learning resources developed and • Mechanisms for aggregation of • Socio-emotional and 21st century issued and implemented
limited to children’s rights, integrated implemented classroom assessment for division- skills • Policies and mechanisms for tertiary
in relevant subjects as early as Stage • Researches on curriculum standards, wide-learning assessments in place • Learning approaches and learning schools on providing the results of
1 and until Stage 4 learning management, and learning and operational modalities college readiness assessments of
• Policies and curriculum standards on resources and services completed • Predictive models using assessment • Assessment SHS graduates established
Good Manners and Right Conduct and disseminated results developed and appropriate • Program management on curricular,
(GMRC) and Values Education issued • Guidelines on safe use of technology trainings implemented co-curricular and extra curricular
and implemented in the teaching and learning process • System for monitoring Philippine • Professional development programs
• Policies, standards, and program formulated and implemented Qualifications Framework (PQF) level for instructional leaders (MTs, SHs,
management on curricular, 1(JHS Certificates) and Level 2 (SHS PSDS, EPS) to support teacher PD
co-curricular and extra curricular Diploma) in the qualifications registry on various priority areas
activities developed and (including the National Comptency
implemented Standards) established
• Analytical reports on the results
of national and international
assessments completed and
disseminated
246
Pillar No. 4 Learners’ Empowerment and Resilience
247
Learners are resilient and aware of their rights to and in education are respected, protected, fulfilled and
promoted while being aware of their responsibilities as individuals and as members of society
IO#4.1-Learners are served by a Department IO#4.2-Learners are safe and protected, and can IO#4.3- Learners have the basic physical, mental,
that adheres to a rights-based education protect themselves, from risks and impacts from and emotional fortitude to cope with various
framework at all levels natural and human induced hazards challenges in life
Strategies & Outputs
Strategy #1 Strategy #2 Strategy #3 Strategy #4 Strategy #5 Strategy #6 Strategy #7 Strategy #8

