PASIG CITY -- The Department of Education (DepEd), in partnership with Banco de Oro (BDO) Foundation and Huawei Philippines, honored math and science teachers for developing innovative financial literacy self-learning modules (SLMs) at the online awards ceremony for The Search for the Best Supplemental Learning Materials in the Teaching of Defined Key Concepts in Science and Mathematics last May 5.

In her congratulatory message, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized the importance of the partnership in developing effective learning materials in teaching and learning.

"We have to further enhance the effectiveness, the usefulness of the materials we are using. I do hope that this wonderful event will be shared with the rest of the public, it is good to discuss not only politics but also how we can catch up with mathematics, with science, how we can prepare not only the learning capacities of our learners but also the capacity to teach of our teachers," Sec. Briones said.

DepEd, through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the BDO Foundation, Inc. and Huawei Technologies Phils., Inc. launched the search in December 2021. The SLM writing competition was open to teachers on developing creative and innovative SLMs that best integrate financial literacy concepts in Science and Mathematics as an avenue in developing a financially literate citizenry.

Twelve of the most outstanding submissions were recognized under various categories, including Mr. Jouie C. Gloria (Region XI-1st place), Mr. Alfie L. Macarulay, and Ms. Analie M. Calasan (Region X-2nd place), and Daylinda E. Lim (Region VIII-3rd place) for the Elementary Science Category. Mr. Francis Jude M. Cezar (Region XII-1st place), Ms. Nely D. Baylon (NCR-2nd place), and Ms. Sheila Ruth C. Quinco (Region XII-3rd place) for the Elementary Mathematics Category.

For the High School Science Category, Mr. Rheider Jan T. Bartolini (Region XI-1st place), Ms. Elma Lyne P. Labio (CAR-2nd place), and Mr. Shawn Dwight A. Ga (CARAGA-3rd place). For the High School Mathematics Category, Ms. Sonia F. Aninipot and Rhoderick A. Aninipot (Region V-1st place), Mr. Raymar M. Galinggan (CAR-2nd place), and Mrs. Arian Hazel A. Belain and Mr. Erwin C. Belain (Region XI-3rd place).

Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio expressed his gratitude to BDO Foundation for inculcating financial literacy in students in his opening remarks.

"Writing self-learning modules that integrate financial literacy concepts in our learning resources is something that should be supported by everyone because we know that efforts to make the youngsters more financially literate will have to anchor on relevant learning resources," Usec. San Antonio said.

The nationwide competition received a total of 96 entries, which were evaluated by a panel of judges composed of distinguished academicians from the country's top universities.

These learning materials will be uploaded on the DepEd learning resource portal, where they can be readily accessed by teachers across the country. (DepEd)