CEBU CITY, Cebu, February 1 (PIA) --  The Department of Education Region 7 (DepEd 7) conducted its first State of the Region Address (SORA) in Cebu City to report their accomplishments and present their plans for 2024. 

DepEd 7 Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez highlighted during his SORA that the region bannered the program dubbed as "SMILE," which means Strengthening Management, Instructions, and Leadership for Excellence.

“This fuels the roadmap to achieve its goals and objectives and complement with the Basic Education Development Plan 2030, and the MATATAG Agenda of the current administration,” Jimenez said. 

Jimenez recognizes the need to enhance the management and leadership of the department to realize the MATATAG Agenda across the areas of Region 7.

2023 accomplishment report

Jimenez shared that DepEd Region 7 is a contributor to the MATATAG Agenda, which is led by the Education Secretary, Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Jimenez said that the region obtained around 2,088,000 learners from the cumulative count of 4,724 active public and private schools.

From the 3,826 public schools, a total of 1,996,723 learners benefited from the public school learning resources. 

Jimenez said the region was one of the pilot areas who have implemented the Matatag K to 10 Curriculum prior to its nationwide implementation for school year 2024-2025.

The SORA also highlighted the continuous facility improvement of school buildings. 

Through the Quick Response Fund 2022, a total of 84 schools were repaired and constructed.

New classrooms for the ten Last Mile Schools are ongoing, while 74 schools received allocation for temporary learning space. 

To address the well-being of the learners, a total of 162,122  severely wasted children benefited from the school-based feeeding program.

In the inclusivity and positive learning aspect of education, the region also reported a total of 12,012 special education (SPED) learners.

Jimenez reported that the region has recorded a 98.91 percent and 91.12 percent retention rates for elementary and secondary levels until Grade 12, respectively. 

He added that the region also reached a total of 98.97 percent of elementary schools that met the standard ratio for teachers, while 90.97 percent and 87.88 percent, respectively, for senior and junior high schools.

Jimenez said the region has 780 new teaching items, of which 78 percent are already filled.

He added that 89 percent of the 1,069 new non-teaching positions have also already been filled.

Teachers will be relieved from the preparation of lesson plans with the department’s provision of prototype lesson plans. 

The regional director also recognized the contribution of DepEd's stakeholders, as the department received a total of P17 billion from the stakeholders. 

The amount is accounted from the provisions received in the form of teaching and learning aid and devices, musical instruments, learning modules, science laboratory equipment, hygiene and medical services and supplies, and other medical services like free eye check-up and free eyeglasses for visually challenged learners. 

Jimenez added that the total amount from the stakeholders also include the construction, repair, restoration, and improvements of the learning spaces.

2024 Strategic Directions and Performance Targets

In the same event, the DepEd Region 7 Policy, Planning, and Research Division Chief Education Supervisor Dr. Benjamin Tiongzon explained that the regional development plan for 2023 to 2028 follows the basic educational plan 2030 under the MATATAG Agenda. 

Tiongzon said the plan hopes to produce basic education graduates who will be able to demonstrate 21st century learning skills, realize their full potential, and contribute to building a cohesive nation.

During the SORA, the six division chiefs under DepEd7 presented their functions and current activities aligned with the regional development plan.

DepEd 7 also invited their stakeholders to join their Adopt-A-School program where they will provide assistance and extend services to the public schools. 

Under the program, private partners who adopt a school are entitled to a tax incentive of up to 150 percent based on the total amount of donation made within the taxable year. (JAT/PIA 7)