Integrate children’s and Ensure that learners know Protecting learners and Ensure learning continuity in Protect education Provide learners with basic Nurturing and protecting Promoting learners’ physical
learners’ rights in the design their rights and have the life personnel from death injury, the aftermath of a disaster or investments from the health and nutritional learners’ mental and and emotional development
of all DepEd policies, plans, skills to claim their education- and harm brought by natural emergency impacts of natural and services psychosocial health • School sports and fitness
programs, projects, processes related rights from DepEd and and human-induced hazards • Internal and external human-induced hazards • Guidelines on health • Study on effects of development program
and systems other duty-bearers to promote • DepEd personnel and partners for response, • Risk assessment data and safety of learners student workloads, framework developed
• Laws, policies, plans, learners capacitated on rehabilitation, and for DRRM, CCAM, and school personnel, deadlines and other • Standards for school
learners’ well-being, while
rules and regulations, providing MHPSS recovery mobilized and peacebuilding including prevention of learning activities sports and competition
also being aware of their programs developed and
contracts, programs, • ESD, DRRM, CCAM, • Access to relevant established COVID-19 developed completed
responsibilities as individuals responses, rehabilitation, and implemented • Teachers trained in implemented
projects and activities and peacebuilding • DRRM, Peacebuilding,
and as members of society competencies in the K to and recovery-related and Climate change- • Post COVID-19 tracking handling learners • Teaching and non-
containing commitments
• Child rights education 12 curriculum integrated datasets from schools related programs, of learners’ health and experiencing mental teaching DepEd personnel
towards children’s rights
(CRE) in the enhanced K • Personnel and enhanced projects, and activities nutrition conditions in and psychosocial health trained on after school
according to rights-based
to 12 curriculum, extra- or stakeholders capacitated • Information, education, (PPAs), and budget schools implemented issues sports program
education framework
co-curricular programs, on DRRM, CCAM, and and communication in DepEd offices and • Health personnel • DepEd personnel and • Partnership on schools
implemented
learning environment and peacebuilding (IEC) materials in the schools annual plans and program learners capacitated on sports programs
• Rights-based education
culture of the school, • Safety and emergency aftermath of a disaster developed coordinators trained providing MHPSS established
(RBE) framework adopted
learning center, and supplies and equipment or emergency developed • DRRM, CCAM, and on management of
and implemented
other learning modalities provided to DepEd offices and disseminated peacebuilding policies risky behavior and child
• Standards and
integrated and schools • Guidelines on immediate implemented in DepEd protection issues
mechanisms on child
• Learning resources on response interventions offices and schools • Schools’ health
protection developed and
children’s and learners’ for learning continuity • Functional DRRM facilities including
implemented
rights in education utilized developed Teams organized in all WASH and clinics
• M&E mechanism
• Mechanisms on • MHPSS interventions, governance levels provided
on rights-based
learners’ participation on including referral • DRRM, CCAM, • School-community
education framework
education and children’s mechanisms, for and peacebuiliding coordination
and legal obligations
rights developed and learners and personnel researches published mechanisms for health
& commitments
implemented affected by disasters and • Regular programs and safety of learners
on children’s rights
• Child protection emergencies are provided for structural and in schools established
implemented
committee in schools • DepEd inter-agency non-structural hazard • Policies, guidelines,
• Child Rights in
established Comprehensive prevention and and standards
Education Desk (CREDe)
institutionalized Rehabilitation and mitigation measures on prevention of
• DepEd personnel and Recovery Plan (CRRP) for implemented COVID-19, health
stakeholders trained on disaster and emergency & nutrition, and
child rights/RBE developed adolescent health
• Positive discipline • Regions, divisions, & development
measures implemented in and schools equipped implemented
schools and community in leading multi-
• CPU and CPC structures stakeholder groups for
are established the implementation of
• Child protection policies response, rehabilitation,
implemented and recovery
• Major repair and
reconstruction of
infrastructure and
replacement of non-
infrastructure damages
due to disasters/
and emergencies for
rehabilitation and recovery
• Feedback and
accountability
mechanisms for
learners on emergency
interventions established
Enabling Mechanism: Governance and Management
Efficient, agile, and resilient governance and management processes
EM#1- Ensure all EM#2- All personnel are EM#3- Ideal learning EM#4- Improve and EM#5- Strengthen active EM#6- Strengthen
education leaders and resilient, competent, and environment and adequate modernize internal collaboration with key the public-private
managers practice continuously improving learning resources for systems and processes stakeholders complementarity
participative, ethical, and • NEAP Transformation learners ensured for a responsive and • Framework for • Public-Private
inclusive management deepened and further • Standards for a quality efficient financial resource stakeholder engagement complementarity
institutionalized and inclusive learning developed and framework developed and
processes management
• Competency-based hiring • Professional standards environment for different • Guidelines on modern implemented implemented;
and promotion system linked to employee learner groups for the financial management • Guidelines on the use • Manual of regulations for
adopted and implemented assessment, new normal post covid-19 systems and processes of SEF revised and private schools enhanced
development, rewarding adopted and implemented developed and implemented implemented and implemented
• SBM policy revised and • Guidelines for performance
implemented and recognition • Standards for the • School Governing Council • Organizational and human
management and quality
• Policy guidelines for • Employee welfare and integration of educational assurance systems
policy revised and resource support to
the decentralization of benefits standards technology in teaching developed and implemented implemented qualified personnel
PAPs formulated and are developed and and learning developed • Disaster risk reduction and • Policy on the use of • in private schools are
implemented implemented; and implemented response mechanisms partnership information in place
• DepEd personnel • Standards for learning established system issued and
• Basic Education situation • Policy and research
analysis and plans trained on responsive resource development implemented
agenda formulated and
submitted to LSBs/RDC management processes accessible to all types of implemented
• Multisectoral youth
and other stakeholders that uphold inclusive and learners formulated and • Human Resource development alliances
• Policy on synchronized right-based education implemented Information System (HRIS) established and
planning and budgeting • Learning and in all governance levels operationalized in support
Development plan developed and implemented of ALS implementation
issued and implemented • Internal Control Systems
• Revised SIP policy developed and • Educ Forum actively
(ICS) framework, guidelines,
developed and implemented under NEAP and standards adopted and
engaged as multi-
implemented leadership implemented stakeholder platform for
• Policy on M&E framework • Guidelines for QMS consultation collaborative
and system issued and
developed and implemented research and analysis,
• Asset Management System and high-level advice on
implemented implemented strategic basic education
• Help-Desk Support System
for field procurement
policy
operations created
• DepEd Integrated Logistics
Management System
implemented
• Organic procurement units
and plantilla positions
for procurement officers
created
• Personnel trained in
procurement
• Contract Management
System developed and
implemented
• Standards on procurement
processes, forms and
documents developed and
implemented
• Supplier’s registry system
• Transparency mechanism
• Guidelines on 3rd party
participation in procurement
• Guidelines on customized
procurement for selected
major programs developed
and implemented
248
11.2
LINKAGES OF DEPED
AND BEDP TO OTHER
EDUCATION AGENCIES
249
The BEDP sets out a plan for basic education for the next decade until 2030, and integral to the success of the
plan are the links between the DepEd and the three other agencies that have major responsibilities for associated
educational provision. These links are described below:
Linkages of DepEd/BEDP to the Early Childhood Care and Development Council
The Early Childhood Care and Development Council is an attached agency of DepEd mandated by Republic Act
No. 10410 (the Early Years Act of 2013) to act as the primary agency supporting the government’s ECCD programs
that cover the full range of health, nutrition, early education and social services development programs. The
program objectives are to provide for the basic holistic needs of young children from age zero (0) to four (4) years;
and to promote their optimum growth and mental development and to prepare them for schooling with the right
attitudes and habits..
The ECCD Council also undertakes many complementary functions that interface with the kindergarten
curriculum of the DepEd. These functions can be summarized as follows:
• Prepare policies and guidelines for ECCD programs across the country, including the regional level;
• Establish ECCD program standards that reflect developmentally appropriate practices;
• Develop a national system for the recruitment, registration, accreditation, continuing education and
equivalency, and credential system of ECCD service providers, supervisors and administrators to
improve and professionalize the ECCD sector and upgrade quality standards of public and private ECCD
programs;
• Develop a national system of awards and recognition to deserving ECCD program implementers and
service providers;
• Promote, encourage and coordinate the various ECCD programs of the DepEd, the DSWD, the DOH
and the NNC, and monitor the delivery of services to the ECCD program beneficiaries nationwide;
• Evaluate and assess the impact and outcome of various ECCD programs nationwide through an
effective information system;
• Develop a national system for early identification, screening and surveillance of young children from age
zero (0) to four (4) years;
• Develop various support mechanisms that maximize public and private resources for implementing
ECCD programs, giving priority to the needy and high-risk children from poor communities;
• Provide funds to poor and disadvantaged communities for the establishment and expansion of public
ECCD programs, improvement of physical facilities and for hiring of ECCD service providers; and
• Promote and encourage private sector initiatives for the establishment of ECCD programs.
The ECCD Council also helped to introduce the international Nurturing Care Framework for Early Childhood
Development (NCFECD) that was developed by WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank Group and other partners to
provide a roadmap for ensuring attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Philippines.
The NCFECD outlines:

• Why efforts to improve health and wellbeing must begin in the earliest years, from pregnancy to age 3;
• The major threats to early childhood development;
• How nurturing care protects young children from the worst effects of adversity and promotes physical,
emotional and cognitive development; and
• What families and caregivers need to provide nurturing care for young children.
250
These roles and functions illustrate the importance of the ECCD Council to the successful interface with the basic
education K to 12 program because it emphasizes the five interrelated and indivisible components of nurturing
care: good health, adequate nutrition, safety and security, responsive caregiving and opportunities for learning so
that children can enter Kindergarten ready and excited to reach their full potential in this important year.
Linkages of DepEd/BEDP to the Technical and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
Under Section 7 of RA 7796, otherwise known as the TESDA Act of 1994, the DepEd Secretary is the co-
chairperson of the TESDA Board.
DepEd has included a Technical, Vocational and Livelihood (TVL) track in Senior High School (SHS) and collaborates
closely with TESDA, the national agency that oversees technical and vocational education in the country. DepEd
observes standards set by TESDA in the implementation of the SHS program, and graduates are able to obtain
TESDA certification on successful completion of the secondary track.
TESDA’s National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP) 2018–2022 envisions a “vibrant
quality TVET for decent work and sustainable inclusive growth.” This overarching theme is the rallying cry that
primes TESDA and its partners to achieve the NTESDP’s primary objective of galvanizing and strengthening the
TVET sector through a “two-pronged strategic thrust”: 1) Global Competitiveness and Workforce Readiness, and
2) Social Equity for Workforce Inclusion and Poverty Reduction.
Regarding the second strategy, TESDA works on ensuring the social inclusion of youth in situations of
disadvantage. TESDA has a scholarship program at the barangay level and promotes the collaboration of all
agencies in this endeavor. This results in DepEd and TESDA having common partners for the implementation of
programs in technical and vocational education (for example, LGUs, DSWD, and some NGOs).
DepEd and TESDA have several mechanisms for collaboration. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed in
2020 between DepEd and TESDA and there is a consultative committee for the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood
(TVL) track. The main point at which significant collaboration occurs between DepEd and TESDA is the Philippine
Qualification Framework (PQF). The PQF is a collaborative program governed by the PQF National Coordinating
Council composed of DepEd, TESDA, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
251
Figure 38. Philippines Qualifications Framework
LEVEL BASIC EDUCATION TECHNICAL EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION

AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Doctoral and
Post Doctoral
Post Baccalaureate
L8 Baccalaureate
L7
L6
DIPLOMA
L5
L4 NC IV
L3 NC III
L2
NC II
L1
NC I
Grade 12
Source: Philippine Qualifications Framework website
The establishment of the PQF was a recognition of the need to address major gaps in the education, training,
professional, and industry sectors and to align the national training programs with international standards. The
PQF establishes the levels of educational qualifications and sets the standards for qualification outcomes. It is a
quality-assured national system for the development, recognition, and award of qualifications based on standards
of knowledge, skills and values acquired in different ways and methods by learners and workers of the country.199
The PQF considers Senior High School as the foundation of the 8 levels in the framework and provides eligible
SHS graduates the opportunity to obtain qualifications up to Level 5 as well as admission to degree programs in
Level 6.
As shown in the Figure 31 above, the PQF has eight Levels of qualifications differentiated by descriptors of
expected learning outcomes along three domains: knowledge, skills and values; application; and degree of
independence. It has sub-frameworks corresponding to the subsystems of the education and training system.
For example, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) subsystem covers National
Certificates (NC) I through IV corresponding to the first four levels, while the Commission on Higher Education
Subsystem covers Baccalaureate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, and Doctorate that correspond to Levels 6 to
8. The two sub-systems interface in the provision of qualifications at level V.
199
Government of the Philippines. Philippine Qualifications Framework. www.pqf.gov.ph
252
There has been some concern about the fact that Grade 12 graduation is considered as only a foundational level
in the PQF because it is believed that the Grade 12 diploma should be rated higher in terms of personal
credentials or qualifications given the opportunity cost for undertaking it. Another concern is that students in the
TVL Senior High School Track are able to gain National Certificates I and II through TESDA accreditation over the
course of SHS, but this is inconsistent with the fact that Grade 12 graduation does not gain even a PQF Level 1
qualification.
More comprehensive advocacy programs are required because very few stakeholders are aware of all the
components and advantages of the PQF, making its institutionalization and effectiveness more difficult.
Linkages of DepEd/BEDP to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
Under Section 7 of RA 7722, otherwise known as the Higher Education Act of 1994, the DepEd Secretary is the
chairperson of the Board of Advisers of CHED, which is mandated to assist CHED in aligning its policies and plans
with the cultural, political, and socioeconomic development needs of the nation and with the demands of world-
class scholarship.
The Commission on Higher Education aims to improve the tertiary education sector on four fronts:200 First, it plans
to expand access to quality education and training. Second, it wants to enhance the capacity or competencies of
graduates and faculty. Third, it plans to develop and foster excellence in colleges and universities. Lastly, it aims
to enshrine ethical and innovative governance in the higher education system and institutions. As such, basic
education and higher education are inevitably intertwined and are in a mutually reinforcing cyclical relationship.
College education is one of the main exits for the K to 12 program. Grade 12 graduates are expected to possess
the competencies to be accepted into college, regardless of their SHS track. However, based on 2018-2019 SHS
enrollment and the eventual 2019-2020 college enrollment, only a little more than half of SHS graduates entered
college. During the same period, almost two thirds of Grade 12 enrollment was in the academic track, and the
majority of college freshmen probably came from this group of students.
More than the capability of students to access higher education opportunities, the quality of the graduates from
basic education is also a point of discussion between CHED and DepEd. Institutional entrance exams usually
try to filter and attract only the best students. If the graduates from Grade 12 do not have all the requisite
competencies, they may end up in lower tier institutions, in a different / secondary course, or forgo college
altogether. There is then more pressure for the accepting institutions to ensure that such students catch up over
the duration of their higher education.
CHED also has a program for determining priority programs at the national and regional levels. Depending on the
overall national priorities and regional contexts, CHED selects the disciplines that will receive more resources
by way of student financial assistance and other special programs. This prioritization happens every few years
and there is no direct link between this list and the guidance initiatives towards enrollment in the different SHS
tracks. The worst-case scenario in this situation is that a SHS graduate will not be able to go to college because
his/her SHS specialization has a lot of competency deficiencies for his/her intended college course. CHED has
anticipated this problem and through the Free Tertiary Education Law, they endeavor to provide free bridging
programs for students in such situations. However, the competency mismatch can serve as a deterrent to
200
CHED budget proposal 2017. More recent CHED strategic plan is not available.
253
enrollment, and some deficiencies can go as high as 30 academic units, making the bridging program effectively
another year in college.
The last major interface between DepEd and CHED is in teacher education. As the biggest employer of teachers
in the country, DepEd has some power in the market by dictating the characteristics it requires from prospective
employees. However, DepEd’s tool of choice, the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers, has been weak
in influencing the formal teacher education curriculum in colleges and universities. If the higher education system
cannot produce the kinds of teachers the ever-changing environment of basic education needs, some DepEd
programs and projects might fail to produce their intended outcomes.
All of these point to the challenges of the current structure of the education sector even after over two decades
of implementation. There is a need for more informed and more effective coordination mechanism other than just
the existing Teacher Education Council, or other ad hoc government committees where education agencies are
members. The transition to higher education should be seamless and this can only be achieved if both agencies
genuinely try to understand each other’s contexts.
254
11.3
OPERATIONAL
PLAN
255
At level of strategy
Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Total
Cost of steady-state scenario 598 597 598 602 607 3,003

(in Php millions)
534 071 518 301 242 666
Incremental cost of the Basic Education Development Plan

(in Php millions)
Sub-
Intermediate
Pillar Intermediate Strategies Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Total
Outcomes
Outcomes
Pillar #1 IO#1 - All school-age IO#1.1 - All Strategy 50,295 94,259 117,203 136,830 176,346 574,933
Access children, out-of- 5-year old #1 - Improve
school youth, and children access to
adults have access to attend school quality and
relevant basic learning
learner-
opportunities
IO#1.2 - All friendly
learners stay learning
in school and environment
finish key
stages
Strategy 7,432 7,425 7,410 7,398 7,385 37,050
IO#1.3 - All #2 - Improve
learners capacity to
transition to bring and
the next key retain learners
stage in school and
CLCs
IO#1.4 - All
out-of-school
children Strategy #3 7,620 11,099 11,679 11,722 11,952 54,072
and youth - Strengthen
participate in mechanisms
formal or non- for providing
formal basic access to
education basic learning
learning opportunities
opportunities for OSC and
OSY
256
Sub-
Intermediate
Outcomes
Outcomes
Pillar #2 IO#2 - School- IO#2.1 - All Strategy 2,408 3,387 3,435 2,592 2,911 14,733
Equity age children and school-age #1 - Improve
youth, and adults children and program
in situations of youth, and management
disadvantage
adults in and service
benefited from
situations of delivery
appropriate equity
initiatives disadvantage
are
participating Strategy 14,996 15,970 16,230 16,460 16,488 80,143
in inclusive #2 - Provide
basic learning an inclusive,
opportunities effective,
culturally
responsive,
gender-
sensitive, and
safe learning
environment
to respond
to the
situations of
disadvantage
10 15 320 325 330 1,000

Strategy
#3 - Improve
contextualized
curriculum
and learning
delivery
IO#2.2 - All Strategy #4 1,274 1,783 2,292 2,701 3,111 11,162

learners in - Enhance
situations of DepEd
disadvantage platforms
receive for learning
appropriate resources
quality
education
Strategy #5
- Promote 18 93 93 93 93 391
partnerships
to benefit
education for
learners in
situations of
disadvantage
257
Sub-
Intermediate
Outcomes
Outcomes
Pillar #3 IO#3 - Learners IO#3.1 Strategy #1 - 3,526 3,490 3,468 3,463 3,479 17,427
Quality complete K to 12 - Learners Align
basic education, attain Stage 1 curriculum
having attained all (K–Grade and
learning standards 3) learning instruction
that equip them with standards of methods in all
the necessary skills fundamental subjects
and attributes to reading and
pursue their chosen numeracy
paths skills to
provide a
basis for
success in
the remaining
learning
stages
IO#3.2 Strategy #2 - 54 54 54 54 54 270

- Learners Build
attain Stage capacity for
2 (Grades assessment
4–6) learning through
standards professional
in required development
literacy and
numeracy
skills and
apply 21st
century skills
to various
real-life
situations
258
Sub-
Intermediate
Outcomes
Outcomes
IO#3.3 Strategy #3 78 87 88 76 73 402

- Learners Assess
attain Stage learning
3 (Grades outcomes
7-10) learning at each
standards key stage
of literacy, transition and
numeracy for learners in
skills and situations of
apply 21st disadvantage
century skills
to various
real-life
situations
IO#3.4 Strategy #4 19,903 23,323 27,131 26,941 30,292 127,589

- Learners Align resource
attain Stage provision
4 (Grades with key
11-12) learning stage learning
standards standards
equipped with
knowledge
and 21st
century skills
developed in
chosen core,
applied and
specialized
SHS tracks
IO#3.5 Strategy #5 1,704 1,734 1,766 1,797 1,830 8,830

- Learners Enhance
in the planning,
Alternative monitoring
Learning and evaluation
System attain capacities in
certification field offices
as Elementary (region,
or Junior division and
High School schools)
completers
259
Sub-
Intermediate
Outcomes
Outcomes
Pillar #4 IO#4 - Learners are IO#4.1 - Strategy #1 2,213 2,311 2,409 2,514 2,622 12,069
Resilience resilient and know Learners are - Integrate
and Well- their rights, and served by a children’s
have the life skills to
Being Department and learners’
protect themselves
that adheres rights in the
and claim their
to a rights- design of
education-related
rights from DepEd based all DepEd
and other duty- education policies,
bearers to promote framework at plans,
learners’ well-being all levels programs,
projects,
processes,
and systems
1,107 1,156 1,205 1,257 1,311 6,035

Strategy #2
- Ensure that
learners know
their rights
and have the
life skills to
claim their
education-
related rights
from DepEd
and other
duty-bearers
to promote
learners’ well-
being
IO#4.2 Strategy 6,967 6,960 6,945 6,933 6,920 34,725

- Learners #1 – Protect
are safe and learners and
protected, personnel
and can from death,
protect injury, and
themselves, harm brought
from risks by natural
and impacts and human-
of natural induced
and human- hazard
induced
hazards
Strategy 472 472 472 472 472 2,360

#2 – Provide
learners with
access to
emergency
learning
interventions
in the
aftermath of a
disaster
260
Sub-
Intermediate
Outcomes
Outcomes
Strategy #3– 1,697 1,697 1,697 1,697 1,697 8,485

Ensure that
education
facilities are
safe and
protected
from the
impacts of
natural and
human-
induced
hazards
IO#4.3 - Strategy 3,320 3,467 3,614 3,771 3,933 18,104

Learners have #1 – Provide
the basic learners with
physical, basic health
mental, and and nutritional
emotional services
fortitude to
cope with
various
challenges
in life
Strategy #2 – - - - - - -
Nurture and
protecting
learners’
mental and
psychosocial
health
Strategy #3 6,250 6,348 6,446 6,551 6,659 32,254

- Promote
learners’
physical and
emotional
development
261
Sub-
Intermediate
Outcomes
Outcomes
Pillar #5 Efficient, agile, and EM#1 - 1,136 1,156 1,177 1,198 1,220 5,887
Enabling resilient governance Education
Mechanisms and management leaders and
– Governance processes managers
and practice
Management participative,
ethical, and
inclusive
management
processes
EM#2 - 305 310 315 321 326 1,578

Strategic
human
resource
management
enhanced for
continuing
professional
development
and
opportunities
EM#3 - 284 289 294 300 305 1,472

Standards
in basic
education
are set,
disseminated
and
implemented
to provide
learners with
a quality and
inclusive
learning
environment
262
Sub-
Intermediate
Outcomes
Outcomes
EM#4 - Improve 5,747 8,134 7,722 7,201 7,686 36,490

and modernize
internal systems
and processes
for a responsive
and efficient
financial
resource
management
EM#5 - Key 16 16 26 26 26 108

stakeholders
actively
collaborate to
serve learners
better
EM#6 - Public 9 56 56 56 56 234

and private
education
work more
collaboratively
under a dynamic
and responsive
complementarity
framework
N. B. Tallies may not reconcile

due to rounding error
263
Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Total
Incremental annual cost of the BEDP 138 195 223 242 287 1,087
(in Php millions) 838 091 550 749 574 802
Add: steady-state scenario 598 597 598 602 607 3,003

(in PhP millions) 534 071 518 301 242 666
737 792 822 845 894 4,091

Total annual cost of the BEDP
372 161 068 050 816 468
(in PhP millions)
264
11.4
STEERING COMMITTEE
AND THEMATIC
WORKING GROUP MEMBERS
265
Name Position
Leonor Magtolis Briones Secretary of Education
Nepomuceno A. Malaluan Undersecretary - Chief of Staff
Jesus L.R. Mateo Undersecretary for Planning, Human Resources, and Organizational Development
Diosdado M. San Antonio Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction
Alain Del B. Pascua Undersecretary for Procurement and Administration
Annalyn M. Sevilla Undersecretary for Finance
Tonisito M.C. Umali Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs
Josephine G. Maribojoc Undersecretary for Legal Service
G.H. Ambat Assistant Secretary for Alternative Learning System Program and Taskforce
Alma Ruby C. Torio Assistant Secretary for Curriculum and Instruction
Ramon Fiel G. Abcede Assistant Secretary for Finance
Alberto T. Escobarte Assistant Secretary for Legal Service
Estela L. Carino Regional Director, CAR
Wilfredo E. Cabral Regional Director, Region IVA
Malcolm S. Garma Regional Director, NCR
Salustiano T. Jimenez Regional Director, Region VII
Arturo B. Bayocot Regional Director, Region X
Francis Cesar B. Bringas Regional Director, Region XII
Roger Masapol Director of Planning
Armando Ruiz Director, Budget Office
Leila Areola Director, Bureau of Learning Delivery
Joyce Andaya Director, Bureau of Curriculum Development
Raul La Rosa Director, Bureau of Learning Resources
Nelia Benito Director, Bureau of Education Assessment
266
Name Position
John Siena Director, National Educators Academy of the Philippines
Marilette Almayda Director, Alternative Learning System
Ronilda Co Director, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service
Abram Abanil Director, Information and Communications Technology Service
Rhoan Orebia Director, Legal Service
Jennifer Lopez Director, Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development
Anne Rachel Miguel Director, Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development
Leilani Galvez Director, Internal Audit Service
Runvi Manguerra Director, Teacher Education Council
John Joshua M. Duldulao Coordinator, Education Futures Programme
267
11.5
REFERENCES
268
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▪ Government of Philippines. 1987. Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.

