Press Release

DepED, CFO, PHL EMBASSY FORGE PARTNERSHIP WITH ALTERNATIVE LEARNING CENTERS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO FILIPINO CHILDREN IN SABAH

28 August 2014 – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Community-based Education with six Sabah-based alternative learning centers (ALCs) last August 26.

The MOU aims to improve the capacity of the ALCs to provide basic literacy to Filipino children who have no access to regular education through capacity-building activities; professional, technical and administrative advice and the provision of learning and instructional materials, among others.

Some 2,234 school-aged undocumented Filipino children are now enrolled in the ALCs which are parties to the MOU, namely Learning Translation and Review Centre (Keningau), Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin (The Society for Education of Underprivileged Children) (Lahad Datu and Semporna), Sekolah Sukarela Persatuan MAFIL-KOFA (Keningau), Stairway to Hope Learning Center (Kota Kinabalu), Stairway to Success Learning Center (Sandakan), and Vision of Hope Learning Center (Keningau).

Undocumented children have extremely limited access to public education in Malaysia.

The CFO and DepEd were represented by Secretary Imelda Nicolas and Education Undersecretary for External Linkages Mario Deriquito, respectively. Both officials were on an official visit to Kuala Lumpur from August 26 to 27.

Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya signed on behalf of the Embassy while heads and representatives of the ALCs signed for their respective institutions.

“Filipino children in Sabah are in a precarious situation and our initiatives are mere first steps in a long journey, but we are hopeful that with the dedication of all stakeholders, we will be able to transform through education the lives of these children for the better,” Ambassador Malaya said.

Prior to the signing, the visiting Philippine officials had the opportunity to meet with the ALC heads and representatives and discuss the educational needs of Filipino children in their areas and related matters, including the possibility of holding a two-week training seminar for ALC teachers in the last quarter of this year.

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DepED, CFO OFFICIALS DISCUSS EDUCATION COOPERATION WITH MALAYSIAN OFFICIALS

28 August 2014 – Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairperson Imelda Nicolas and Education Undersecretary for Partnership and External Linkages Mario Deriquito visited Kuala Lumpur on August 26-27 to lay the ground work for the implementation of the recently concluded Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in the Field of Education between the Philippines and Malaysia. During their visit, the two officials called on Malaysian Deputy Minister of Education Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching and other Malaysian education ministry officials, to discuss possible areas of cooperation. Accompanying the officials during their meetings were Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya, Vice Consul Alvin Malasig, Ms. Karen Pahayahay and Ms. Princess Mayumi Peralta. The two sides agreed to explore cooperation in the areas of education assessment, technical and vocational training, information technology, science and mathematics, and a community-based alternative education program for Filipino children in Sabah. The details of the proposed activities will be further discussed at the forthcoming inaugural Joint Working Group Meeting under the MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Education to be held in Manila early next year.

“We are looking forward to our country’s hosting of the inaugural Joint Working Group Meeting in Manila next year, and we hope to have early implementation of mutually beneficial collaborative projects,” Ambassador Malaya said. The Philippines-Malaysia MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Education was signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and Malaysian Minister for Education II Dato’ Seri Idris bin Jusoh last February 28, one of two agreements signed during the State Visit of President Benigno S. Aquino III to Malaysia in February this year upon the invitation of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia.