BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - In line with the MATATAG agenda of the Department of Education particularly in giving support to teachers in the provision of quality education, the Department of Eeducation – Cordillera  conducted  a  three – day  Teachers’ Congress at 456 Hotel, here.

With the theme, “MATATAG Teachers as Catalysts of Learning: Inspiring, Empowering, Nurturing 21st Century Learners”, the Teachers’ Congress was attended by around 300 school heads and teachers, mostly from last mile schools in the different provinces of the Cordillera from August 9 to  11.

The Congress generally aims to provide professional development programs; provide support in terms of innovative, responsive and inclusive teaching approaches following the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers; and to capacitate teachers and learners in utilizing technology in remote learning to maximize the benefits of digital learning among other curriculum/teaching – related interventions.

Resource speakers for the first day are Global Teacher Prize Awardee Francis Jim Tuscano on EdTech towards improving Literacy and Numeracy; Henry Alunday and Maribel Bravo of School Division Office (SDO) Tabuk City, Kalinga on Innovative Reading Program; and DEPED – CAR Regional Director Estela Leon – Cariño on Power Dressing and Career Pathing.

On the second day, Mary Hazel Ballena of SDO Abra who served as presenter in the SEA – EIA in Thailand,  talked  about “Differentiated Instruction and Innovative Solutions”; Chandler Ibabao  of SDO Apayao, a presenter at the APCEIU/TEP in South Korea, discussed  “The Power of Multigrade Teaching”; Multi-awarded Educator Felina Espique of Saint Louis University  presented  “Indicators of Inclusive Education”,  and Life Coach Jeannie May Damoslog tackled  “Enriching Lives to Build a Beautiful Future”.

Concluding the Congress  were  the talks  by  International Cooperation Office Director Margarita Consolacion Ballesteros on “International Opportunities for Teachers and School Heads” and DepEd – CAR Human Resource Development Division  Chief Education Program Supervisor Jennifer Ande on “Teachers as Catalyst of Learning towards Inspiring, Empowering and Nurturing 21st Century Learners”.

Cariño, in an interview, said  the Teachers’ Congress  was  intended  for teachers and school heads of last mile schools in the region, as well as teachers  who  did not get any training last year  to help them prepare for the upcoming school year.

The topics are mostly important tips and reminders on teaching strategies and how they can prepare their instructional materials, while the resource persons are teachers who were trained abroad and awardees that also hope to inspire the other teachers to do their best in delivering quality education to DepEd learners and to aspire for higher goals in their teaching profession, Cariño added.

As  defined by DepEd, Last Mile Schools are schools that have less than four classrooms, usually makeshift and non-standard ones, where floors remain unpaved and walls are made of sawali and similar materials.(JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)