MUSLIM EDUCATORS TO GET EDUCATION DEGREES UNDER ACCELERATED EDUCATION PROGRAM
One hundred twenty asatidz (Muslim teachers) from Region XI are expected to earn a Bachelor in Elementary Education degree from the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) through the Accelerated Teacher Education Program (ATEP).
ATEP is an initiative of the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) project which seeks to assist the Department of Education (DepEd) implement its Muslim Basic Education Roadmap on professionalising the asatidz. After completing the ongoing summer program, the asatidz will earn a Bachelor in Elementary Education degree under the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), approved by the Commission on Higher Education
The summer program’s opening ceremony was attended by DepEd OIC-Secretary, Dr. Fe Hidalgo; DepEd Undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs, Dr. Manaros Boransing; DepEd XI Regional Director, Dr. Diamar Kadon; and CHED Regional Director, Dr. Reynaldo Peña as guests.
Earning an education degree and eventually passing the licensure exam for teachers will qualify the asatidz to teach Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education subjects in public schools with a significant number of Muslim children.
At the ceremony, Secretary Hidalgo reiterated DepEd’s commitment to the program, which includes providing plantilla positions to asatidz who will obtain the special Bachelor of Elementary Education degree through ATEP.
Secretary Hidalgo stressed that the ‘professionalisation of asatidz’ is consistent with DepEd’s effort in upgrading the competencies of public school teachers, particularly in English proficiency and mastery of subject areas.
“ATEP helps the Muslim Filipinos to mainstream in the national education system. As a peace-building tool, it promotes respect, understanding and harmony among the country’s diverse people,” Secretary Hidalgo explained.
“Support to Muslim education promotes meaningful dialogue and understanding on a personal level among the asatidz, trainers and DepEd. Individually, we may be small voices in the wilderness. But together, we are like a chorale, a symphony. The task ahead is hard to accomplish, singularly; but easier when we put our heads and hearts together,” BEAM Philippine Project Manager and DepEd XI Assistant Regional Director Susana Teresa Estigoy said.
BEAM is a DepEd project supported by the Government of the Philippines and the Government of Australia. It aims to improve the access to and the quality of basic education in southern and central Mindanao.