The first face-to-face Division Management Committee Meeting at Congressional Integrated High School on May 25, 2023, riveted on the newly launched MATATAG agenda of the Department of Education to set new direction of the agency and stakeholders in resolving basic education challenges. It was attended by key participants including the Schools Division Superintendent, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, Division Chiefs, Education Program Supervisors, Public Schools District Supervisors, Division Unit Heads, School Heads, and selected stakeholders. This is to ensure that all programs, projects, and initiatives are aligned with the Department’s Vision, Mission, Core Values, and Agenda.
The meeting started with the preliminaries such as singing of the national anthem, opening prayer, singing of the Dasmarinas hymn and statement of the DepEd Quality Policy. Ms. Bernadette T. Luna, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, called the meeting to order and gave the agenda of the meeting through her opening remarks. The school head of Congressional Integrated High School, Mr. Ryan C. Villanueva, warmly welcomed the participants to the venue of the activity.
As one of the highlights of the meeting, Dr. Elias A. Alicaya Jr., OIC – Schools Division Superintendent, discussed the strategic directions of the division. The direction was conceptualized from a 5-day tedious field visit of Dr. Alicaya and Ms. Bernadette T. Luna, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, to assess and personally empathize with the contextual situations of the 44 public schools.
As Sir Alicaya pointed out, “Mahalaga na alam natin where are we now and where will we go.” He first presented the current status of the division encompassing the enrollment data, key performance indicators, and land titling, personnel and school profile. The Division’s programs, projects, and initiatives were also laid out including its potential and challenges. Further, Sir Alicaya emphasized the importance of Local Government Unit, parents, and stakeholders in improving access, equity, equality, resiliency, and well-being of our learners.
Dr. Alicaya meticulously discussed the status of each functional division and sets out plan in addressing the areas of concerns identified per data presented. Every area from curriculum delivery, school operations, fiscal management, human resource management, plant and facilities, health and welfare of learners and teachers, partnerships and linkages, and other related area were knitted in one path for the vision of holistic delivery of quality in education.
From the data gathered, Dr. Alicaya picked out sample schools and use them to visualize the strategies that the direction is calling for that school may execute to address issues in health, teacher promotion, classroom shortage, and many more relative to school governance.
Not only the internal aspect, he also discussed the ways forward in ensuring that the interest of the external partners is also served. He sets out the role of the Division and schools in collaborating with private schools, local government, and other government agencies.
Anchored on the Matatag Agenda of DepEd Central Office, every dimension of the agenda was adopted into a framework contextual to the City of Dasmariñas. Each dimension is paired with how the Curriculum Implementation Division, School Governance and Operations Division, and Office of the Schools Division Superintendent, would work in synergy to address and deliver each dimension in the next three years.
In response, representatives from the LGU, external stakeholders, and parent, teacher and principal organizations vouched their full support to the new leadership and strategic directions as they acknowledged its importance in achieving the MATATAG agenda. Hon. Mayor Jennifer Austria-Barzaga and Hon. Atty. Congressman Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr., through City Councilor Aquino “Ake” Garcia, Chairman on Committee on Education and Culture, affirmed that the LGU is always willing to extend its support and assistance to DepEd-Dasmarinas City. Mr. Mark Jayson Espinosa, Senior Education Program Specialist- SocMob and president of NEU voiced his commitment in providing excellent and quality service to our clients. As conclusion to the meeting, the presidents of the elementary and secondary school heads, Mrs. Elena Bayan and Mr. Ryan Villanueva, optimistically manifested the support of the group they represent towards the direction.
Through data-driven programs, projects, and activities management committee meeting aligned with the MATATAG agenda, the City Schools Division of Dasmarinas is all set for the next three years to provide a DasmaSIGASIG na Paglilingkod para sa Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa.
The 1st Division Managment Committee Meeting is attended by school heads and various multisectoral representatives
and stakeholders
