The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said it is set to accelerate education reforms to address learning gaps and advance early and inclusive education in the country, following the second joint meeting of the Education Trifocal Agencies.

During the meeting, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the DepEd agreed to establish Permanent Working Groups (PWGs) to ensure focus on priority reforms across the education sector for the next two years.

The PWGs seek to provide a “seamless learner transitions” from early childhood to either higher education or technical skills training.

In a statement, Education Secretary Sonny Angara stressed how the move shows the government’s resolve in advancing quality education, in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Malinaw ang ating direksiyon na palakasin ang pundasyon ng pagkatuto at siguraduhing walang mag-aaral ang naiiwan (Our direction is clear – to strengthen the foundation of learning and ensure that no learner will be left behind),” he said.

The DepEd will lead three PWGs – on Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), Inclusive Education, and Functional Literacy and Learning Recovery.

“Dito, matitiyak natin na ang mga reporma ay tuloy-tuloy at may malinaw na pananagutan (With this, we can ensure that reforms are sustained and have clear accountability),” Angara said.

For the PWG on ECCD, the DepEd will boost policy coherence in early childhood education and provide a smooth transition to kindergarten, as well as address low access to ECCD programs and persistent malnutrition.

The PWG on Inclusive Education will strengthen inter-agency cooperation to enhance access to public schools, especially for learners with disabilities, indigenous people, and members of other marginalized sectors.

Main areas to be addressed are poverty, language barriers, and limited support services.

The DepEd will institutionalize learning recovery within the public schools’ regular school system under the PWG on Functional Literacy and Learning Recovery.

Key actions to be taken are embedding learning progression frameworks, alignment of assessment and instructions, as well as mainstream teaching with remediation. (PNA)