▪ Government of Philippines. 2016. Philippines Development Plan 2017–2022.
▪ AmBisyon Natin 2040.
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▪ Government of Philippines. 2013b. Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Enhanced Basic Education Act.
▪ Government of Philippines. 2012. Early Years Act, Republic Act No. 10410.
▪ Government of Philippines. 2011. Kindergarten Education Act, Republic Act No. 10157.
▪ Government of Philippines. 2010. Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, Republic Act No.
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▪ Government of Philippines. 2001. Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001, Republic Act No. 9155.
▪ Government of Philippines. 1997. The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, Republic Act No. 8371.
▪ Department of Education. 2021. Basic Education Sector Analysis. March.
▪ Department of Education. 2020a. Simulation model.
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▪ Department of Education. 2019c. Enhanced School Improvement Plan 2019-2022, Real Elementary School.
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▪ Department of Education. 2017b. Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy, DepEd Order No. 32.
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▪ Department of Education. 2016c. National Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) Program Implementing
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▪ Department of Education. 2012. Implementing Guidelines on The Revised School-Based Management (SBM)
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269
Equity
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▪ Community Systems Foundation. 2019. Report on the Current State of Early Childhood Care and
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▪ Council for the Welfare of Children. 2020a. National Strategic Plan on Children with Disabilities in the
Philippines 2019–2022.
▪ Council for the Welfare of Children and UNICEF. 2017. Philippine Plan to End Violence Against Children.
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▪ ECCD Council. 2019. Early Years First, National Strategy Plan for Early Childhood Care and Development
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▪ Malaluan, N.A. 2020. Update on BE-LCP and Sulong EduKalidad. Philippine Forum for Inclusive Quality Basic
Education (Education Forum).
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▪ PIDS. 2018. Boys are still left behind in Basic Education.
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▪ PIDS. 2016. Trends in Out-of-School Children and Other Basic Education Statistics.
▪ UNICEF. 2020a. Promising Practices for Equitable Remote Learning.
▪ UNICEF. 2018a. Situation Analysis of Children in the Philippines.
▪ UNICEF. 2018b. Study of the Situation of Children with Disabilities in the Philippines. April.
▪ UNICEF. 2017. National Analysis of the Situation Affecting Women and Children in the Philippines.
▪ United Nations-Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 2017. State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples:
Education. New York.
▪ World Bank. 2016. Alternative and Inclusive Learning in the Philippines.
Monitoring and Evaluation/Data
▪ Department of Education. 2020d. Q&A FY2020.

▪ Department of Education. 2020r. DepEd’s Major Programs. Historical Performance FY 2016–2020.
▪ Department of Education. 2019f. EBEIS. SY 2019–2020. Performance Indicators.
▪ Department of Education - EMISD. 2019f. Enhanced Basic Education Information System Consolidated Report,
SY 2014–2015 to SY 2018–2019. Extracted End of School Year 2019–2020 through Educational Management
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▪ Department of Education. various years. Statistics.
▪ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-DFAT Australia. 2019. Basic Education Monitoring and Evaluation
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Manual.
▪ PROMAN. 2020. Evaluation of UNICEF’s Disaster Risk Reduction Programming in Education (2103–2018) in
East Asia and the Pacific Commissioned by UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), Final
Evaluation Report. Bangkok.
▪ Reyes, C. et al. 2019. The Philippines’ voluntary national review on the sustainable development goals. PIDS
Discussion Paper Series No. 2019–10.
Quality and Learning
▪ Arzadon, M. 2020. Status Report on the MTB-MLE Implementation in the Philippines.

▪ Balagtas, M. & Montealegre, Ma C. 2020. Challenges of PISA - a Philippine Normal University report. Manila.
▪ Brillantes, K. et al. 2019. Status of Senior High School Implementation: A Process Evaluation. Discussion
Paper Series No. 2019-13. p. 45.
▪ Bureau of Education Assessment. 2021. PISA 2018 National Report of the Philippines. Department of
Education.
▪ Chen, G. 2020. How Diet and Nutrition Impact a Child’s Learning Ability. Public School Review. New York.
▪ David, C., Albert, J.R. & Vizmanos, J.F. 2019. Pressures on public school teachers and implications on quality.
PIDS Policy Notes. February.
▪ Monje, J.D., Orbeta Jr., A.C., Francisco-Abrigo, K.A. & Capones, E.M. 2019. Starting Where the Children Are:
A Process Evaluation of the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education Implementation. June.
▪ OECD. 2019a. Education Policy Outlook - Working Together to Help Students Achieve their full potential.
▪ OECD. 2019b. PISA 2018 Assessment and Analytical Framework. PISA. OECD Publishing. Paris.
▪ OECD. 2018. Effective teacher policies. OECD Publishing. Paris.
▪ OECD. 2015a. Education Policy Outlook 2015 - Making Reforms Happen.
▪ OECD. 2015b. Schools for 21st Century Learners - strong leaders, confident teachers, innovative approaches
(in particular, Chapters 2 and 4).
▪ OECD. 2009. Creating Effective Teaching & Learning Environments - First Results from TALIS.
▪ OECD. 2005. Teachers Matter: Attracting, Developing and Retaining Effective Teachers.
▪ Philippine Statistics Authority. 2019c. 2019 FLEMMS, Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey,
Final report.
▪ Robertson, P., Bustos, T., Rickards, F., Ferido, M., Bagui, L., Dela Cruz, J. & Kheang, T. 2020. Review of the
Intended Curriculum. Assessment Curriculum and Technology Research Centre (ACTRC).
▪ Schleicher, A. 2020. Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALSI) Insights and Interpretations. OECD.
Brussels.
▪ Schleicher, A. 2015. Schools for 21st Century Learners: Strong Leaders, Confident Teachers, Innovative
Approaches, International Summit on the Teaching Profession. OECD Publishing.
▪ Scoular, C. 2020. Analysis of 21st century skills integration as applied in the Philippines K to 12 program, Final
report. Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
▪ SEA-PLM. 2019. Main Regional Report, SEAMEO. UNICEF. p. 31.
▪ USAID. 2016. Boys’ Underachievement in Education: A Review of the Literature with a Focus on Reading in
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271
▪ Council for the Welfare of Children and UNICEF. 2018. Philippine Plan for Action to End Violence Against
Children.
▪ Department of Education. 2021. Creation of the Child Protection Unit and the Child Rights in Education Desk
in the Department of Education, DepEd Order No. 3.
▪ Government of Philippines. 1987. Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.
▪ Government of Philippines. 1992. Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act, Republic Act No. 7610.
▪ Government of Philippines. 2001. Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001, Republic Act No. 9155.
▪ Government of Philippines. 2013a. Enhanced Basic Education Act, Republic Act No. 10533.
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▪ UK Interagency Group on Human Rights Based Approaches, The Impact of Rights-Based Approaches to
Development, 19. 2007.
▪ UNFPA, UNFPA/CM/04/7. 2004. A Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming: Practical Implementation
Manual and Training Materials (Gender, Human Rights and Culture Branch of the UNFPA Technical Division
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Rights in Early Education, Primary and Secondary Schools, First Edition. Geneva.
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Education Budget
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▪ Department of Budget and Management. 2017–2020. National Expenditure Programs, Volume 1.
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273
274
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(Enclosure to DepEd Order No. , s.

DepEd is the primary administrative agency of the Executive Branch of government,

II List of Figures iii

III List of Acronyms and Abbreviations v

2 THE CONTEXT OF THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATION SECTOR 14

2.1. National Development Context 15

2.2. Legal Framework 19

2.3. Overview of the Structure of the Education Sector in the Philippines 22

3 KEY FEATURES OF THE EDUCATION SITUATION ANALYSIS 30

3.1. Equitable Access and Participation 31

3.1.1. Participation by Education Level in Basic Education 32

3.1.2. The Education of Groups in Situations of Disadvantage and

3.1.3. A Rights-Based Education Through Inclusion Programs 55

3.1.4. Private Education 66

3.1.5. Health; Nutrition; and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene 68

3.2. Quality of Education Provision and Learning Outcomes 72

3.2.1. Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes 72

3.2.2. Key Challenges Impacting the Quality of Teaching and Learning 81

3.3. Education Budget and Financing 87

3.4. System Management 93

3.5. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 99

3.5.2 Impact of Natural and Human-Induced Hazards in Basic Education 102

3.5.3. The DepEd DRRM Responses 104

3.5.4. The Impact of COVID-19 to the Education Sector 106

4 POLICY FRAMEWORKS OF THE BEDP 111

5 STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK OF THE BEDP 121

5.1. Access to Quality Basic Education for All 130

5.3. Quality of Education Provision and Learning Outcomes 142

5.4. Learners’ Resiliency and Well-Being 147

6 ENABLING MECHANISMS: GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT 159

7 BEDP IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION 167

7.1. BEDP Implementation Plan 168

7.1.1. Implementation Strategy 168

7.1.2. Operationalizing BEDP 169

7.1.3. BEDP IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS 172

7.1.4. Capacity Building Plan 172

7.2. BEDP Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adjustment Strategies 174

7.2.1. Objectives of the BEDP MEA 174

7.2.2. Guiding Principles 175

7.2.3. BEDP MEA Framework 177

7.2.4. Operationalizing the BEDP MEA Framework 194

7.2.5. Decentralized M&E System 198

7.2.6. BEDP MEA Scope and Responsibilities 202

7.2.8. Information Systems and Databases 205

7.3. Policy and Research Agenda 210

7.4. Education Futures 213

7.5. Communication Strategy 215

8 FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK 216

8.1. Funding Education in the Philippines 217

8.2. Forward Estimates of Resource Requirements and Budgetary Impact 220

9 COSTED OPERATIONAL PLAN 2022-2026 234

10 RISK MANAGEMENT 237

11.1. Results Framework 243

11.2. Linakages of DepEd and BEDP to Other Education Agencies 249

11.3. Operational Plan 255

11.4. Steering Committee and Thematic Working Group Members 265

11.5. References 268

TABLE 1 Classification of Schools in the Philippines 28

TABLE 2 Teaching and Non-Teaching Personnel in DepEd 28