Basic Education
Education and training are fundamental to the development process and the alleviation of poverty. Education at all levels equips people to participate fully in the economy and in society. It contributes to the strengthening of institutions of civil society, to national capacity building and to good governance.
Australia is now recognised as the lead donor in education through the Philippine Development Forum. In partnership with key government agencies, international organisations and donors, Australia’s assistance in improving basic education in the Philippines include: providing support on basic education sector reforms, establishing learning resource centres, improvement and dissemination of teaching and learning materials and training programs. Important considerations likewise are improving education management, raising the quality of teaching, and improving access for disadvantaged communities.
Australia’s education and training policy seeks to increase the emphasis on basic education and technical and vocational education within its Development Cooperation Program.
Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) Program
Australian Grant: A$39.2 million
Duration: 2002-2008
Project Sites:
Region 11: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao City, Digos City, Panabo City, Tagum City and Samal City
Region 12: South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani, General Santos City, Cotabato City, Kidapawan, Koronadal City and Tacurong.
ARMM: Basilan, Lanao del Sur I, Lanao del Sur II, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Marawi City
Managing Contractor: Sinclair Knights Merz
GOP Counterpart: Department of Education (DepEd)
Website: www.beam.org.ph
The Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) is a A$39.2-million project which runs from 2002 to 2008 and is implemented in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd). BEAM builds on the success of previous Australian assistance, notably the Project in Basic Education (PROBE), which helped improve the quality of teaching and learning in English, Science and Mathematics in 800 elementary and secondary schools, benefiting about one million children.
BEAM is working to improve the management of basic education in Regions XI, XII and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). BEAM aims to contribute to the attainment of peace and development in Mindanao by enhancing the skills, knowledge and capacity of educators and education managers; developing learning materials; and providing opportunities for disadvantaged children from the Muslim and indigenous communities.
Discussions are also ongoing with DepEd and World Bank for Australia to make a major contribution to the Government’s Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda, also being supported by a World Bank loan.
Strengthening Basic Education in the Visayas (STRIVE)
• Australian Grant: A$19.2 million
• Status: 2005-2010
• Project Sites: Bohol and Northern Samar
• GOP Counterpart: Department of Education (DepEd)
The Strengthening Basic Education in the Visayas (STRIVE) project aims to contribute to the improvement of rural living standards of Bohol and Northern Samar through improving the quality of, and access to, basic education. Valued at A$19.2 million and implemented from 2005 to 2010, STRIVE assists the Department of Education to improve the performance of students in science, mathematics and English and to provide basic education and/or livelihood opportunities for out of school youth and their families.
STRIVE has five components namely 1. Leadership and Management Development; 2. Teacher Development; 3. Teaching and Learning Materials; 4. Programs for Out-of-School Children, Youth and their Families; 5. Project Management.
Assistance to Muslim Education–ARMM Education Masterplan Development
• Australian Grant: A$500,000
• Project Sites: ARMM: Basilan, Lanao del Sur I, Lanao del Sur II, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Marawi City
• Implementing Agency: Asian Development Bank
• GOP Counterpart: Department of Education (DepEd) - ARMM
Australia contributed A$ 0.5 million to the Assistance to Muslim Education-ARMM Education Masterplan Development in partnership with the Asian Development Bank. The project provides technical assistance to the Department of Education of ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) to improve capacity to plan and manage basic education effectively, i.e., in preparing comprehensive master plan for basic education development that responds to the specific needs of the children in the region.
Australian Volunteers
Australian aid has a "face" - the volunteers. One of the major volunteer initiatives of Australia is the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) Program. Young Australian men and women volunteer and work abroad to apply their skills and expertise to assist development projects and help strengthen mutual understanding between Australia and its neighbours in the Asia-Pacific Region.
Australian Youth Ambassadors work for 6 to 12 months in places and assignments identified by host organisations in developing countries to meet specific needs or skills. They are engaged in work either in government, local business, educational or community service organisations. Over 50 Australian Youth Ambassadors have served in the Philippines since 1998. For further information, log on to www.manila.sagric.com/home/index.htm or www.ausaid.gov.au/youtham
Other Australian volunteer groups operating in the Philippines are the Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) and the Australian Volunteers International (AVI).
ABV contributes to sustainable growth in developing communities through the transfer of knowledge and workplace skills, using volunteer expertise. For further information, log on to www.abv.org.au
AVI is Australia's largest and most experienced international volunteer sending agency. Every year, it sends out hundreds of Australians who volunteer to live alongside people of other cultures and work towards the sustainable development of communities.
AVI's work is aimed at creating a peaceful and just world through greater cross-cultural understanding. It is built on an ethos of partnership, teamwork and consultation. For further information, log on to www.australianvolunteers.com.