MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) is holding a series of pre-educstion summit to generate contextualized and localized programs and policies that will be elevated to the First BARMM Education Summit slated on Dec. 5-6 in Davao City.

The pre-summit seeks, among others, to come up with a shared vision for a successful Bangsamoro learner across the education continuum, agree on proposed policy and program measures that the four MBHTE sub-sectors will undertake individually and collectively, and solicit and agree on stakeholders and MBHTE's co-created programs and policies.

In Marawi City and Lanao del Sur, the pre-summit was held on November 18 and 19, respectively.

City Mayor Majul Gandamra said it is only right for the BARMM government and its educators to converge and formulate improvements and changes that will be of benefit to all learners and the society, especially with the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic which have a long-term impact on the delivery of instruction.

He said the education summit is the starting point to address effectively the challenges of the schools, teachers, and learners as the youth’s future is in everyone’s hands.

The mayor also hopes that the views of children on education would be considered at the summit.

Gandamra said the educational establishment has always focused on teaching and learning objectives but almost nobody has ever asked how the children feel about what they are learning.

"I'm not an educator but I'm a parent, and I have observed that children learn best when they are happy with what they are learning when they are happy with the way they learn," he further said.

Other areas in the BARMM that are yet to hold the pre-education summit are Lamitan City (Nov. 24), Basilan (Nov. 25), Sulu (Nov. 28), and Maguindanao provinces (Nov. 30.) (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)