DepEd, NCCA to train teachers for K-12

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) have set training for K to 12 teachers to better prepare students inclined to pursue careers in the arts after high school.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said teachers will be trained in the Sanayguro National Arts training for teachers of special program in the arts (SPA) to teach production and processes of original arts through a creation process.

“Part of the K to 12 program is opening career options for our youth who are oriented towards the arts,” he said.  “If they choose to pursue arts to earn a living, then we will provide them the tools to prepare them for the job as artists.”

The specialized training for SPA teachers in drama started last May 20 and will end tomorrow at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna.

A total of 20 teachers will be accepted for each integrated multi-arts: music, creative writing, dance, visual arts, architecture and film and drama. The training will be held at the Teachers Camp in Baguio City from May 27 to 31. 

The training for SPA teachers in the Visayas will be held at the Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School in Tagbilaran City from June 3 to 7.

Teachers will handle SPA subjects in Grades 7, 8 and 9 this coming school year. The SPA courses are drama, music, creative writing, dance, visual arts, architecture and film and drama.

The training workshop will equip SPA public school teachers with comprehensive skills on developing regional heritage-based lessons. They will also be trained in facilitating integrated and multi-art workshops, in providing their students with artistic guidance, as well as the production of instructional materials.

The NCCA provides scholarships with free registration and workshop kit for the first 25 participants in SPA for drama and scholarship grants for the first 20 participants for other art disciplines. 

Police to secure schools

Police are ready to secure students in schools nationwide during the opening of classes in June.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima has ordered Police Assistance Desks (PADs) to be set up near major school campuses and clustered schools nationwide.

Police are coordinating with the DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), local governments and other concerned agencies in securing schools and universities, particularly those in Metro Manila and other urban centers. 

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said policemen will be deployed in airports and seaports, transport terminals, business establishments and areas of convergence as people are expected to return from vacation at the end of May.

Purisima directed all police regional offices to organize teams for mobile and foot patrols along major routes leading to learning institutions and within the immediate vicinity of school premises.

Cerbo said police will also designate dedicated personnel to address bullying inside and outside school premises in coordination with school officials.              

“If unnecessary actions or suspicious persons or groups are observed, PDG Purisima advised the public to immediately report or go to the nearest Police Assistance Desks or Police Stations, or through PNP hotlines I-Text Mo Kay TSIP 0917-84757557 and PNP TXT 2920,” he said. 

–  Helen Flores, Cecille Suerte Felipe