DepEd implements English proficiency program for teachers

In support of the basic goals of the Department of Education to improve the English proficiency of educators and ultimately help raise the learning outcomes for learners, DepEd will implement the National English Proficiency Program for year 2006.

The program aims to train teachers and to equip them with knowledge and expand their learning on English.

DepEd officer in charge Fe Hidalgo said that the program is designed to improve the English communication skills of secondary and elementary school mentors in English, Science and Mathematics. In a memorandum that Hidalgo issued, she said the seven-day NEPP training entitled, "Mentor Training Program: Facilitating Mentor Learning," will be conducted by DepEd's bureau of secondary education headed by director Lolita Andrada.

The training consists of two batches each for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao with each batch consisting of 166 teacher-participants.

The memorandum said that those chosen to attend the training are teachers from different secondary schools who scored high in the Self-Assessment Test earlier conducted by the DepEd on various regional testing centers.

Also allowed to participate in the training are high school department heads of English, Science and Mathematics and division supervisors of the three tool subjects.

After the training programs, a complete team of mentors in Mathematics, Science and English will be organized to serve as trainors in lower-level training for all high school teachers. The mentoring training program will be followed by separate orientation of high school administrators and education supervisors, and schools superintendents who will supervise the school-based mentoring training program. - Jasmin R. Uy