This will be the focus of attention of the country’s top 3,000 leading school executives during their three-day 2005 National Educators Congress (NEC) which the Department of Education (DepEd) is launching at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, this city today.
DepEd officer-in- charge Undersecretary Fe A. Hidalgo said the NEC, considered as the biggest gathering of top public and private elementary and secondary school officials, has as its fitting theme "English, Science and Mathematics: The Cutting Edge for Schools and Communities."
Hidalgo will deliver the State of Education Address during the congress.
Hidalgo said major participants of the NEC are DepEd central office executives, regional directors, provincial and city schools superintendents; regional, division and district supervisors, and public and private school principals.
The NEC, she said, specifically seeks to:
1. Identify strengths and development areas of schools and communities in English, science and mathematics (ESM).
2. Define directions and goals in pursuit of excellence in ESM.
3. Prepare a national framework of action which will enhance the competitiveness of schools and communities in ESM.
4. Formulate strategies of collaboration among education stakeholders and create synergy for excellence in ESM within the framework of School First Initiative (SFI).
According to Hidalgo, the NEC involves, among other things, panel sessions in plenary with discussions on studies and programs in ESM, pursuing excellence in ESM, innovative projects in ESM, SFI, local government endeavors in support of SFI, and creating synergies for peak performance in ESM.
A special feature of the NEC, Hidalgo said, is the awarding of winners of the "Most innovative Brigada Eskwela" in the school, division, and regional levels.
Invited NEC resource speakers include Department of Science and Technology (DOST) science education director institute director Ester B. Ogena, University of the Philippine Science and Mathematics Education director Merle C. Tan, Ateneo Mathematics Prof. Queena Lee-Chua, and Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres.
A presentation of National Framework of Action on ESM will be made by Education Undersecretary for Regional Operations Ramon C. Bacani. The culminating NEC program will have former Education Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria as its keynote speaker.
Playing host to the NEC is DepEd Region 11 headed by Director Diamar Kadon and his assistant Susana Estigoy.
